Waiting on the Lord

December 28, 2007

By Dorothy Rugg

"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31, NKJV).

How many of us have urgent prayer needs we want the Lord to answer. We cry out to Him, we pray and then we read this Scripture and it says to “wait on the Lord.” Surely the Lord doesn’t expect us to wait when we need an answer now?

We live in a culture used to instant gratification. We want what we want, when we want it, with no thought to what the Lord might want from us before that answer materializes.

Waiting is difficult. We want to see results now; we want to see action now. But God calls us to wait, to allow Him to work in our lives His plans and purposes for us.

Waiting does not mean sitting and doing nothing. Waiting is giving everything we do over to the Lord and living our lives in close communion with Him. Trusting Him rather than ourselves to control a situation. We move ahead step by step trusting God will provide and strengthen and guide and lead us.

Are you expectantly waiting for God’s answer? This Scripture tells us we can be renewed when we wait on Him, when we trust Him, when we surrender to Him. As we take the time to listen to His voice, spending time in His presence and His Word, we will be given the strength and wisdom we need.

Father God, help each one of us to wait on You, to be renewed with Your power and strength.

-- James and Dorothy Rugg pastor Mill City AG in Dalton, Pa.