Our lives are full of times of waiting. We wait when we go to the doctor, or for test results, or we’re in the wrong line at the grocery store again. These times of waiting are not very enjoyable. There are times of waiting which cause us anticipation which is not unpleasant. Some of these times consist of moving into a new home, or preparing for a great vacation, or a baby being born, or a visit from special friends. Even though the wait is hard, it’s an eager waiting. The idea of something good coming keeps us eager for it to happen. As followers of Christ, we are told to wait on the Lord as we live our lives. What does it mean to do that? Is it easy or hard? How can we wait well? These are all questions we will seek to answer as we look to the scriptures.

Waiting on the Lord is an active endeavor. It isn’t like when we put our heads back and close our eyes when waiting in the doctor’s office. When we wait on the Lord, we should be actively involved. To wait on the Lord is to be actively seeking his ways and believing his character. It is a time when we recognize God’s sovereignty over all of life. Waiting takes patience! That’s the greatest hurdle we must overcome. The reality is we don’t know what God has planned for us. By nature, we want to know everything about the future and what we will face. That’s why God-activity is so very important in the waiting. As we remind ourselves of who God is and what he’s done, we can wait with total trust in him.

Waiting on the Lord changes us. He gives us what we need to face life moment to moment. David writes in Psalm 27 concerning those who want to bring harm to him. The conclusion of this psalm is powerful for us to embrace in the waiting.

“I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!” [Psalm 27:13-14.]

David says he believes he shall see the goodness of God. Eternity is coming! We must remind ourselves of this same fact! As followers of Christ, this waiting is very temporary because eternity is coming. We will be in the presence of the One who has had all of our life in his hands. As we choose to believe what we know to be true of God, we will grow spiritually. This is part of active waiting.

These verses also remind us that the Lord will give us the strength and courage we need as we wait. It is hard to wait, very hard. We don’t like it at all! The Lord is very aware of our struggles; and in his loving kindness, he gives us the ability to wait by strengthening us. What he uses is the truth of himself in order to give us the strength we need. He never leaves us alone without hope. We lose hope when we take our eyes off of him. In a tragedy, it’s very easy to be so overwhelmed that we only see the immediate circumstance. We can’t find God because we’ve temporarily become blind to his presence. He knows that too. God never turns his back on his children. He will always give us the strength to see the truth again.

There is not one of us who knows what tomorrow will bring. We could get a terrible diagnosis, or an inheritance from a relative, or a gift from a special friend. We don’t know. We have to face the fact that God is sovereign, and only he knows what’s ahead. This is the hardest part for me. As I’ve retired, I’ve wondered what the Lord has for me. I’m waiting, but I really want to know. It’s not mine to know right now. I’m called to be faithful. Once again, David gives us direction in a psalm.

“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him.” [Psalm 37:7a.]

How do we wait on the Lord? We are to wait in stillness and patience. What’s so active about that? As we wait, we are to continue to remind ourself of his character and his promises. It’s in this activity, we will find hope and patience to wait. He is always good. I can trust that in the waiting, and so can you!