Waiting to Leave...

I can’t say that I enjoy waiting.

When the car in front of me fails to recognize that the traffic light has recently turned green, I like to gently remind them with my horn. That's on a normal day when I am not in a hurry or hungry.

I hope that never happens when I’m hungry.

When I was 10 years old I was given a small plaque with an eagle on it and a verse from Isaiah 40:31 which reads:

“but 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.” (Isa 40:31)

I wanted this to become my life verse. Not because I understood the deeper lessons of waiting on God, but because I liked eagles. I was 10. I wanted to be like one. The deeper meaning of this verse could wait.

Now, 30 years later, I am learning that our God is a God that often makes us wait. As I'm waiting for Japan to open their borders, I'm reminded of how God had Abraham wait 25 years for a promised son, Israel waited 40 years in the wilderness to enter the promised land, and David waited 10 years to be king after being anointed by Samuel.

Scripture continually commands us to wait on God:

Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD! (Psa 27:14)

But Why? Why does God make us wait? I think understanding God’s purpose in waiting is important, so let's take the example of Abraham. Romans provides a clear commentary about his waiting:

He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” (Rom 4:19-22)

I think a common theme is starting to stand out to me. God strengthens us as we wait on Him. He matures us. He makes us more like Christ. We honor God when we seek Him alone to satisfy the desires of our heart. We give Him glory when we believe His promises and wait on Him. It is a testimony to others of our faith in Him - the kind of faith that changes us, the kind of faith that saves.

So, I suppose the next time the car in front of me forgets that a green light means go, or I get discouraged that Japan's borders aren't open yet, I can gently remind myself God is using this to mature me. I can wait.

I'll be an eagle today.