My Soul Awaits

The most disappointing NASCAR races are when the last laps are done under the caution flag. Everything seems to move in slow motion but the drivers are still striving for the finish line. For the guy that was in 2nd place and taking over the 1st position, it must be frustrating. Yet, we are all called to finish well.

Psalm 62:1 (MSG)- A David psalm. God, the one and only-- I'll wait as long as he says. Everything I need comes from him, so why not?

One of the hardest things God can ask us to do is wait. If you are being asked to wait, consider that you probably have favor because it takes strength to wait on the Lord.

Psalm 27:14 (NIV)- Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

It is strength in faith because faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. It requires this faith of being certain in times of tribulation and temptation to stand and simply wait.

Isaiah 30:18b (NIV)- For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

This is a promise after a time of persecution and despair.

Acts 1:4 (NIV)- On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised. Which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Hold Spirit."

Jesus is quoted as saying "in a few days". I believe it was more like 40 days. What if they would have given up and gone home?

Romans 8:23-25 (NIV)- Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

We groan while we wait. We hurt while we wait. We hope for what we do not have, but we are hoping for what we have been promised. Like childbirth, the pain intensifies more and more before the actual delivery.

Proverbs 13:12 (NIV)- Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

While we are waiting, we might be heart sick. When that hope is finally realized, we will have a strong, deep source of life. I am of the opinion that sometimes we have promises stored in our hearts and it's as if we have been given songs to sing which we can't quite remember the words for it and our deepest selves just want to get the melody out in the worst way. When the song is finally sung, it is the biggest relief ever. It will usually bring tears of frustration while it is stored up inside, but the release is sweet. The tears are tears of joy when it is finally done. And the full realization of God's glory and goodness is what is earned and learned from the experience.

Hebrews 9:28 (NIV)- So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

The promises and rewards of waiting on the Lord are huge. There is great relief when God shows up after we have been doing nothing but waiting. I think it is the hardest lesson of our faith in God.

Psalm 46:10a (NIV)- "Be still, and know that I am God."

I will be still and know you are God. Blessed are those who wait upon the Lord. Waiting is not in vain. It is not hopeless, in fact it is quite the contrary. It is built on hope and faith. When the delivery comes, there will be great relief and rejoicing.