What does the word “wait” mean to you?
Hard to define it without using the word “wait,” isn't it?
Looking at “wait” in the context of the Bible helped me to understands it's different shades of meaning.
Ps. 37:7 “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.”
Wait in the verse from Hebrew word lit. “to twist or whirl” impl. To dance, to writhe in pain or fear; to wait; bear, (make to) bring forth/calve; dance; drive away; fall grieviously(in pain); grieve, hope, look, make, be in pain, be much sore pained; rest; shake; shapen; be sorrowful; stay; tarry; travail; tremble; trust; wait carefully; be wounded
Human reaction to having to wait:
Ps. 69:3 “I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.”
One thing that comes to my mind on this subject is when a two-year-old asks his mother for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Now, Mom already has her hands full with baby sister and happens to be talking on the phone. She holds the receiver away from her mouth just enough to tell him, “Shhh. Wait.”
If he's obedient, he will be quiet because he expects that she will make him a pb & j as soon as she can. More than likely, all he's worried about is his growling tummy. So he will tug on her shirt and howl – as if she couldn't hear him - “I want a pean't-bu'er 'n jewy!!!!” until she turns her full attention on him. Such is life with two-year-olds.
Then they grow up.
And change.
One thing, however, never changes. No one likes to WAIT for anything!
As adults, we are required to wait for much bigger things than peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. And they can't be solved by simply hanging on Mom, either.
There MUST be a right way to wait. After all, it's the Lord who has us doing so much of it.
Our expectations - nobody wants to be disappointed...
Who/what are we placing our expectations in?
2 Thess. 3:5 “And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.”
Patient waiting could be described as full expectation; the kind of anticipation that gives us joy & peace in knowing what we're waiting for will be above and beyond our expectations.
The Lord will NEVER disappoint us!
We MUST be willing to SEARCH long and hard for Him.
Ps. 61:2 “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”
Ps. 63:1,8 “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is...My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.”
Ps. 86:4 “Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.”
Ps. 130:5-6 “I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.”
Wait - for what?
Wisdom
Ps. 25:5 “Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.”
Strength
Ps. 27:14 “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Is. 40:31 “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Hope of Righteousness
Gal. 5:5 “For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.”
Wait - why?
God will bless me if I do
Is. 30:18 “And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.”
God is good to me
Lam. 3:25-26 “The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.”
God will hear
Mic 7:7 “Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.”
Wait -how?
Patiently
2 Thess. 3:5 “And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.”
Continually
Ps. 130:5-6 “I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.”
Hos. 7:7 “Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment and wait on thy God continually.”
Waiting on Him alone~
Ps. 39:7 “And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.”
Ps. 62:5 “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.”
“wait” in Ps 62:5 means to quiet self, to be still, stop, die, rest, forbear
Godly waiting is dying to myself, placing everything in God's hands and resting there.
God doesn't intend for us to experience an empty life while we wait. We will feel an emptiness. However, we must realize that He designed us to feel this way for a purpose: He makes us wait because He wants to fill us with Himself.
Wait on Me - because I (God) said so:
I love you
Is. 43:1-5 “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee...Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee...Fear not: for I am with thee”
I have the plan
Jer. 29:11-13 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
Ps. 73:23-26 “Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.”
I want to change you to be like ME
Jas. 1:2-4 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
I will give you all you need to do it
1 Cor. 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
2 Pet. 1:3-4 “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
HE is faithful and provides everything we need to do all that He gives us to do.
Ps. 62:5 “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.”
