The Challenge of Waiting

“'I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.” — Psalm 40:1 ESV

If you’re anything like me, patiently waiting is a challenge. Even when the thing I’m waiting for is guaranteed to happen, and I know it will be a blessing, it is hard to wait.

Last week, my wife and my four-month-old kid took a six-day trip to Michigan. I had to stay back to work on grad school, so they went without me. It was so hard to wait for them to return. Even when I knew they were coming back on Monday and would be excited to see me, it took effort to keep moving forward and wait for their arrival. When they eventually made it home, I was waiting in the driveway for them to pull in!

I’m not sure David is talking about this kind of patience. Living life is about moments of anticipation and excitement. On their wedding day, a bride and groom have the full right to be anxious to be together.

I think what David is talking about when he describes patiently waiting is about being steadfast and trusting. Waiting becomes more of a challenge when danger or risk is involved. We are often called to wait patiently when we do not have any more solutions and cannot see the outcome. In the moment, taking things into our own hands feels wise, but when we realize that God has a plan to deliver us, we can quickly step out of his grace.

It’d be like if, on my wedding day, Erin was delayed in arriving, so I began to look for another wife frantically. That sounds odd, but it is more like our human tendency than we may realize.

Our patience is tested when we have to trust God for the things we want the most. When finances get tight, do we start worrying and begin job hunting? When a relationship gets challenging, do we look for an easier friendship? When your church goes through a struggle, do you start looking for another place of worship?

Understand that these are things I have had to face, and we all have to face. There is something in us that desires to rise up and take control of situations that we do not feel like we can afford to trust God with.

I’m wondering where God is calling you to wait patiently today?

There is a suspended moment that happens when we put our trust in the Lord. Sometimes it is for literally a few seconds. Other times it is for an extended season. Waiting will reveal that the Lord’s answers are always exactly what we need. I challenge you to read through more of Psalm 40—even just the first five verses. Let God speak to you about the value of waiting. There is hardly a greater joy than to experience God’s deliverance, but sometimes we have to wait. In this way, waiting can become worship as we glorify God’s faithfulness in advance of his provision.

Perhaps this waiting could move from worried restraint to anticipation for how God will deliver. Are you waiting today?

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