What Will You Do While You Wait?

Remember back in the day, before they taught calculus in kindergarten, kids used to have quiet time in the classroom. When my kids were little, one of the things on their “school supply” list was a mat or bed roll to lay out for nap time. The teachers recognized the need for the kids to slow down, to give their brains a chance to rest, so they could be refreshed and ready to absorb the second half of the day. Some kids didn’t nap, but they’d look at a book or color quietly. For them, resting didn’t necessarily mean sleeping, it was simply a time to relax with an activity that didn’t require a lot of thought.

As believers of Christ, we are asked to wait on God. That is not the same as waiting for a bus, or waiting for a pot of water to boil. It’s about making our requests known to Him and then trusting in His timing and His will to respond. We can’t sit idly while God is working out His master plan; we have to remain active and vigilant in our walk with Him. Isaiah 40:31 says, “But they who wait for 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.” Exercise makes us stronger, but it can leave us exhausted. This verse shows us that waiting on God will make us stronger, and even though we remain active while we wait, it will not exhaust us to the point of being weary or faint.

The word “wait” in the Hebrew language implies hopeful anticipation. When my kids were anticipating something great, you’d think they ate a handful of Mexican jumping beans, or had ants in their pants. They could not be still! We need to get a little pep in our step while we’re “waiting” on the Lord. You may be in a situation that doesn’t seem worthwhile of celebration, but with a smile on your face, and a good dose of hopeful expectation, wait on God a little while longer and watch His promise to give you rest in your time of need come true.