Three Things To Do While You're Waiting
The day between Christ's burial and His resurrection must have been a cold, silent time. His disciples still didn't understand Jesus' words about His return, so they were in hiding, fearful for their own lives. Hope was in short supply, and the future seemed bleak because the fulfilling of His promises seemed impossible.
So the disciples waited. The women waited to anoint Christ's body with spices. The government officials, priests and scribes waited to see if there would be any fallout or backlash from this very public crucifixion.
Impatience is an addictive drug. It slowly builds and builds in your system, causing your mind to race, your pulse to rush and your temper to get a little out of control. You know the feeling - you're waiting in line or waiting for a phone call to be returned. The more you stare at the person in front of you or at the phone, the slower they seem to move and the tension grows. Soon you're making up conversations in your head and tapping your foot in a rapid rhythm in a misguided effort to move things along.
If this hit a little too close to home, you understand what these followers of Jesus were going through. You're trying to wait patiently for an answer to prayer, or maybe just to see how this current trial will end. The waiting seems like a completely stalled time because you don't see the wheels in motion to actually get you somewhere.
What do you do while you wait? How can you turn that waiting time into something more productive and even (gasp) life changing?
Draw closer to God. It's easy to pull away from God during times of waiting because we often feel like we've been abandoned. This is the opposite of the reaction we should have, though. Waiting is much more bearable when we keep our eyes focused on the God who can actually do something about it. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Psalm 25:5
Delve into Scripture. Find verses (or chapters, as the case may be) that relate to your current situation. If you're praying about your marriage, find every passage you can about the roles of husbands and wives. If you're praying about children, find portions of Scripture that describe parents' responsibilities. If you're praying about ... you get the picture. Don't go to anyone else's book until you go to God's book. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. Psalm 27:14
Relax. If impatience is the drug, tension is the needle that administers it. Don't assume, don't try to control things, don't replay events in your mind. The tighter your body and mind get, the more impatient you will become, and this produces the opposite effect when you're waiting. Instead, lay all of your concerns at the feet of God and leave them there. Did you read that right? Leave. Them. There. It's no fair picking them back up after a few minutes. Clear your heart and mind, turn everything over to the God who loves you infinitely more than you understand and let Him work according to His will and His plan. Then waiting will be a more pleasant and convicting time rather than a hassle. I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. Psalm 130:5
So the disciples waited. The women waited to anoint Christ's body with spices. The government officials, priests and scribes waited to see if there would be any fallout or backlash from this very public crucifixion.
Impatience is an addictive drug. It slowly builds and builds in your system, causing your mind to race, your pulse to rush and your temper to get a little out of control. You know the feeling - you're waiting in line or waiting for a phone call to be returned. The more you stare at the person in front of you or at the phone, the slower they seem to move and the tension grows. Soon you're making up conversations in your head and tapping your foot in a rapid rhythm in a misguided effort to move things along.
If this hit a little too close to home, you understand what these followers of Jesus were going through. You're trying to wait patiently for an answer to prayer, or maybe just to see how this current trial will end. The waiting seems like a completely stalled time because you don't see the wheels in motion to actually get you somewhere.
What do you do while you wait? How can you turn that waiting time into something more productive and even (gasp) life changing?
Draw closer to God. It's easy to pull away from God during times of waiting because we often feel like we've been abandoned. This is the opposite of the reaction we should have, though. Waiting is much more bearable when we keep our eyes focused on the God who can actually do something about it. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Psalm 25:5
Delve into Scripture. Find verses (or chapters, as the case may be) that relate to your current situation. If you're praying about your marriage, find every passage you can about the roles of husbands and wives. If you're praying about children, find portions of Scripture that describe parents' responsibilities. If you're praying about ... you get the picture. Don't go to anyone else's book until you go to God's book. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. Psalm 27:14
Relax. If impatience is the drug, tension is the needle that administers it. Don't assume, don't try to control things, don't replay events in your mind. The tighter your body and mind get, the more impatient you will become, and this produces the opposite effect when you're waiting. Instead, lay all of your concerns at the feet of God and leave them there. Did you read that right? Leave. Them. There. It's no fair picking them back up after a few minutes. Clear your heart and mind, turn everything over to the God who loves you infinitely more than you understand and let Him work according to His will and His plan. Then waiting will be a more pleasant and convicting time rather than a hassle. I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. Psalm 130:5
Comments
Post a Comment