horton's who
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learning about God's grace
| waiting and waiting and waiting |
We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that
is waiting for us.
E. M. Forster
If you’ve ever waited for something, for example; tax refund, a phone call about a
job, the person ahead of you at Starbucks who can’t figure out which one is Venti,
or your wife to get ready – you know that it’s a difficult thing to do. In this fast paced
life we live, we are not accustomed to waiting. Almost every amenity around us
has been updated to suit. Stoves are too slow, microwaves are great. It’s too
inconvenient too talk on a phone attached to a wall – cell phones go wherever we
go. Internet surfing via dial-up is so 2000 – I can now surf at speeds of 10Mbps. (I
don’t exactly know how fast that is, but I only have to wait 3 seconds for a large file
instead of 8 seconds. The extra 5 seconds gives me time to sip my Venti Frap.)
When we expect things – NOW – in our non-spiritual world, it is extremely difficult
and frustrating when we don’t get things – NOW – in our spiritual life. Why can’t I
be wise as Solomon now? Why can’t God give me the answers to all of the world’
s sorrows now? Why can’t I feel God now? Why do I have to wait for God to do
something? Why do I have to wait at all?
Psalm 40:1 – I waited and waited and waited for God.
The Message
Most of the Psalms are uplifting and encouraging, filled with praise to a wonderful
all-powerful God. But a few of them show the stark reality of a life in need, a life
filled with the pain of disillusionment surrounded by a cruel world. There are
times in our walk with God that we identify with the psalmist who praises God on
a ten stringed lyre. (Oh, that we had a ten stringed lyre or could pick out one in a
line up.) But there are also times in our walk with God that we identify with the
psalmist as he cries out to God for help and wonders why this world can be so
agonizing. Psalm 40 is one of those psalms that the writer is in need – but also
experiences the salvation of God. And waiting is a huge part.
The NIV version of Ps 40:1 says, “I waited patiently for the Lord, He turned to me
and heard my cry.” – This is what most of us expect in the world that we live in and
the powerful God we serve; we are in need, we ask God for help, we wait patiently,
and He helps. We are taught this scenario on Sunday morning. It’s almost
restaurant worthy – We’re hungry, we sit down and look at the menu, we tell our
waitress what we want and a few minutes later we’re chowing down. But this is
not always the time frame that God works in.
The Message Translation gets the feel of the Hebrew word right in Ps 40:1. Wait -
means to gather yourself together and expectantly look for something to happen,
no matter how long it takes. This is the part that 21st Century believers have a
hard time with. Most Christians today still have the restaurant philosophy – We’re
in need, we ask God, and wait for Him to answer. That’s great – but the problem
comes when we start to look at our watch and wonder if the waitress forgot about
us when our food doesn’t come in the time that we think it should. We complain,
mumble, fill out an unfavorable comment card, and eventually leave and go to
another restaurant.
Instead, we need to understand that God knows what’s best for us. His love for us
is unconditional. He will never leave or forsake us. He doesn’t forget about us.
There is no other person that has a better solution to our need than God. So –
wait. Wait some more if God doesn’t answer when you think He should. Wait even
longer if you’re tired and frustrated. Wait with expectancy of what will happen, not
with reluctance.
God’s answer will be better than what we expect and more than what we deserve.
Wait, and wait, and wait for God.
is waiting for us.
E. M. Forster
If you’ve ever waited for something, for example; tax refund, a phone call about a
job, the person ahead of you at Starbucks who can’t figure out which one is Venti,
or your wife to get ready – you know that it’s a difficult thing to do. In this fast paced
life we live, we are not accustomed to waiting. Almost every amenity around us
has been updated to suit. Stoves are too slow, microwaves are great. It’s too
inconvenient too talk on a phone attached to a wall – cell phones go wherever we
go. Internet surfing via dial-up is so 2000 – I can now surf at speeds of 10Mbps. (I
don’t exactly know how fast that is, but I only have to wait 3 seconds for a large file
instead of 8 seconds. The extra 5 seconds gives me time to sip my Venti Frap.)
When we expect things – NOW – in our non-spiritual world, it is extremely difficult
and frustrating when we don’t get things – NOW – in our spiritual life. Why can’t I
be wise as Solomon now? Why can’t God give me the answers to all of the world’
s sorrows now? Why can’t I feel God now? Why do I have to wait for God to do
something? Why do I have to wait at all?
Psalm 40:1 – I waited and waited and waited for God.
The Message
Most of the Psalms are uplifting and encouraging, filled with praise to a wonderful
all-powerful God. But a few of them show the stark reality of a life in need, a life
filled with the pain of disillusionment surrounded by a cruel world. There are
times in our walk with God that we identify with the psalmist who praises God on
a ten stringed lyre. (Oh, that we had a ten stringed lyre or could pick out one in a
line up.) But there are also times in our walk with God that we identify with the
psalmist as he cries out to God for help and wonders why this world can be so
agonizing. Psalm 40 is one of those psalms that the writer is in need – but also
experiences the salvation of God. And waiting is a huge part.
The NIV version of Ps 40:1 says, “I waited patiently for the Lord, He turned to me
and heard my cry.” – This is what most of us expect in the world that we live in and
the powerful God we serve; we are in need, we ask God for help, we wait patiently,
and He helps. We are taught this scenario on Sunday morning. It’s almost
restaurant worthy – We’re hungry, we sit down and look at the menu, we tell our
waitress what we want and a few minutes later we’re chowing down. But this is
not always the time frame that God works in.
The Message Translation gets the feel of the Hebrew word right in Ps 40:1. Wait -
means to gather yourself together and expectantly look for something to happen,
no matter how long it takes. This is the part that 21st Century believers have a
hard time with. Most Christians today still have the restaurant philosophy – We’re
in need, we ask God, and wait for Him to answer. That’s great – but the problem
comes when we start to look at our watch and wonder if the waitress forgot about
us when our food doesn’t come in the time that we think it should. We complain,
mumble, fill out an unfavorable comment card, and eventually leave and go to
another restaurant.
Instead, we need to understand that God knows what’s best for us. His love for us
is unconditional. He will never leave or forsake us. He doesn’t forget about us.
There is no other person that has a better solution to our need than God. So –
wait. Wait some more if God doesn’t answer when you think He should. Wait even
longer if you’re tired and frustrated. Wait with expectancy of what will happen, not
with reluctance.
God’s answer will be better than what we expect and more than what we deserve.
Wait, and wait, and wait for God.