Waiting
After some work in my office today, and my afternoon nap, I went outside to do some work in the garden. I was successful in getting the mower out to cut down some of the grass and weeds, but in the process of getting the rototiller out into the garden, I got my wheelchair high centered on the landscaping timber that borders the garden.
I realize that my attempts to free myself were all in vain. Finally our neighbor girl came home and I flagged her down. She and her friend tried to help and then she was able to get a neighbor who was home to come and finally get me out of my jam.
It was late enough in the day that I knew Pastor Steve was coming to pick some strawberries, so if nothing else, if I just stayed put he would show up eventually. Of all things, that was the first time that I did not have me cell phone or alert device with me.
Ā BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:13,14
Psalm 27 is written by David when he is fleeing the hot pursuit of his enemies. He asserts his confidence in the Lord in the early verses by saying, The Lord is my light and my salvationā whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my lifeāof whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1
The Psalm ends with David’s expression of confidence that he will see the Lord’s deliverance in the Lord’s time and in the Lord’s way, but it will come. When life is pressing in and the struggle is intense, is when it is time to be strong, take heart and wait for the Lord.
As I referenced a few days ago, Abraham found himself in difficult situations when he became weary in waiting for the Lord to fulfill His promise and tried to help God out.
As I was reading about Isaac and Rebekah, the scripture says thatĀ “Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.” (Genesis 25:21)
I believe I took note for the first time that this was after 20 years of marriage and no children. This was the Abraham’s son and heir and seed through which the promise of God would be fulfilled and no son after 20 years! I am glad to read that Isaac prayed to the Lord and trust in the Lord to provide instead of looking for a human solution.
Waiting is difficult. I don’t like lines, I don’t like to wait. I still remember a few years ago when I was taking Riley to his class at church to be checked in. He turn and look up to me and said, “we have to wait our turn grandpa.” I am sure that was a lesson he was learning, but I always wondered if he sensed my anxiety.
When I was high centered on the edge of the garden this afternoon, I was contemplating my options. Do I wait? Do I try to crawl to the back door? (probably would have haven a good idea). Do I just keep working, knowing my efforts will prove futile?
Waiting requires spiritual strength and courage. We may face hardship, we may face the challenges that will make life miserable but as we keep our focus on the Lord we can be confident that our waiting on Him is not in vain. We must continually seek Him and realize that “those wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.”Ā (Isaiah 40:31) We will see the goodness of the Lord, not just in our heavenly home, but in the “land of the living.”