Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. (Psalms 27:14 NLT)
I’d like to wager that at some point in the past year, you’ve persistently asked God for something; asked for some kind of breakthrough, healing, or opportunity; asked for the true joy of his salvation to overtake your heart; and asked for peace or justice to finally come. But have you ever been hounding after God, only to have him turn to you and ask you to wait? I have. I’m waiting right now. It’s kind of like he asked me to pitch a tent, build a campfire, and hang tight while he goes on ahead. For a while, I thought I’d just spend a night or two and wake up to find him standing outside my door ready to go. But it’s been longer than that. It’s been months. I’ve been sitting in my camp, trying my hardest to go about my business and honor what he’s asked me to do – stoke the fire, gather food, sleep, repeat – all the while straining my eyes every hour, every minute, to see if he’s rounding the corner to come get me.
The reality is that in these waiting times, there is nothing we should do except for what he’s asked of us. He told us to wait while he goes out and clears a path. If we packed up and started walking after him before he came to get us, it would be disobedience. Our very actions of packing up and setting out would prove that we do not trust him. The truth is, most of us have been on adventures with God where we are blazing the trail together. On those journeys, we’ve seen miracles happen right before our very eyes. With every step, we had to actively trust that he knew the best route to get us to our destination.
Whether the path was close to a steep cliff or through a peaceful meadow, we had to follow and have faith. He was the only one who knew how to get there, so we followed in amazement.
But right now, this journey isn’t about following – it’s about trust. Trust that he will come back for us. Trust that He has our best interests in mind. I know we’d rather be walking with him – hacking away at branches or wading through icy streams – because we believe that any movement, even hard work, is better than this. But instead, our waiting allows us to experience beautiful sunrises and sunsets. We are able to rest. Instead of hiking through the forest with him, he has left us in a cozy little camp where there is a warm fire, plentiful food, and safety. Could this actually be a blessing? In this waiting period, we can rest and know that he is out laying the groundwork, making sure everything is ready for us. And this is the best part: while God has gone ahead to prepare a way, He is also right here with us in our camp.
The wait is challenging, but there is so much we can learn about him during this season. He is here to listen, process, and give us wisdom. He’s here to give us strength, and to show that he has not abandoned us. He is here to whisper that we just need to be still and trust him. He is all we need to have joy. He is talking with us by the campfire, laughing and singing; protecting us while we sleep. He is near, even when He feels so far away. He is revealing that is the very source of peace. We don’t create miracles. He does. We don’t part seas, fell trees, and make paths. He does.
Our camp is cozy and warm, and God is with us. Omnipresent. He has not left us to wait alone. No, we have our creator right beside us. If we choose to embrace this time, we will discover a new depth of his love for us.
My heart has heard you say, “Come He told me to wait! And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” (Psalms 27:8 NLT)
