Waiting on the Lord

Psalm 37:3. “Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.”  (NASB)

Waiting is a difficult thing.  It takes a lot of patience and trust. In our culture this is not a a virtue that we have mastered.  We live in an instant world – instant potatoes, instant cash, instant service at drive through food chains. We become peeved if we have to wait a second longer than expected.

This frustrating passive action of waiting is often what God allows into our lives to teach us patience, and God-reliance and to spiritually mature us. His timetable is rarely ours and He will not rush. So many times in the Bible God instructs us to wait, but often it feels like watching for the teapot to boil. We begin to wonder if He will ever come through. This is not the attitude that pleases God. How, then, do we wait for the Lord?

Recently, while waiting and watching for the Lord to answer some of my prayers I discovered today’s verse. I have not been able to stop thinking about it as I have pondered God’s delay and wondered what I should do while waiting.  He reminded me of four things: (1) Trust Me; (2) Do good; (3) Dwell in the land; and (4) Cultivate faithfulness .

Trust Him: More than anything God wants us to trust Him. Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please God, for he that comes to God must believe that He is and that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” While waiting God wants us to keep trusting – never doubting. In due time He will come through in ways that we never imagined.

Do Good: We need to have the right uncomplaining attitude as we wait. We must always be listening for His voice and willing to do whatever He puts before us no matter how menial. In this way we glorify Him before others.

Live in the Land: Some have used the expression “bloom where you are planted.” Wherever God has put us and whatever our hand finds to do for the moment, do it heartily as for the Lord. In this way we will bless others and He will be honored.

Cultivate Faithfulness:  Some versions translate this as trusting in the Lord’s faithfulness, and this is certainly true. But as I read it, I couldn’t help but think of how we, also, need to cultivate faithfulness in our own lives. Just as a gardner must regularly weed, water, and cultivate his garden if he wants to harvest produce worth keeping, so too, we must develop this quality if we want to experience God’s blessing in our lives.

Are you waiting on anything from the Lord?  Trust Him patiently, keep a good and expectant attitude, keep productive while living in the land where you have been placed and cultivate faithfulness with whatever He has asked you to do. In due time the teapot will boil, the garden will produce, and God will always come through.

Love,

Mama