Remember, in the Waiting
Jesus waited. He always waited to hear from the Father, before doing anything. He waited in the garden, knowing what was to come. Jesus waited on the cross, in agony, remembering you and me.
While waiting for something we hope for, we are required to dismiss distractions and face the matter at hand. But we get tired of waiting, we become afraid, unsure, and begin to doubt our foundation. Within the waiting, the enemy tempts us to mistrust the faithfulness of our Father. So when the doubt comes, we must look to Jesus, who knows of waiting. Even on the cross, He remembered His Father was trustworthy and believed His plan to be worth waiting for.
Sometimes we’re like the people waiting for Moses to come down from the mountain after speaking with God. They took matters into their own hands and asked Aaron to make a new god to lead them. He collected their gold and created a calf-shaped idol. At the same time, God was giving Moses the details for Aaron and his sons to be the priests of the tabernacle – the place where God’s Spirit would dwell! Why did Aaron and the people forget that God was trustworthy? He had just saved them from slavery in Egypt!
So quickly we, too, forget the things that God has spoken to our hearts and done for us in the past. Instead of waiting on God’s best, we put ourselves in control and become our own god. Let’s remember that God is constantly detailing good plans for us, just like He did for Aaron, and wait on His perfect plan to unfold.
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. ~Proverbs 3:3-6
Set Your Mind on Jesus
During worship recently, I saw a picture. I was standing on the shore of the beach looking out towards the water and Jesus was calling me to set my mind on Him. He was standing in a boat with His gaze fixed on me. His hair blew around His face, and for a time, He was all I saw.
How do we continue to keep our eyes on Him when we become afraid? What do we do when things don’t work out in our time and our way? Are we willing to surrender our fear of what could happen in the future, as we wait? God tells us to keep His truth before us, and to submit all to Him – so He can set things straight. He requires a time of testing and a time of teaching while we wait. If we are willing to surrender, then Jesus will help us to keep our face towards Him.
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. ~Galatians 6:9
Reason in the Waiting
Growth is a slow matter. We need to allow the time that Jesus needs to reveal His truth, His way. If He taught us everything at once, it would be too much. In His kindness, He unveils wisdom and truth, one layer at a time. As the layers of truth build, our maturity is established. Our faith is strengthened as we walk with Him, rely on Him, and believe the truth of His Word, even when we can’t yet see it.
Our King wants to teach us so many beautiful things about Himself, if we will just get quiet with Him and trust Him. If we will choose to surrender and set our gaze on Jesus, then He will show us His faithfulness within our waiting. In His perfect time, we will see His promise fulfilled.
Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. ~Deuteronomy 7:9