Waiting is hard for me. I read of Sarah waiting for Isaac, Anna waiting for the Messiah, and Elizabeth waiting for John, and I’m amazed. I mean, can you believe Sarah waited about thirty years for a baby? Thirty years? I have a hard time waiting for my nails to dry!
But God’s Word is clear that we’re to wait, to be still, to remain in Him.
- Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14
- Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. Psalm 37:7a
- Remain in me, and I will remain in you. John 15:4a
We know we need to find time every day to be in the Word. Bible study, word studies, and Sunday school lessons are great ways to grow closer to the Lord, but in order to truly rest in Him, we must learn to wait.
And that’s the hard part. But it’s in the waiting that we hear God’s voice.
I have to admit, there are times I can’t hear God. I pray and pray and read His Word, and yet, I don’t hear a thing.
It’s not His fault.
I realize now the problem is not in His speaking, it’s in my listening. After all, I have my list of prayer requests–all good things, you understand, and most are for other people. I faithfully go down the list one by one, telling God what I’d like Him to do. And then it’s over. I’m off and running, cramming in all the important things I have to do that day.
And God is left alone. There He was, just about to tell me what He wanted me to know, but I didn’t have time to listen. He wanted to tell me to take the job or to turn down the volunteer position or to mentor the young bride at church. But I couldn’t hear Him . . . because I wasn’t there. Because I didn’t have time to wait on Him.
Truth is, the ability to hear Him is all in the waiting. It’s all in the being quiet and listening for His voice. God wants us to rest in Him. He wants to speak to our spirits and let us know He’s really there. He’s just waiting for us to stop. Be still.
What are you waiting for? An answer? A healing? Could you be like me? Could God be trying to tell you something, but you’re too busy to hear His voice? Oh, friends, this is a constant battle for me, and I know it is for many of you. Will you join me? Instead of just “spending” your time reading a quick devotion and running down your prayer requests, will you commit to sitting and waiting on Him? It won’t be easy. It’ll take focus and determination, especially when the days are long and the sleeps are short.
No agenda, no lists. Just us and God, relating to each other. I know we’ll be amazed at what He has to say when we’re quiet enough to hear His voice.
I know it will be worth the wait.
(Image courtesy of Pixabay.com)
Vonda, so well said. Love this! “Truth is, the ability to hear Him is all in the waiting.” Simple and powerful at the same time. We tend to make things harder than they are and over analyze the process. Thank you.