One of the most difficult seasons that we can experience in our Christian journey is that time where we are waiting on the Lord. We live in an instant world and we want things done or answers given as quickly as possible. We have instant communication with emails and text messaging. We have instant financing that is available. We get news reported as soon as it happens. We don't like it when we have to wait too long for our fast food or morning drink at our favorite coffee shop. The world we live in happens quickly and is changing constantly.
When it comes to our spiritual lives we want God to answer our prayers or to open up doors for us right away. It is wonderful when God moves in our lives in situations and circumstances in a short time or even instantly. As I pray to the Lord I have learned that He will answer and work in saying Yes, and sometimes He answers No. There are other times He has us where we are waiting on Him to move or work.
In Psalm 62, David, who is writing this psalm from the wilderness, is in a season of waiting on the Lord. Inspired by the Spirit of God he writes in vs 1-8:
Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.
How long will you attack a man? You shall be slain, all of you, like a leaning wall and a tottering fence. They only consult to cast him down from his high position; They delight in lies; They bless with their mouth, But they curse inwardly. Selah
My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God.
Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah
He starts the psalm in vs 1: "Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation." David knew that God alone saves and he is waiting on the Lord to see if He would bring him back to Jerusalem
In vs 5 he writes "My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation (hope) is from Him. As David was waiting on the Lord, he knew his hope was in the Lord. Then in vs 8 David states, "Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us."
David, as he is on the run and his life is in danger, is trusting in the Lord at all times not at times or sometimes. So in vs 1he waits silently, vs 5 he waits expectantly, vs 8 he waits continually.
If you are in a season of waiting on the Lord, remember that His delays are not His denials. What will help you be patient is when you are praying and seeking the Lord like David. I was reminded at a conference that I was attended recently, that time waiting is not time wasted. God is working. In Isaiah 30 the Lord says He will be gracious to those who wait. In Chapter40 of the same book the Lord promises to renew the strength of those who wait. Finally in Lamentations 3, the Lord will be good to those who wait.
In this instant world we live in, we don't want to carry the mindset into our spiritual lives that we want instant results or answers to our prayers. The Lord will take us through seasons of waiting and sometimes it can be a long season, but know He is working behind the scenes and circumstances. If we don't learn to wait we will become impatient and move out in our own understanding. We also will be vulnerable to the lie of the enemy who will whisper in our ear that God doesn't care or is not interested in us. Waiting on the Lord is not a lack of faith, but is showing great faith.
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