"I Will Wait For You"

“Take a number!” the DMV lady boldly instructs. “Then you’ll need to stand over there,” she points with an over-caffeinated finger. You’ll take another number and then you’ll wait some more. Two hours and three lines later, I have my license renewed.

We live in a fast-paced, get out of my way world where waiting is tangled up in our everyday lives. As the tips of our toes tap against the floor, we wait and we wait some more. We can be seen waiting at a doctor’s office, at an intersection, for an oven to pre-heat, for test results, and even to use the restroom.

Long ago, after being anointed with oil and proclaimed King, David the shepherd boy waits. He probably thinks to himself, “Why am I still leading these sheep when I ought to be leading God’s people?” While he waits to become King, he learns obedience, gains confidence, delivers messages, serves others, overcomes insecurities, depends on God and becomes a great warrior. This sounds like our everyday lives, don’t you think?

Think back on the last time God asked you to wait for something. Did you wait actively or passively?

David is a great example of someone who waits patiently on God. He resists the temptation to speed up the process. He is content with who he is and whose he is in that moment.

While David waits for God’s perfect timing he must have written Psalm 23.

“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want [to be King right away; help me to wait on you];

He makes me lie down in green pastures,[God, help me to wait on you as I rest in you];

He leads me beside quiet waters,[Lord, please help me to reflect on your great name];

He restores my soul [Lord, please bring restoration to my life];

He guides me in paths of righteousness,
for his name's sake [God guide me down the path of right choices while I wait].

The next time we find ourselves waiting…

We must learn to be content where we are;

Learn to have inner peace in the season of life we are in;

Learn to recognize growth opportunities in our walk with Jesus;

Refuse to settle for our best when we can wait for God’s best;

Realize God’s developing our character in these moments.

I will wait for you, Jesus… however long it takes. While I wait please help me to be still and know you are God (Ps 46:10); help me to remember you alone are my hope (Ps 33:20); help me to praise your name and rejoice in you while I wait (Ps 33:21); and please renew my strength so I will be able to wait patiently on you (Isaiah 40:31).