WAIT ON THE LORD

Bible Verse:
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, 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 40:28-31 (NASB)

Devotional:
A well-known and well-loved verse like this can become too familiar and the meaning ceases to soak in. But because God’s living and active Word is timeless, He can use the same verse at different times to minister in His intended ways. Several years ago, one morning, the word ‘wait’ LEAPED off the page at me. It was about waiting for something specific — a desired outcome.

This is the New American Standard version of the verse. In other versions, the word ‘wait’ is replaced with ‘hope’ or ‘trust.’ His promise was that I needed to wait on Him to do the work that was to be done — to trust Him for the outcome however long it took and whatever form it would take.

However, through the years the hope for desired outcomes has turned into something different. It is now like a ‘waiting with the Lord.’ In waiting with Him, He sustains us — our strength is renewed, we are able to spiritually soar, we run and do not become weary, we can keep walking without fainting — because He is with us.

E. M. Bounds, in his classic book “On Prayer,” says “But there is a point at which faith is relieved of its burden, so to speak, and trust comes along and says, ‘You have done your part. The rest is mine!’” Pressing in and waiting/hoping/trusting the Lord gives the assurance that He is there, our times are in His hands. And on the days when I don’t feel like soaring, running, or even continuing to walk, I can only rest in the rock-solid truth of His word that says to wait on Him.

Prayer:
Ask the Lord to reveal to you if you are waiting for something to happen, or if you are in the process of waiting with Him and trusting Him for the outcome. What impact does this have in your life and your relationship with the Lord? Pray for His strength to spiritually soar with Him, run to Him, and keep walking on the path where He has you. Praise Him for His faithfulness to His word.

Written by Janie Hoy. Janie and Mark have attended Northwest for 20 years. They have two children: Evan (12) and Libby (10).