Waiting

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength (Isaiah 40:31).

I have a new car, and I'm still getting used to some of the features. The most disconcerting is when stopped, the vehicle appears to turn off. It gets eerily quiet; I don't hear the engine idling. But once I put my foot on the gas, the car is engaged and ready to go again. Apparently, this is an energy and gas-saving feature.

So as I sit at a traffic light, I place my foot on the brake, and the car goes silent. It appears to be off, but it's not. As I wait, I'm looking around, being a keen observer of traffic patterns. I turn my head to the left and the right, assessing my surroundings. I may even wave hi to the driver next to me. But I know that this wait is for a short time, so I'm also preparing myself to go when the light turns green. However, when the light turns green, I don't immediately floor the gas. I look around to ensure that I can genuinely go without danger, that another driver hasn't run the red light at the other intersection. Basically, I count to three and then move off. Once more, the engine roars and the car is no longer silent.

What I don't do while I'm waiting is fall asleep or become inattentive. 

When we're waiting on God, we can apply some of the same principles. Though the engine is not idling, the car is not idle. It's ready to go as soon as I hit the gas. We can use the quiet of the wait to assess our situations, to dig into God's Word, to be still and hear what He's saying to us. We are also prepared to move once the wait is over. When we wait, it seems like nothing is happening, it's eerily silent, but God is still active. We press the gas, one, two, three, and off we go, on the next phase of our journey in His will.

Don't be idle as you wait; it could be dangerous to you and others around you. As you wait, renew, listen, observe. It's preparation for the next part of the journey. 

Prayer - Dear Lord, thank you for the wait. We know that you are with us as we wait. We sometimes forget this fundamental truth and become idle and inattentive. As we wait on you, turn our hearts and minds towards you to prepare us for the next step of the journey when we go. Thank you, Lord, for how you work in us and through us. Amen.

How do you wait? Do you wait idly or with intention? 

Nylse is a Christian wife and a mother of four who loves life and inspiring others. She likes to have fun but is very clear on who she is and Whose she is. A prolific thinker, she blogs to encourage others from a Christian perspective at www.lifenotesencouragement.com. She can be found online on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.