Sayings
Psalm 109:1 ESV
Psalm 46:1 NIV
“Good things come to those who wait”
I’ve never really been good at waiting for something to happen. Even as a child I remember being anxious about waiting for Christmas, or summer, or going someplace special.
“Good things come to those who wait” wasn’t a good thing.
When I was young I hated having to sit and wait.
I don’t remember enjoying the quiet time while I waited.
At some point I think I secretly knew God sits with us as we wait. I remember my dad talking about the power of waiting for the whisper of God. I still wasn’t excited about the waiting.
After I married and had children years came and went when there was very little silence. I loved those years, but I came to a point where I missed the quiet moments. My best ‘shot’ at having those moments was late at night when everyone was in bed fast asleep (or so I thought). I would steal away to the back porch and sit with God.
When I was younger I read many psalms about waiting on God and the writer asked God not not be silent. In Psalm 109:1 we read, “For the choir director. A Psalm of David. O God of my praise, do not be silent!”
In many cases David and others were seeking answers from God and the waiting they wrote about sounded like it was unbearable.
Reading about their waiting made me wonder about the moments we spend waiting. I came to realize I wanted and needed the presence of God when I sat in those quiet moments.
What I needed was to “be still and know I am God.” (Psalm 46:1)
During those treasured hours after the day was done, I learned to sit with God and just be in the presence of God.
At first the waiting was deafening. It was maddening. But gradually, ever so gradually God changed me. During those moments, I look back and realize my character was being shaped and I was learning to trust in God even when He was silent.
I also came to know the character and wonder of God through those moments.
As I learned to still my mind I found comfort in the presence of God. That was because I learned when I wait, God shows up.
When I still the sounds and voices of the day, I make room for God.
The Prophet Elijah learned that when he retreated to a cave and sat by himself in silence waiting for God. In I Kings 19:9-13 we are told that Elijah, “came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.”
After all Elijah went through, God came to him and quietly whispered to him and Elijah experienced the presence and power of God.
Now when I write, I wait.
I pray and I wait.
My purpose is not to think of things to write about or to make decisions.
My intent is to sit and wait for the movement of God.
I’ve come to believe that the moments I spend waiting give God time to build our relationship. I’ve learned to do that by ‘clearing space’ for God. When I turn it over to God and I wait, God always shows up.
While there have been times when I am anxious and I want to move forward without waiting, I know God has never fails to show up.
So, I wait.
And God whispers…
Spiritual Practice: Wait for the Whisper
When you sit with God take time to wait for the whisper.
In God, Deborah
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