We’re all waiting for something: waiting for this pandemic to end, waiting for some normality to arrive, waiting for the economy to get back on its feet, waiting for healing, waiting for provision, waiting for a breakthrough … Are you becoming frustrated with all this waiting?
There’s a huge difference between simply waiting and waiting on God. Waiting can be filled with impatience, while waiting on God can be filled with expectation and hope. We are all waiting for the day ‘when’ finally arrives: when the breakthrough happens, when life returns to a bit of normalcy, when we can emerge from this pandemic and walk into the new season ahead. For the most part when is out of our control — when is God’s terrain.
Living in the space of when is living in the face of uncertainty. COVID-19 reminded us that we live in a temporal world; and as such, it consists of multiple uncertainties. Outside of Christ, there are few guarantees or real solid answers in life. God’s promise is for great strength. He does not grow faint or weary and He gives power to those that do.
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary; there is no searching of His understanding. He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound].
(Isaiah 40:28–29 AMPC)
Isaiah chapter 40 is full of promises, but they are conditional. What is the condition? To know how to wait upon God.
Here are three points to consider when it comes to waiting on God:
- As long as you think you can accomplish something in your own strength, God will let you try, and your weakness will soon be exposed.
- God will not require more of you than what He empowers you to fulfill. He strengthens you for the task and mission entrusted to you.
- Never look at tomorrow’s burdens with today’s strength. God will anoint and strengthen you each day.
Waiting is challenging and at times, it may seem like God is silent or as if He is not seeing or hearing you. My friend, don’t grow weary in the waiting.
Even youths shall faint and be weary, and [selected] young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted … (Isaiah 40:30 AMPC)
When life feels like it has pinned you against the wall, be assured that nothing is hidden from God. Nothing gets past Him. He sees all. He knows all. He never overlooks you.
The reality is, we are just not good at waiting in the suspended space of when and many of our weaknesses stem from impatience. When there is no established timeframe, it’s easy to run ahead and make your own plans. The mistake that most impatient people (like me) make is assuming something must be done straight away. We can be so anxious to get going, to move toward a solution or to find an answer, that we start going in the wrong direction. The key is to wait on the Lord for His direction, wisdom and strength.
But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.
(Isaiah 40:31 AMPC)
This suspended space called when doesn’t have to lead you into weariness. I believe God is up to something bigger than we can imagine in this season; He’s working in all things with eternal purposes in mind. Did He send the pandemic? I don’t think so. Did He cause economic instability? No. However, can He use these things? Absolutely. Romans 8:28 (NKJV) reads, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God.”
When I think about God’s greatness and His endless wisdom and strength, I’m instantly encouraged. Imagine running and not growing weary, walking and not growing faint — this is the kind of strength God supplies to those who wait on Him. Waiting around is futile; our hope is in waiting on the Lord.
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary; there is no searching of His understanding. He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound]. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and [selected] young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted; But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.
(Isaiah 40:28-31 AMPC)
