Wait

Wait is a four-letter word. Waiting is not something I want to hear and especially do not want to do. Recently, I went to DMV on the last day of the month. (Don’t judge me). The first indication that I was in trouble— there were no parking places with a line watching for the first person to exit the building to get their place. When I did get in, after parking a far track away, I took the 3-digit number that was a long way from what was currently being called and the realization really sunk in, it was going to be quite a wait. And that it was. There were people groaning, sighing, cursing, walking out—none of which helped get what they were after nor improved the atmosphere for others.

I wonder how often we view the word “wait” in scripture as similar to my experience at the DMV. Isaiah 40:30-31, “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, 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.” The word “wait” in the Hebrew means “to bind together (perhaps by twisting, or expect, gather, look, patiently, tarry.” Melissa Tumino in an article, Think About These Things,says, “Those “who bind together” with Him shall renew their strength. “Waiting” is a proactive stance of drawing close to God.”

In the New Testament there are several references to waiting as well. The Greek word for wait is “perimeno”—meaning to abide, to tarry, to continue to be present, to last and endure. Again, these are not passive words. They are actively looking for the outcome as they follow in obedience to the Lord. One of the scriptures is found in Acts 1:4 when Jesus told his disciple to wait for the promise He was going to send where they would receive power through the being baptized in the Holy Spirit. The 120 that followed these instructions in the Upper Room were actively seeking because not only because it was and instruction, or show of unity with one another rather they were actively pursuing a deeper relationship with Him and strength through Him for the journey with fulfillment ahead.

Just think of the word “wait” in the Old and New Testament combined In the Old Testament, I particularly like the example of “binding” a rope together. It makes it stronger, but most of all they become one. In the New Testament “wait” the “continually being present” in the process stand out to me. Putting these two concepts together there is another level to be gained as we intentionally, purposefully, actively wait on the Lord to grow in Him, while actively being present with Him to fulfill His promise. Waiting is “the workout regime” of the Spirit— to dig deep, to grow strong, to learn the power of obedience and experience the faithfulness of God to you. Waiting is not easy, but waiting on the Lord is the key to a victorious walk with Christ. Hang in there—-it is worth it!