waiting on the Lord

We had some beautiful friends for supper the other night, and while Lily gleefully rough-housed with their kids, we had an awesome time of sharing and encouraging one another. Janiel (John-yell) has the God-given gift of joy and encouragement, and since the moment we moved here (he was one of Matt's first students), he has unceasingly reminded us to put our faith, hope and energy into the Lord, not OMS or the Haitian people.

"Ah, but He IS faithful, Go to Him!" Janiel always tells us, and then frequently bursts into spontaneous prayers for us, or songs of praise unto the Lord. Moments like these with families like this bless the deepest parts of our hearts.

Meanwhile, the concept of "waiting on the Lord" has been working on me for several months now. I mean, what does that MEAN? And WHY is it so clearly highly valued by God?

Isaiah 40:1 - Those who wait upon the Lord will gain new strength and will mount up with wings like eagles, run and not grow tired, walk and not become weary.

Isaiah 64:4 - ...God, who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him.

Psalm 130:6 - My soul waits for the Lord, more than the watchman waits for the morning

What does that even mean? I frequently hear it referred to like this: "I didn't have enough money to send my daughter to school this session, but I am waiting on the Lord for next session" or "It's not working out great now, but let us wait for the Lord!"

I keep getting this image of me tapping my foot at the front gate, running late, anxiously looking at my watch and searching the road for God to be hustling down the way to meet me. I should be standing there waiting more patiently, perhaps?

I don't think that's what this is the kind of "waiting" the Word is referring to! First, if waiting on the Lord is checking your watch and trying to patiently WAIT for Him, it seems to suggest that He's not already THERE, and that He is LATE. I don't think that the verse "God acts on behalf of those that wait for Him" is in support of those who are extra patient for their Friend to come.

This morning, as I was reading through Isaiah 40-50, anxious to hear from Him and to be pleasing in His sight, I imagined something quite different that I think might better serve His desire.

When my baby sister turned 21, we took her to Chicago to celebrate with a weekend of fine dining, Broadway and tourism. For fun, I had found a REALLY fancy restaurant online, and we took her there for her big evening. I have never eaten at such an extravagant place! The food was exquisite, the atmosphere luxurious and the company was very high class. The craziest part, however, was the service.

The entire meal, there was a waiter standing 3 or 4 feet behind EACH of us, right off our right elbow. If you dropped your napkin, your waiter swooped in behind you put it back on your lap before it had even touched the floor. If you took more than 2 or 3 sips of water, your waiter was quietly refilling your glass. He was ever-present, calm and collected, completely focused on my actions, calm but anxiously poised and ready to go when I indicated.

As I think more about this, it seems possible that image better represents what "Waiting on the Lord" IS.

Waiting on the Lord: being RIGHT at his elbow continually, studying Him carefully, being close enough to Him and focused enough on Him that if He speaks to me, I HEAR it. Not off to the side, distracted by my own thing, but empty handed, poised and ready to go at His indication.

I am not telling Him what to order. I'm not telling Him what I need or want. I'm not in a different room, making nice things for Him or building little gifts for Him. I'm not working on a project for Him. HE is working on building His kingdom, and I am just anxious to be used by Him.

When He speaks, I am not tied down, too rooted, too worried about others, too comfortable, too proud, too afraid or too busy to respond. I am ready and willing and overjoyed to respond. Immediately.

I am WAITING on Him. I'm not in a frenzy, not worried about what might happen next, or how I messed up earlier. I am in the moment with Him, eyes eagerly studying His face, His hands, His position with anticipation. And when He acts, I respond. Right then.

Obviously, the analogy falls apart in some places, but this image is helping me throughout the day to stop and say, "Does my life represent one that is waiting upon the Lord?"

Am I right at His elbow, watching Him build His kingdom, anxious to be pleasingly used by Him? Or am I distracted by doing my own things for Him, for His children, for myself, missing when He speaks? Am I running around like crazy in my heart, attending a million customers and a million tasks? Or is He IT for me? When I DO hear His voice, DO sense His leading, am I too comfortable or too selfish to budge? My hands too full? My feet too planted? Or am I ready!? Is it about me? Or am I glued, eye, hand and foot to Him?

Ah, Lord, help me be a better Waiter!

those who Hopefully wait for Me will not be put to shame...Isaiah 49:23