The Process of Waiting

UV 898/10,000 The Process of Waiting “But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always.” Hosea 12 v 6 All mankind is born with the chains of sin wrapped around us just as the umbilical cord turns around the new born baby. We can see it even in our nature as children or in the loveliest child that was born. At the same time there is a yearning to return to our God who made us in His image. Only our bodies are made in our parents’ image or likeness but our spirit is made in the image of God. So our spirits long for the company and intimacy of fellowship of the Creator. God’s absolute holiness and justice prevents that from happening until we are prepared to accept the absolution of mercy and love that He Himself planned and provided for us in His Son Jesus. Hence there is always a waiting period before we return to the Lord. In order to return to the Father’s bosom or intimate fellowship, we need to rend not our garments or beat our chests but we need to rend our hearts. The prodigal son’s heart was broken at the memory of his wilfulness in attempting to leave his father’s house. Once he repented and returned to his house, shorn of his stubbornness, pride and evil, the waiting and expectant father rushed forward to receive him back in his arms. Similarly, the Lord is waiting for every one of His flock to return to Him. Even after we return to the Lord, we are to wait continually for the resolution of many issues and unanswered questions in our lives. As we wait patiently and with praise and thanksgiving mixed with expectancy or faith, our spiritual strength will be renewed. We will rise on the wings of prayer and the Word. Like the eagle we will ascend above the storms in our lives. While we wait we are to keep God’s judgment and mercy always in our view. We are to be just and merciful in our own lives to reflect our intimacy with God. Waiting is the process that God uses to mature and renew us spiritually in His image. We are being prepared for His Kingdom. The nascent new born attitudes of love and justice will over the time of waiting become attributes of our character and inner being. Waiting is God’s gestation period. The more complex species in nature have longer gestation periods. Hence , the longer the waiting period, the greater is the patience that is required, the greater the faith and the greater is the work that the Lord is going to do in a person’s life. Wait means “ Worship (for who He is and what He has done) And I Trust ( Him for what He is going to do in the present and future). Prateep V Philip