The Lost Art of Waiting: The Next Door of Opportunity
You could pop your mug into the microwave oven and in two minutes have instant coffee to kickstart your morning. If you realize there’s a smudge on your shirt, your instant stain remover will have erased it in no time. And when you plop down in front of your computer to begin browsing, with the click of a button you can access an instant download to suit your needs.
From fast food and streaming services to instant messages and same-day delivery, society sweeps us away in its hurried hustle. Whether we like it or not, you and I live in an instant world!
Sometimes I get on a roll and don’t realize how impatient these petty luxuries have made me. If a web browser doesn’t load or a light doesn’t turn green, what’s taking so long?
When I slow down long enough to read my Bible, though, I encounter something different. God seems to think waiting is good for us.
“The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.”
– Lamentations 3:25-26
Even more so, He commands us to it! Using the words of David, He urges us in the Psalms:
“Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!” – 27:14
“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him … Wait for the LORD and keep His way” – Psalm 37:7, 34
Of course it is difficult, but never in vain. Isaiah 40:31 says that “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.”
What are we waiting for exactly? To put it simply, we are prayerfully expecting the Lord to act (Psalm 37:5). Perhaps it is like the times of Habakkuk.
“Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.” – 1:5
Indeed, Isaiah 64:4 affirms, “From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides You, who acts for those who wait for Him.”
God’s Provision: Sometimes we wait for vengeance (Proverbs 20:22), other times for provision (Psalm 145:15-16). We wait on the Lord for deliverance and help (Psalm 33:18-20), justice and mercy (Isaiah 30:18), steadfast love and redemption (Psalm 130:5-7).
Most of all, we wait for His coming! As the farmer awaits “the precious fruit of the earth,” so we establish our hearts for the day of the Lord (James 5:7-8).
The reward is always worth the wait!
Word of the Week: Long-suffering. God is exceedingly patient with us (2 Peter 3:9). We also can endure with tolerance and without complaint as He fulfills His plan for us.
Abby
To surprise someone is to cause them to feel “mild astonishment or shock.” To astonish someone is to “surprise or impress” them “greatly.” To impress someone is to generate feelings of “admiration or interest.” (Thank you, Oxford Languages!)
More than a grammar lesson, I am drawn to these definitions to help me understand one of my favorite stories from the Bible. It goes like this:
After teaching, Jesus entered a village where He was approached by some elders of the Jews on behalf of a Roman military officer. These envoys “pleaded with Him earnestly” (Luke 7:4) at their masters’ request: “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly” (Matthew 8:6). Jesus responded with compassion: “I will come and heal him” (Matthew 8:7). But He didn’t get very far before the Roman sent word via his friends: “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof … Therefore I did not presume to come to you … But only say the word, and my servant will be healed” (Matthew 8:8, Luke 7:7). He explained that he too was “a man set under authority” (Luke 7:8), with soldiers at his disposal to carry out his bidding (Matthew 8:9). “When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him,” Luke reports; and declared Matthew adds, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.”
What surprises me is Jesus’ surprise! By no means was He caught off guard, rather delighted and awed by this man’s faith.
To marvel is to “be filled with wonder or astonishment.” Jesus Christ the Triune Son of God, Maker of all things and King over all the earth, was astonished at a single act of faith expressed by someone outside the chosen nation of God.
Faith pleases God, as we know from Hebrews 11:6, and Ephesians tells us it is a gift from God.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” – 2:8
“Not a result of works,” the author adds, so we have no grounds for boasting. Faith is produced and given by the Holy Spirit, all for “the praise of His glorious grace” (Ephesians 1).
That’s why I am all the more amazed at Jesus’ reaction to the centurion. Not only did He commend his faith but also grant his entreaty. Matthew says “the servant was healed at that very moment,” such that “when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well” (Luke 7:10).
God’s Provision: God does not always answer our prayers exactly as we petition Him to. Yet,
“This is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him.”
– 1 John 5:14
Word of the Week: Marvel
Abby
Dear Younger Me,
It’s fun to buy new school supplies, but when you don’t get all brand-new school supplies, choose contentment. When Mom does let you pick out some new things, cherish it all the more. But learn the way of contentment and stewardship as you use the folders and pens and such that you’ve used in years past. Really, if they’re still good, you don’t need to buy new ones. It’s fun to start the school year off with something new, I know. But it doesn’t make or break your year. And someday you’ll appreciate that Mom asked you to use what you already had because it saved money. And the stuff you have really is still usable. That’s being a good steward.
Love,
Megan
A person is composed of far more than the physical space they occupy. You know how it is! A personality enters a room, relationship, or routine and completely changes the dynamic.
