The Process of Waiting

UV 1504/10,000 The Process of Waiting

Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.

Micah 7 v 7


The verses preceding this uni-verse talks of a man’s enemies being the members of his own household and that one should not trust a neighbour or put confidence in a friend, to be careful with one’s words to one’s own spouse. Then this uni-verse states that one should put one ‘s trust in the Lord God and Him alone. The word “ therefore” means that there is no point in trusting flesh and blood or even one’s own near and dear or kith and kin or the mighty in position and power. One should look to the Lord as a watchman looks for the rising sun on the horizon as it would signify that he can now return home and take rest. Just as the sun would certainly rise, the God of our salvation will appear. We should only be ready to wait and not be anxious or hasty. Our wait in life is a wait with a hopeful attitude. The Lord promises to save us from all our troubles. We only need to pray in the morning, at noon and in the evening and wait for Him to answer our cries. As we wait we should affirm to our souls, “ My God will certainly hear me.”

The Lord will strengthen us as we wait. He will work on us from the inside as we wait it out. He is not making us to wait to test our patience but to build up our faith and hope. We should wait without complaining or murmuring. We should wait with a sense of inner joy and confidence in the Lord that He will not let us down. He will more than just fulfill our hope. Our souls and spirits are not idling or kept dormant during times of waiting but are prepared for the Lord’s work. Knowledge of the character of God and His competence to answer all prayers though the petitions and request might now seem impossible enables us to wait patiently.

What does trusting the Lord with all one’s heart mean? We need to pour out our hearts and our concerns fully to Him, empty ourselves of all anxiety, fear, distrust and doubt. We should not allow our faith or hope to slacken or weaken over time. Instead, we cultivate a spirit of expectancy, joy and gratitude even before receiving or perceiving the answer. We do everything that lies within our means, our reach and power. We do everything that is natural and obvious for us to do. But we do not try to help God the way Sarah tried to provide her maid for Abraham to sire a male heir to fulfil God’s promise to him. We do not tire of waiting and are prepared to wait as long as it takes. We should not look on the gestation period of hope and faith with frustration. It is not as if nothing is happening though nothing seems to be happening. What we are hoping for is being prepared or formed. We should not try to box or fit God and His working into our time table or calendar. He may in His sovereignty decide to do it now or instantly, after a short time, a long time or over generations and in eternity. God is with us for the long haul. He is the only one with us on the eternal plane.

Prateep V Philip