“I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry.” Psalm 40:1
Throughout the Bible there is a dominant theme concerning how the believer is to live, and it is that of living in the present moment, constantly “waiting” on God. The matter of waiting is not just an attitude of hoping for something to occur in the future but living by the faith of Christ in the present moment, believing God is already working to bring about His perfect will, and His purposes in the life and the world. Charles Wesley, in one of his great hymns expressed this truth, and experience of waiting on God, when he wrote the following: “Other refuge have I none, Hangs my helpless soul on Thee; Leave, Ah! Leave me not alone, Still support and comfort me; All my trust on Thee is stay’d; All my help from Thee I bring; Cover my defenseless head, With the shadow of Thy wing.” That which Wesley conveys in his hymn is the attitude that the saved sinner, complete in Christ, is to have towards the Lord Jesus. It is one of total surrender, a total abandon, in order to trust in Christ for all things. It is an attitude, translated into acts, which have their end, or accomplishment, in the present moment by faith, and yet extend into the future, believing God for today, and for that which is to come. The waiting heart is that one which has set its hope upon God, believing Him and Him alone to intervene, to work, save and bless. God’s intervention extends itself not only by His swift answer according to His promises, though we may not see presently that answer revealed, but into the future when one will see the glory of God in a manner that will result in praise for His faithfulness. How does this matter of waiting by faith on God work? And how is it to be implemented effectively into the life?
In the Gospel of Mark, we find where the Lord Jesus was instructing His disciples on the matter of faith and prayer. He begins by giving them a command: “Have faith in God.” (11:22) In that short phrase is summed up entirely that which is to be the experience of the believer’s life. It is to be a life of constant faith, overcoming faith, and a faith that has taken its stand upon the faithfulness of God, but one which is waiting for the dawn, the revelation of God’s intervention. The believer, by faith, is looking with expectation, anticipation, to see God’s glory, His intervention in answer to prayer.
When Elijah was told by God that rain was again to fall on Israel, the nation having experienced three and a half years of drought, Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel to pray. There he would get on his knees and pray six times, believing God because of His word, and yet persevering in prayer, expecting to see something of God’s answer. After praying the seventh time, he would see in a cloudless sky a small cloud on the horizon, rising from the sea. Then the rain came in abundance.
When Daniel, a captive Hebrew in Babylon, read in Jeremiah’s writings that there would be an end to Israel’s captivity after a period of seventy years, he began to pray. It would be several years before Cyrus the Persian would come on the scene of history, one who had been designated by God in the book of Isaiah, to order the rebuilding of Jerusalem, and the laying of the foundation of the temple. And yet, there was Daniel praying, in faith, and yet, “waiting” for the morning, the revelation of the God’s glory in response to believing prayer. God did answer.
The Lord in Mark’s gospel applied the matter by saying this: “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” (11:24) Mountains move according to the word of God. God’s call is to wait patiently by faith.
Dear Father, Strengthen us to wait. In Jesus’ name, Amen.