Presence comes with persona. And so it is with God, but on an infinitely loftier scale!
How could I even begin to describe God’s presence? He fills the entire earth, His Spirit radiating glory and infusing loving kindness into the far reaches of the world!
“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!”
– Isaiah 6:3
“He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.”
– Psalm 33:5
God is ever-present among His creation—compassionate to provide for each organism, merciful to rescue mankind from sin. As He moves, we respond in worship!
“His splendor covered the heavens, and the earth was full of His praise.”
– Habakkuk 3:3
This is the very same God who comforts me in sorrow, uplifts me in disappointment, and ministers to my journey. Psalm 46 says He is “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” In other words, He is always available as a source of protection and power!
As leader of God’s people Israel, Moses points this out in Deuteronomy 4:7.
“For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon Him?”
God’s Word is full of promises to befriend us with His presence. Deuteronomy 31:6 and 8 assure us that the Lord goes before us and will be with us, never leaving or forsaking us. Joshua 1:9 reiterates that God is with us wherever we go. Psalm 23:4 contains the comfort of God’s presence in “the valley of the shadow of death.”
Ultimately, He presented Himself among us in flesh. God the Son became one of us—human—to dwell among us (John 1:14).
His message is one of hope.
“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus.”
– Acts 3:19-20
God’s Provision: One day, all will be acquainted with this God. “As the waters cover the sea,” so will the earth be full of the knowledge of the LORD God (Isaiah 11:9, Habakkuk 2:14). We can claim Psalm 73: “Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory” (23-24).
Word of the Week: Midst. God stirs, sings, and saves within and among us. For, “The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing” (Zephaniah 3:17).
The essence of God’s presence meets every need, calms every fear, and satisfies every hope.
Abby
Dear Younger Me,
You always have hope because you always have Jesus. Jesus Himself is hope – that He lived, and defeated sin and death, and gave you salvation and freedom and a promise of restoration someday. So when your situation seems desperate and without hope, never fail to remember that with Jesus in you and you in Him, you really aren’t without hope. Cling to him, cling to His promises, that you won’t give up your belief in Him, His power to do all things, and His good and perfect knowledge and will that even when things don’t go the way you want them to, you can trust that He is enough, that your miracle could still be right down the road, and that ultimately the hard stuff does not last forever. Look to Hebrews 6 to read about the certainty of hope in Him, words like “a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.” It’s exactly what your heart needs.
Love,
Megan
It’s all you can do to keep track of work schedules, sports practices, and summer activities for your family, let alone stay connected with friends or help community causes. An article here, news story there might keep you informed about important happenings elsewhere, but that may be all you have time for!
It would be a full-time job to keep up with national news and global events. One thirty-minute segment of local news has me overwhelmed!
The other night, I was watching the resounding, repeating report … Shootings here, individual hospitalized there, parade or protest downtown, new medical findings. And that was just the preview! Mind whirling, I didn’t know what to think.
But on second thought, I do know. The God I serve is in charge! The Bible says He is King of all the earth (Psalm 47:7).
“O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you.”
– 2 Chronicles 20:6
He appoints nations to rise up and causes them to fall down (Job 12:23). He counsels leaders and observes inhabitants (Psalm 33:11, 13-15). Indeed, “God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne” (Psalm 47:8).
In fact, all human establishments and governances originate from Him.
“He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place.”
– Acts 17:26
Romans 13:1 further clarifies that all governing authorities are instituted by God. We are called to dutifully submit in accordance with God’s law.
“All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. For kingship belongs to the LORD, and He rules over the nations.”
– Psalm 22:27-28
Even kings of pagan empires will bow to God’s sovereignty, as Nebuchadnezzar did in Daniel 4.
“His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and He does according to His will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand or say to Him, ‘What have you done?’”
– Verses 34b-35
God’s Provision: At the end of the day, “the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth” (Psalm 47:2). And, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom He has chosen as His heritage!” (Psalm 33:12). In justice, God honors the upright who follow Him.
Word of the Week: Paramountcy. A word I newly learned, meaning supreme power or authority. God owns the place of highest importance.
All that occurs, both in hometowns and halfway across the world, is resolutely directed by the hand of God.
Abby
Dear Younger Me,
Don’t compare your holiday to anyone else’s. All the times your neighbors have large family get-togethers and your family doesn’t go anywhere…choose not to be jealous. When you’re upset because someone got sick and the holiday doesn’t look the same as last year, choose to see the good. When you think others have it better and more exciting, try to find joy right where you are. Wallowing in self-pity makes it worse, and when you think about it, it’s silly to pity a holiday at home when you’re with your family. And you’re going to realize someday that doing nothing on a holiday might actually be really relaxing and wonderful! And keeping it simple with the people you love might just be what you need.
