Wait For You

Patience is a virtue that feels out of place in our fast-paced, instant-gratification society. We expect Starbucks in minutes, Amazon deliveries in hours, and our DoorDash driver to arrive within twenty minutes. Our culture has long heralded the refrain of “follow your heart” to give us license to pursue our every whim at whatever pace we feel is right.

Especially in our Western American context, it is important to remember that God invites us to walk a different path—a path that may seem peculiar in a society that tells us that we deserve to have what we want, when we want it. In Isaiah 55:8-9, God reminds us that His ways are higher than ours, and His thoughts far beyond our understanding. His way is always better, even when it doesn’t make sense to us in the moment.

What’s amazing about our God is that He doesn’t just offer us a set of rules or solutions in our waiting; He offers us a relationship. As a loving Father, He guides us while we are waiting. We are not left alone but are sustained by His Holy Spirit. The Spirit strengthens us, comforts us, and empowers us to trust in God's perfect timing. Waiting on the Lord means waiting on His Spirit, who brings peace amidst impatience and rest in the midst of uncertainty.

We often want things to happen on our own terms, in our own timing. But when we wait on God, we build trust in His plan and align ourselves more deeply with His will. Waiting isn’t passive; it takes an active faith. It’s a choice to rely not on our strength but on the sustaining power of the Holy Spirit within us.

Isaiah 40:31 gives us a powerful promise: “Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength.” This promise is not just for moments when our bodies are exhausted, but also for the spiritual weariness that can weigh even heavier. As we wait, God renews our strength through the companionship of His Spirit. He empowers us to endure, gives us wisdom to navigate challenges, and infuses us with a peace that surpasses understanding.

Waiting on the Lord and His Spirit is never wasted. It’s in the quiet, surrendered moments of waiting that we are refined, strengthened, and made ready for what God has ahead. Let us be a people who choose to wait on the Lord! Trusting Him gets easier as we practice; we get to see the evidence over the long haul that the Holy Spirit has sustained us every step of the way.

Reflection Questions:

1. In what areas of your life are you relying on your own strength?
2. How can you cultivate a posture of waiting on the Holy Spirit in your daily life, trusting that He will guide you in His timing?