“Then King David rose to his feet and said: “Hear me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord and for the footstool of our God, and I made preparations for building. But God said to me, ‘You may not build a house for my name, for you are a man of war and have shed blood.’ Yet the Lord God of Israel chose me from all my father’s house to be king over Israel forever. For he chose Judah as leader, and in the house of Judah my father’s house, and among my father’s sons he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel. And of all my sons (for the Lord has given me many sons) he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. He said to me, ‘It is Solomon your son who shall build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. ” – 1 Chronicles 28:2-6 ESV
In day to day there is a time when nothing seems to happen. A time when effort meets cold indifference. A time when hard work meets futility. A time when patience seems like a punishment. A time of waiting.
And fear and failure love this time. Alone and stuck, you listen to them. After all, progress is the goal. Success is the finish line. And waiting completes neither.
But what is waiting is its own holy task? What if remaining silent gives room for God to speak? What if holding back allows God to go before you? What if failing to act is submitting to God?
We are so eager, at least I am. Eager to jump in. Eager for the next thing. Dreading missed opportunities. It’s so common it’s an acronym, FOMO, fear of missing out. What if we didn’t tell that person about Jesus? What if we approved of their sin? What if we didn’t glorify God in this situation or that? What if we don’t live up?
But what if God said “no”. Don’t run. I will go before you. I will guide you. I will lead you. Direct your steps. Put my words in your mouth. I will be with you. I will give you rest. I will be your strength. Be still. Listen. Trust Me.
It’s hard to be in a waiting room. A place where the next thing is coming, but isn’t here yet. A place where the next God-sized adventure is right around the corner. But not yet, and not visible on the horizon.
These are the times to remember what God has done before. Remember the other moments of panic that turned to joy in an instant. Remember the times that you seemed to wait forever.
Remember that you did not.
God built you, brick by brick, strand by strand not only for the moment, the situation, the grand adventure God had brought you to before, but the one He will bring you to later. He doesn’t “show up”. He was always present. Right there in the waiting room with you, changing your heart, renewing your mind, redirecting your steps and holding your hand. Sometimes in a day. Sometimes in years of struggle and tears. Trust His goodness. Trust His wisdom. Trust His love.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?” – Matthew 7: 7-9
Wait with Him in whatever “this” you are experiencing. Pray expectantly and then listen. Knock and wait for His hand on the door latch. Listen for His joyful voice as He comes to you clothed in grace and goodness, wrapped light and in love. Wait for His voice.
And just you wait and see.
Written by Janet Keefe
(Inspired by Forrest Young)
