Why We Should Wait Upon the Lord!

Glory in the Lord; O worshipers of God, rejoice. Search for him and for his strength, and keep on searching!
Psalm 105:3,4 (TLB)

You’re waiting at the doctor’s office far longer than you expected (and say to yourself that previous experience would indicate that one should bring a book to this place!) Your eyes wander to a framed painting on the wall, with an eagle soaring over water and mountains. In small script underneath, it reads “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles” (Isaiah 40:31).

You first feel surprised that the doctor may be a Christian – or was it just his decorator?  Second, you realize how ironic it is to have a scriptural encouragement to wait patiently at the doctor’s office. Then your thoughts drift to other kinds of waiting.

Jerome, one of the early Christians, said, “Ignorance of the Bible means ignorance of Christ.” Job once said, “I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” Jeremiah said, “Thy words were found and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart.” To read the Bible one needs a “quiet time.”

Most times young Christians in faith would ask, “How do you maintain your spiritual high? What do you do on a daily basis?” I tell them about my “quiet time.” Some days it is in the early-sometimes late-morning, sometimes evening. Without it, my Christian life would be a wilderness. Isaiah said, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

Perhaps your many visits to the doctor are related to waiting for healing. Maybe you’ve been searching for a job far longer than you expected. A wayward child or a broken family situation may leave you feeling empty-handed and like all you can do is wait. So much of life is outside our control, even when it comes to our deepest needs. These are the times when waiting upon the Lord becomes most relevant.

So gain the strength of eagles, as the prophet suggested. Set a time each day when you can spend a few minutes alone with God.

Dear Lord, teach us to wait upon You, that we may know Your strength.