Wait On The Lord - What Does This Mean?

Wait On The Lord - What Does This Mean?

This command to wait on the Lord, is found multiple times in the Old and New Testaments. It is important to understand its general and specif meanings.

In the Old Testament, people of God and individuals were told to wait on the Lord, most of the time meaning to wait on God's providential care. In the New Testament, waiting on the Lord often refers to Jesus' second coming. In most all biblical instances, waiting on the Lord is expectant trust and hope in God's movement and activity.

Though it sounds difficult, waiting on the Lord is godly, robust activity. It's about setting aside your own abilities and skills and activity to trust God in His abilities and skills and activity. It's about timing. Waiting always includes time and patience. James 1:4 says, "Let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." This steadfastness is waiting.

In the Bible, waiting often includes a hope and a confidence in God - and an expectation that He will act on your behalf in His good timing (Psalm 62:1, 5). Paul wrote, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God" (Romans 8:18-19).

Waiting also involves rest. One of the most quoted passages, Psalm 23, references the rest God's people can experience when "He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul..." "Makes me lie down" can be translated as "causes me to rest." This occurs when sheep trust their worldly shepherds and when the people of God trust their heavenly Shepherd.

Often our ability to wait upon Him, and have confidence in His timing is tied to our willingness to set aside our own agenda, skills, abilities, and ingenuity. We trade our weakness for His strength (2 Corinthians 12:9).

One illustrative story from the Bible is when the Israelites were lead out of Egypt, but then trapped against the Red Sea by Pharaoh's army. Some thought they would surely perish. Moses told them, "The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent" (Exodus 14:14). They were trapped, yet God wanted them to focus on Him and His deliverance, not the circumstances. It is the same, often, for us.

Waiting on God is not like waiting in a long line at an amusement park. We aren't waiting around with nothing to do until our desires are finally met. Rather, it's more like the way of a high-class waiter watches to see the needs and direction of the people at the table she serves. We actively serve God and attune ourselves to Him while we patiently wait for Him to accomplish His plans. Our trust in God and anticipation of His loving activity in our lives shows Him our faith in His goodness. We set aside our own abilities and sufficiency for reliance upon Him.

Waiting on the Lord renews our strength (Isaiah 40:31). The more we draw neqr, know Him, and meditate on His goodness, the easier we can wait upon Him. Prayer and Bible study are the best ways to do just that.

Do not despair when God seems to be taking more time than you wish to act on your behalf. He knows. He knows best. "Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore He exalts Himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him" (Isaiah 30:18).

~Compelling Truth~