Waiting

I am in a car dealership waiting room as I compose this blog. I put off for a long time taking this Camry in for the much publicized recall that was issued months ago. To be honest, I did not think it needed it nor did I look forward to doing what I am doing now…waiting. The service manager actually found two recalls so it will be two hours of waiting.

The good news is they have internet access so I can do some work and catch up on some e-mails, free coffee that is actually pretty good, and HD TV showing a business news channel showing the latest stock market report which leads me to the conclusion that if I can work until I am 85 I will have enough to retire.

The bad news is I am hungry and I see no food around here at all!

I have never been really good at waiting but when you think about it much of life is consumed by waiting. It might be at the car dealership, the fast food drive thru, waiting to make a purchase at a store, on hold with someone on the telephone or waiting for a prayer request to be answered. I am not good at waiting because by nature I am a doer and ready to get busy at something. Just waiting and doing nothing would be my idea of purgatory. However the word wait is often used in the Bible.

Over 90 times the Bible uses the word “wait.” Here a few examples.

“Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.” Ps 27:14

“Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.” Ps 37:7

And maybe the most famous “wait” passage is this one…

Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:31

So if we wait on the Lord we will have a promise to claim which is new strength and direction. I don’t think this is passive waiting, but waiting that is full of prayer, Bible reading, meditation on the Lord and sometimes silence.

Waiting is not wasted time if we use those times to pray, share our faith, memorize Scripture and just enjoy being alive in His Spirit. Well I’ve got another hour to wait…hey look at all these new cars. I think I might wait inside one of them just to smell that unique smell of a brand new car is cool. Will they let you do that?

Keep the Son in Your Eyes even while you wait,

Mike James

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