“How to wait…”
Our local Children’s museum has an activity that prompts the children to hit a button once they think a minute has passed. As my oldest daughter jumped to hit the button, feeling certain 60 seconds had passed, the screen revealed 23 seconds! 60 seconds can feel like a long time IF you are waiting in anticipation…. Waiting on God to answer a prayer brings a similar feeling.
We’ve all been there, telling God what we desire and pleading with Him to deliver our requests. Sometimes our prayers are accompanied with a desperate plea against time and can leave us with the heaviness of expectancy. We are reassured by faith that He will answer, but how do we handle waiting? How can we redirect our thoughts when they are filled with anticipation and questions of when the prayer will be answered? Much like my daughter, the waiting game can leave us ready to jump to action before it’s time…
I, myself have been in a season of waiting. The anticipation of how God will write the story brings a sense of urgency, yet when I release my concerns into His hands and redirect my thoughts to His Word I am reminded of everything He promises. The promises found within Psalms 19: 7-14 bring perspective to my mind with every sentence spoken…
“The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous.
They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.
By them the servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults, keep your servant from willful sins; may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. “
Did you see all the nuggets of wisdom?! Read it again, and this time reflect on the heaviness that tends to creep in as you await answers to prayers. Notice how scripture ‘refreshes our soul,’ and ‘gives light to the eyes.’ Then notice how it also guides and directs us to ‘warning and hidden faults,’ reminding us to consider our hearts in all things. When we are searching for clarity or direction with anything in life, His Word will always offer the wisdom we need.
I have this Psalm taped to my bathroom mirror to remind myself of my place in God’s story. Returning to His Word brings focus and perspective with any challenge in life and steadies my obedience for His plan. Taking time to surrender our own timeline and use our faith to trust in His promises brings a deeper awareness of His sovereignty and helps settle that expectancy that creeps in.
I’ll leave you with a beautiful promise found in Ephesians 3:20-21(MSG), “God can do anything, far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.”
Let’s keep praying those prayers, but let’s lean a bit further into the promise that His timing is perfect, His Word is true and His way is better when the heavy anticipation tries to sneak in.
