Waiting: Combination of Trust and Hope

Waiting. Something we as humans tend to hate. Whether its sitting in line at the grocery store, or if it is going through the drive through to get some fast food. We don't like it. We love the instant gratification just like it says in that one commercial, "It's my money, and I want it now!" We as an American culture get so caught up in getting what we want instantly we lose focus of one of the most rewarding things and that is the art of waiting. 

Now, what exactly are the aspects of this term and practice. For me and in my interpretation, two words come to mind when thinking about waiting. The first is the word Trust, and the second is the word Hope. Let's dive into these two and then link them back together. 

The first word that I want to uncover is trust. In Psalm 40:4 the psalmist talks about this trust, and what exactly that means for us as Christians. He says, "Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods." Based on that verse trusting in the Lord leads to blessings. Right? Isn't that what it says? BLESSED is the one who trusts! So, how exactly does this relate back to what God wants for us in waiting? This is how. If we trust in God. That doesn't mean just saying it, but believing it. Then waiting should and will be worth so much more than anything we can imagine because God blesses those who trust in HIM. Waiting links back to that because if we truly trust and truly believe that God will bless us then that act of waiting will only put that trust into action.

The second word then is hope. In Isaiah 40:31 it says, "but for those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." That really exemplifies hope and what that word really means. The act of hope in the bible really is just another word for wait. So, substitute the word hope with wait in this verse, and that is just the exemplification of what it means to wait with a biblical mind set. 

So now think about your life and how you wait. Do you actually wait biblically and give the control or power over to God, and trust that he will bless you? Or do you find yourself pushing the envelope and trying to control every aspect in order to get that instant gratification? Think about it, and apply this to how you handle patience. It isn't about if you are impatient or not, but deeper than that. Do you believe and trust that God does good in all situations? That is the question.

Father, we come to you tonight in praises and unbelievable gratefulness for assuring us that no matter what we go through that you have something greater for us in heaven. We just ask tonight that we can grasp what it means to wait, and the deeper issue behind that. Show us that we can trust in you during all situations because you bless those who wait as it says in Psalms, and you give us strength because we do indeed wait as Isaiah said. Help us to realize that these things and continue to grow closer to you. We love you Father, and we pray this all in the name of Jesus. Amen.