Everyone has a memory of a time when ‘waiting’ felt impossible:
- waiting for a prospective employer to call you after an interview
- waiting in a line for the restroom (LADIES)
- waiting to hear how someone is doing after an operation or medical procedure
- waiting to hear a diagnosis
- waiting on the arrival of a new little human being into the world
The list goes on and on…This past weekend, I had an experience of having to wait – and it felt like help was never going to come! I went with a group of friends to an eco-park called Herb Hillz to do the zipline/ropes course. I usually love these kinds of activities and enjoy a challenge, however on this particular day things didn’t go as planned. After not grabbing a hold of the rope at the end of the very first zipline things started going downhill…The zipline was over 100m and I had probably gone back almost halfway and then stopped and had to try and get myself to the platform by pulling myself along the rope – yeah right! After trying, unsuccessfully, to pull myself along I resorted to hanging on for dear life and waiting for someone to come and help me – eventually one of the guys who works there did come to my rescue. Unfortunately, after spending all that time hanging on the rope and trying to pull myself along a rope my arms were like lead weights at my side…I literally had no strength in them at all; even more unfortunate was the fact that I had to keep going (there was only one exit point, after the 7th obstacle) and the next obstacle was an 8-rung ladder. As I had no strength left in my arms, needless to say it didn’t happen – and after trying and failing numerous times, with no help seeming to come I eventually had a mini meltdown hanging on the rope where I sobbed and sobbed…at that point, of completely giving up, that is the point where help FINALLY came!
After this weekend, it got me thinking about my life and times in my spiritual walk where I have been frustrated while waiting on God – where I expect God to work out all the details but within MY time-frame. Even in applying for the world race, I had spent so long praying about it and just as I was about to give up hope of it ever being successful God came through. Right at the point where I was about to give up – God prevailed and His timing is always perfect!
God always has good reasons for making us wait. Waiting is a part of life and one of God’s tools for developing people. The Bible is full of stories of people having to wait on God, such as Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joseph, David, Daniel, Jesus, Paul and countless others. Sometimes God’s answers are not the answers that we are waiting for either, but in submitting to God in being Christ followers we are submitting ourselves to believing that God’s plan is better than any plan we could ever have for ourselves. Even though we have to wait – help always comes.
In the waiting we learn patience, submission and dependence on God. When we are in the midst of our struggles, in the midst of waiting, that is the time when we are able to draw closer to God and when our faith is truly strengthened and we are forced to cling to the promises of His word. Sometimes understanding why we have to wait is difficult, but one thing is certain (as I learned this weekend) Even though we have to wait – help always comes! And in our spiritual lives, even though we sometimes have to wait for God to answer – the promise is that we never have to wait without Him. He is always in control.
In this time of preparation, I am waiting on God too – having faith that He will provide all that I need: visas, finances, equipment, accommodation in the USA, health and protection and honestly at times the waiting hurts. Hanging on to that rope is difficult and at times tests our strength and resolve – but while we are in the period of waiting, the Bible reminds us of HOW WE SHOULD WAIT:
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Prayerfully Psalm 25:4-5
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With strength and courage Psalm 27:14, 31:24
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Rejoicing and trusting in His holy name Psalm 33:21
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Based on the fear of the Lord and His unfailing love Psalm 33:18,22
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With hope Psalm 33:20, 39:7
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Patiently Psalm 37:7, 40:1; Habakkuk 3:16, Romans 8:25, Hebrews 6:15
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Obediently Psalm 37:34, 119:166; Isaiah 26:8-9
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Desiring Him Isaiah 26:8-9
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Single-mindedly Psalm 62:5
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Expectantly Psalm 123:2, Micah 7:7
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Believing His Word Psalm 130:5
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Assured He is all we need, He is our portion Lamentations 3:24
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Quietly Lamentations 3:26
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Always Hosea 12:6
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In anticipation of joy John 3:29
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Eagerly Romans 8:19,23
Help is on the way, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)