And there will be plenty of times when you will get to do the fun and exciting things, which you will cherish! Those memories will certainly be amazing. Just don’t let your desire for the big things cause you to miss out on appreciating the quiet moments of a holiday at home with your family.
Love,
Megan
A text pops up on your lock screen or you notice a handwritten card in the stack of mail. Someone you know reaches out to you or calls you. Isn’t it wonderful to be thought of by another?
Life is an interconnected web of relationships. Of the billions of other people on this planet, it sure is nice to know somebody sees, cares about, and appreciates you. Even in personal circles, individuals can get overlooked … but to know you are noticed and valued is reassuring.
I feel loved every time someone encourages me with their words or does something thoughtful for me. Even more profound is the mind-blowing reality that both the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ are interceding on behalf of the saints to the Father in Heaven. Two members of the Trinity are united in prayer over the redeemed people of God.
Romans 8 draws the curtain back for us.
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God … Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”
– Verses 26-27, 34
I can only imagine what Christ appeals for my sake! I am so grateful John 17 offers a peek at the content of Jesus’ intercessions. He speaks to the Father of “the people whom you gave me out of the world” (6). “I am praying for them,” He states, “for they are yours” (9).
“Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one … I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” – Verses 11, 15-17
Our Savior expresses His desire to share His glory with believers of all times, propagate His love through faithful followers, and bring us to where He is. How He truly loves us!
God’s Provision: Isaiah confirms that the Lord’s purposes cannot be thwarted or reversed (14:27). What He sets out to do, He does, for His will is always accomplished.
If God’s Son and Spirit are advocating to that end, certainly it will come to pass for us!
Word of the Week: Iota. The ninth letter of the Greek alphabet, representing an extremely small amount. Jesus promises, “Until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished” (Matthew 5:18).
Dear Younger Me,
Keep sitting at the table. I know there’s no other choice, since you aren’t allowed to leave the table until after the devotion is done, and the dishes are all cleared and washed, even though you’d rather run off and play. You don’t realize it now, but some day you will appreciate those moments where you had family devotions and prayed together. You’ll be thankful for Grandpa grabbing the devotional and Bible at the end of lunch and his consistent prayers. You’ll be thankful for Mom opening up the Bible after dinner to read a Psalm and ask questions. You’ll appreciate the example your family set for you and their heart to lead you in Jesus.
I hope that their example will inspire you, that someday you will help similarly lead your family with your husband, that it’s not a matter of checking off the boxes to be a good leader in God’s eyes, but it’s from your heart and a desire to walk with your family before God. Thank God for the example you are growing up with and for the spiritual leaders of your family, because this is such a blessing.
Love,
Megan
The sun that shines onto your kitchen counter each morning and the dust that settles on the headboard trace back to the same source. The graceful doe scampering through a cornfield, the melody of your favorite tune, and the force that keeps you upright as you walk this earth all have one thing in common. You and I as well are bound together because of this same unifying quality.
“All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD.” – Isaiah 66:2
Each and every cell, creature, and ecosystem exist because in the beginning the eternal God spoke the heavens and earth into being (Genesis 1:1). “For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:16).
Every life form and process have been instituted and are sustained by God. He is the one who prescribes limits for the sea and commands the dawn to know its place (Job 38:10, 12). He alone enters the springs of the sea, storehouses of snow and hail, and dwelling of light (16, 19, 22). The one who numbers clouds and channels torrents of rain personally attends to the bear and her cubs, young lions, and ravens, that they may find food (25, 37, 39-41).
And He who cares for the sparrow and the field lily also provides for mankind (Matthew 6:26, 30). It is as David muses in the Psalms.
“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” – 8:3-4
In yet another act of grace, the Maker reveals Himself through His works, so that we may know Him. “For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made” (Romans 1:20).
We conclude what Jeremiah did: “Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you” (32:17).
God’s Provision: He continues. “You show steadfast love to thousands … O great and mighty God, whose name is the LORD of hosts, great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the children of man.” As a mere human being, I cannot even comprehend the magnitude of all God has made and done. Yet still, He cares about what I eat for breakfast and how I feel about life.
Word of the Week: Vast. The word itself implies greatness and immensity yet fails to capture the enormity and expanse of the Sovereign Creator of all things. Indeed, “O LORD my God, you are very great!” (Psalm 104:1).
Abby
