Waiting Is not for Wimps

All of us have struggles that we’re going through; illness . . . difficult relationships . . . depression . . . financial problems . . . loneliness . . . I deal with a lot of insecurity. What are you struggling with right now?

When life becomes overwhelming, what do you do? There are lots of options that our culture encourages us to try, and they can be useful. We can take a run, get control of a cluttered room in the house, take some time apart in nature to just breathe – there are lots of things we can do. But, as believers in Christ, how does our faith shape our reaction to the events in life we can’t control? What do we need in order to get through these times that try our souls?

We need Hope. I’m not talking about rubbing a good luck charm as we walk out the door or even carrying one along with us in our pocket, hoping that it will somehow change things for the better. I’m talking about staking our claim on a truth, getting a stranglehold on it, and refusing to let go in spite of all odds – in spite of medical diagnoses, loneliness, financial numbers, or even personal betrayal.

Psalm 27:13-14 says:

"I am still confident of this:

I will see the goodness of the LORD

in the land of the living.

Wait for the LORD;

be strong and take heart

and wait for the LORD."

Did you read that? Really read that? Go back and read it again. If you like, you can look up all of Psalm 27. The Psalmist has been dealing with some nasty stuff – war, slander, betrayal by parents – and yet he is still confident in God’s goodness. He is still confident that he’ll see that goodness. He doesn’t insist on something specific – deliverance, justice, beating the odds – but he knows he’ll see it. He holds onto the hope that God has the power and goodness to change his situation.

But in order to see that change, what will he have to do? He’ll have to wait. For the Lord. Notice, this isn’t the “I won’t worry about dealing with anything until God comes to my rescue” kind of waiting where he is passively allowing himself to be tossed about by anything and everything that happens to him. This is a hard waiting, a courageous waiting. He tells us that we need to “be strong and take heart” – have courage – in order to wait for the Lord.

Why does it take so much strength and courage? Because while we’re waiting, we must hold onto HOPE. It takes strength to hold onto that hope; it takes courage to not give in to despair. Waiting is not for wimps. Holding onto hope - in the LORD - can be one of the hardest things we do. But He'll help us do it. He'll give us the strength and the courage we need to hold onto the hope of seeing His goodness in our lives. So, be strong. Take courage. And wait on the LORD - in hope.