Here in the Northeast, we are in the winter season as most of you know. The earth is at rest, waiting for spring. Many are weary of the cold, the snow, the shoveling, and the less physical activity. Unless you like skiing and winter sports, it’s awesome! Understandably, for others, depression can come over us. We tend to sleep more and be a little lazy. When will winter be over? When will it get warmer again? We have a culture of non-waiters. Waiting is unpleasant or annoying many times. Whether it’s at a red light or a shopping line. We even get tired of waiting for the microwave to finish. God help us!
There is another kind of waiting; We call it waiting on God. Many times we talk about waiting for the answer. Waiting on the promises of God’s Word, or waiting on the manifestation. We say things like, “I’ve done all that I can do so I’m just going to wait.” Yet over time, we become passive. We tell ourselves, “I hope it happens.” We are tempted to give up and resign to the fact that maybe it is not God’s will. Faith has turned to fate. This happens when we get tired of waiting. Especially if it has been a long time. We resign to the fact it might not happen for us. We become faint and more passive in our faith. We don’t want to give up but we are tired. We casually say I’m waiting on God but have we resigned to the fact it might not happen and we have adjusted to living that way? We have lost hope. Maybe this faith stuff isn’t working for me.
What is Biblical waiting? Let’s look at Isaiah 40:29-31 (NKJV) -29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, 31 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. In Hebrew, the word wait speaks of an exchange. Being entwined, to bind or twist together. It speaks of expectation! To look forward with eager expectation. Waiting with steadfast endurance is a great expression of faith. It is to be bound with the Lord, with His word, His promises. It becomes a part of you! There is a oneness, a joining together. The two become one in agreement. You are fully persuaded of His promises. 1 Corinthians 6:17 (NKJV) -17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Here are some more scriptures on waiting:
- Psalms 27:14-Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!
- Psalm 62:5-6: My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.
- Psa 130:5-6-I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord More than those who watch for the morning—Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.
Waiting is to continue to see what we know to be true in God’s Word. To imagine and see the desired results of what you believe for! Seeing yourself healed, blessed, and prosperous. Sowing the seed of God’s Word into your heart! It will eventually produce in your life. There will always be seed time and harvest. Expectation is the ability to see in the Spirit and by the Spirit things God desires to bring into our lives. If you at waiting on the Lord biblically you are getting stronger, not weaker! Stronger in your faith, stronger in your vision, stronger in your resolve! Stronger in your praise and thanksgiving. Waiting is not resigning and giving up but being steadfast.
The eagle mounts up and takes flight. He rides up higher and higher on the wind. To mount up suggests movement from a lower to a higher place. To rise” or ascend. To extend our reach. The Bible tells us we are seated with Christ in heavenly places. You can’t get any higher than that. The Word of God can lift you spiritually- Acts 20:32 (NKJV) –32 So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Mounting up like an Eagle, rising above the terrain of life and situations, pushing forward and upward. Using the Word of God and the winds of adversity to your advantage! Proverbs 24:10-If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. To overcome weakness and fainting is waiting on the Lord biblically. Another thing is that praying in the Spirit can build you up as well. You are sowing to the Spirit. (Jude 20). Rising like an edifice. Eagles have the best vision. No wonder we use the term “eagle eyes” to describe superb vision. Biblical waiting is seeing as God would see. It is spiritual vision, sharpness, and preciseness! Seeing the Word of God come to pass! People who have lost hope have lost their vision of what might be. They no longer imagine or picture their situation better. Spritual seeing is declaring your proposed future according to God’s Word. ( Prov 29:18). Do you see things improving, getting better or worse? What matters is what God’s Word declares. Stop looking just for the answers. Keep your eyes on the one who has answered!
King David encouraged himself many times in desperate situations. ( 1 Sam 30:6).
- Psa 130:5-6-I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord More than those who watch for the morning—Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.
- Psalms 27:14-Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!
- Psalm 62:5-6: My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.
In Galatians 6:9 (NKJV) -9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. and in Psalms 27:13-I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD. It feels at times that our due season is too long. We are tempted to give up, resign, and settle for less than what we expected. Even if the due season is longer than you expect you know the outcome according to God’s promises. Hebrews 6:12-that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Let the word of God continue to paint a picture on the inside of you of victory. God is faithful to His promises! 2 Corinthians 1:20-For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us
The farmer knows how to wait after he plants the seed. Mar 4:26-29-And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” When the farmer plants he doesn’t get frustrated, or impatient. He doesn’t dig up the seed. He waters and keeps the weeds out. He lets the seed do its work. The Word of God is an incorruptible seed. 1 peter 1:23. He has a vision of previous harvests. He knows what to expect. He sees the hand of God working. Isaiah 55:11 (NKJV) -11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. Waiting is becoming! Psalm 1:1-3. The Word of God will prosper you. You are bound to the soul, the river, the seed. Bound to the promises of God! If you’re waiting, you’re not fainting, you’re not sluggish, resigning, giving up, hopeless, losing strength, and becoming passive. You are stronger, determined, patient in faith, not weary or faint.
It is your time! It is not a time to give up or give in. It is a time to thrive and shine, not just survive. You were born in this season, and God knew it because he meant for you to thrive and shine. You were born for such a time as this. You’ve got what it takes and more. It is not time to lose heart or be discouraged. Let His promises define you, not the situations or circumstances. See yourself as God sees you! Psalm 62:5 (NKJV) -5 My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. Waiting biblically is quieting your flesh and the negative thoughts that come to you. It is silencing the enemy coming against you with praise and thanksgiving! Resisting passivity, discouragement, and despair. ( 2 Cor 10:3-5). Refuse to let the Devil steal your vision, your dreams, and your God-given purpose in Life. He is a thief and a liar. Drive him out as Jesus did in the temple. Use the whip of God’s Word in the power of the Holy Spirit ( Eph 6:16-17). Remember that there is a process. Seed time and harvest! Gen 8:22! Some harvests are quick, some take longer. Yet there is a harvest. The ten lepers were healed as they went. The Bible tells us we shall recover! Keep sowing to the things of God. Galatians 6:8 (NKJV) -8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. Hold fast a good confession no matter what. God is faithful who promised.
In closing: How many times have we given up, and the harvest was just around the corner? We gave up too soon. It may be winter, but spring is on the way. We may get tired of waiting. We may be disappointed and disillusioned or just complaining and groaning, It’s time to wait on the Lord in a biblical way. Our attitude does determine our altitude. We are meant to fly like an eagle!
In Christ Love;
Brent and Linda Bushen
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