But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
We have entered Pentecost season. It was on the day of Pentecost that the church was born, based on a promise Jesus made to his disciples: that he would pour out the Holy Spirit upon them, but they should wait in the upper room. The disciples waited and Jesus delivered on his promise. They knew the work that was left for them could not be done alone; the power they received was worth the wait.
Everyone’s time is limited, and often we feel as if we don’t have enough. We expect everything to happen quickly. We grow impatient when we have to wait.
It is inconvenient and stressful to wait. When I am waiting in line at the grocery store, I am sometimes tempted to put everything back where I found it and leave the store. But if I choose to wait, when I am out of the store and heading home, I am usually happy that I stayed in line. When my family looks at me and asks, “Do we have any more bread?” I see the benefit of having stayed and waited.
My prayer life is all about waiting. No matter how long it takes, I have never given up and said, “Never mind” to God. I know that when he answers it will be at the right time, and I will get his best. It takes discipline to wait and not become discouraged. When I pray, I want my own way, but my greatest joy is to know that I have heard from God. Waiting has benefits.
The greatest benefit of waiting on God is the strength and renewal that Isaiah 40 promises. It strengthens my prayer life. When I receive an answer to prayer, it encourages me to pray more. I have more energy and I feel renewed in the vision for my life. I feel that I am in close fellowship with God. Waiting is not always pleasant, but when it is with the promise of being renewed, it is well worth the time spent.
My prayer point is to challenge you to desire the result of waiting rather than the focus on the discomfort of waiting. God has promised great things for those who wait.
God bless you!
