The Purpose and Power of Waiting: Finding God in the Pause

Waiting is a universal experience. We all find ourselves in seasons of waiting, longing for something to change or for a desired outcome to come to fruition. Yet, waiting can be incredibly difficult. It can feel like an empty space, a pause in our lives that we are eager to rush through. But what if waiting has a purpose? What if it is not just a meaningless delay, but a time of growth and refinement?

The Psalms, particularly Psalm 130, offer profound insights into the experience of waiting. The psalmist speaks of waiting for the Lord, hoping in his word, and watching for the morning. These phrases capture the essence of what it means to wait. They reveal a posture of trust and anticipation, even in the midst of uncertainty and longing.

In my own life, I have experienced seasons of waiting that have brought me to my knees. When everything I had known and relied upon fell apart, I found myself waiting for life to be good again. I wanted the wait to be over quickly so that I could move on and return to a sense of normalcy. But through the psalms, I learned that waiting is not meant to be rushed. It is a holy exercise that requires our full attention.

One of the key lessons I learned from the psalms is the importance of stillness and silence in our waiting. Psalm 37:7 encourages us to be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. In our fast-paced, noisy world, stillness and silence can be hard to come by. But it is in these moments of quietness that we can hear from God. When we intentionally stop and listen, we create space for God's still small voice to speak to our hearts. Instead of filling our waiting with busyness and distraction, we can find rest in God and fix our eyes and ears on him.

Patience is also a vital aspect of waiting. Psalm 40:1 reminds us to wait patiently for the Lord. Patience is not just about enduring the wait; it is about embracing the present moment and finding God in it. It is about trusting in his goodness and allowing him to meet us in the midst of our pain and longings. When all we have is his presence and his promises, we discover that he is more than enough.

But what is God doing in our waiting? The psalms reveal that he is at work, even when it seems like nothing is happening. He is answering both our spoken and unspoken requests, molding us into his likeness. Just as a plant's roots grow stronger and more expansive during the winter months, our roots are being strengthened in our waiting. We are being prepared for the work God has for us and taught his ways.

In our waiting, we may be tempted to focus solely on the desired outcome. We want our prayers to be answered, our circumstances to change, and our pain to be alleviated. But the psalms remind us that what we are truly waiting for is not a specific outcome, but God himself. Psalm 62:5 declares, "For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him." Our hope is not in the fulfillment of our desires, but in the one who will never disappoint. As we wait, we can fix our eyes on him and trust in his goodness and faithfulness.

Waiting is not easy. It requires trust, patience, and surrender. It asks us to embrace uncertainty and find contentment in the present moment. But as we wait, we can take comfort in knowing that God is with us. He is working in our waiting, shaping us and drawing us closer to himself. He is the one we are waiting for, and he will come to us as surely as the dawn.

In conclusion, waiting is not a meaningless pause in our lives. It is a time of growth and refinement. The psalms teach us how to wait, offering words of hope and encouragement. They remind us to be still and listen for God's voice, to be patient and trust in his timing, and to fix our hope on him alone. In our waiting, God is at work, preparing us and molding us into his likeness. He is the one we are waiting for, and he will come to us as surely as the dawn. So let us wait with expectation and hope, knowing that God is with us in our waiting.