What does it mean to wait on the Lord? Personally, I believe it means to trust that the Lord is moving even though we can't see what He is doing; it is an element of faith. In order for us to trust Him, we need to rest in His character, that He is who He says He is even when we don't see it.
Years ago, I read a commentary on Exodus 33:18-22:
The commentary stated that Jewish tradition teaches the following based on this story: "You cannot see God in the moment, you can only see where He has been." I have found this to be so true in my life. There have been many moments when I have called out to the Lord in the desperation of the moment and got up discouraged because I didn't get "an answer" in that moment. However, there are so many more times when I have emerged from a season of hardship and looked back and I can see God's hand EVERYWHERE! Why? I think that this Jewish commentary sheds some light on the why. God is always present and working but we do not have the ability to see Him in the moment. However, just because we can't presently see Him, does not mean that He is not at work. Because of this truth, I have been taking the time to learn how to wait on the Lord.
As I said in the beginning, waiting on the Lord means to rest in His character in the midst of situations; instead, of being in despair, I choose to rest in the faithfulness of the Lord and wait in eager expectation of the day when I can look back and say, "There you were."
The Psalms provide us with plenty examples of doing this, here are a few:
I am learning that it is so worth waiting on the Lord. There comes a time in our lives when what we believe should begin to affect the reality of how we live our daily lives. One way to do this is by learning how the Lord operates so when hard times come we are not confused. The Lord has promised that He will always be faithful, even if we are not faithful; that He will never leave us or abandon us. If and when you are in a situation where you can't see His face, learn to wait on the Lord. Don't let the smallness of our minds, cloud out the greatness of our God. Instead, wait in eager expectation that He has placed you in the cleft of the rock (Jesus) and know that there will be a day when you can look back and say, "There you were."
In Christ,
Years ago, I read a commentary on Exodus 33:18-22:
Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”
19 And the LORD said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you,
and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence.
I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom
I will have compassion. 20 But,”
he said,
“you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”
21 Then the LORD said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock.
22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23
Then I will remove my hand and you
will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”
The commentary stated that Jewish tradition teaches the following based on this story: "You cannot see God in the moment, you can only see where He has been." I have found this to be so true in my life. There have been many moments when I have called out to the Lord in the desperation of the moment and got up discouraged because I didn't get "an answer" in that moment. However, there are so many more times when I have emerged from a season of hardship and looked back and I can see God's hand EVERYWHERE! Why? I think that this Jewish commentary sheds some light on the why. God is always present and working but we do not have the ability to see Him in the moment. However, just because we can't presently see Him, does not mean that He is not at work. Because of this truth, I have been taking the time to learn how to wait on the Lord.
As I said in the beginning, waiting on the Lord means to rest in His character in the midst of situations; instead, of being in despair, I choose to rest in the faithfulness of the Lord and wait in eager expectation of the day when I can look back and say, "There you were."
The Psalms provide us with plenty examples of doing this, here are a few:
Psalm 5:3
In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait expectantly.
Psalm 37:7
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Psalm 130:5
I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
I am learning that it is so worth waiting on the Lord. There comes a time in our lives when what we believe should begin to affect the reality of how we live our daily lives. One way to do this is by learning how the Lord operates so when hard times come we are not confused. The Lord has promised that He will always be faithful, even if we are not faithful; that He will never leave us or abandon us. If and when you are in a situation where you can't see His face, learn to wait on the Lord. Don't let the smallness of our minds, cloud out the greatness of our God. Instead, wait in eager expectation that He has placed you in the cleft of the rock (Jesus) and know that there will be a day when you can look back and say, "There you were."
In Christ,
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