Sunday, January 11, 2009

Wait on the Lord

"Kite Surfer" at Garryvoe beach, Co Cork, (taken yesterday).
Nikon D70s, f5, 1/100 sec, ISO 200, 50mm (Click to enlarge)

Have you ever waited for God to act on something and waited and waited and then finally just when you were losing all patience (and energy) He showed up and did something far more amazing than you were expecting in the first place?

One lesson I have to keep learning is that God’s timing is very different to mine. There are things I would God to do sooner than later, people’s lives transformed, healing, peace-making etc. But who am I to tell God what to do and when to do it!?

Yesterday I was reminded of a verse from Isaiah 40 that helped me get back some right perspective:
But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
Learning to wait on the Lord has to be one of the really important goals of the Christian life. Waiting for His promise of strength to rise above the distractions and difficulties of our lives and of those whom we care about and trusting in His timing - that’s what it is all about! The notes in my study Bible say: “Even the strongest people get tired at times, but God’s power and strength never diminish. He is never too tired or too busy to help and listen. His strength is the source of our strength; when you feel all of life crushing you and cannot go another step, remember that you can call upon God to renew your strength...”(1)

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(1) Life Application Bible, N.I.V., Tyndale House Publishers, 1991, p.1228

2 comments:

Joc Sanders said...

A beautiful image, Daniel!

I'm no scholar, but I wonder whether Isaiah was talking about timing at all? Is it those who look anxiously at their watch that mount up with wings like eagles, or those who serve? To wait on the Lord is not the same as to wait for him!

God bless

Daniel & Sonja said...

Thanks Joc - that's part of the wonder of this verse, it has several facets to it, you picked up on one, I on another. Probably I'm guilty too of reading the verse subjectively into my own situation! You have made me step back and take a more objective look, for which I thank you.