Seasons of Waiting
“Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart.”
Psalm 27:14 (NIV)
My six-year-old granddaughter hopped into the car after school the other day, sighed, and said, “I wish it was Saturday!’
“Mary Clayton, it’s only Monday. Don’t wish your life away,” I responded.
“Mia, did you ever have to wait on anything?” Mary Clayton asked.
“When I was in high school, I couldn’t wait to be in college. In college, I couldn’t wait to graduate and get married. Once married, I couldn’t wait to have children. When my kids were preschoolers, I couldn’t wait for them to begin kindergarten. I’ve waited for a lot of things!”
Dr. Harry Reeder
Mary Clayton had no way of knowing, but I’ve been struggling a lot lately with waiting. Our beloved church is in an extended season of waiting following the sudden death of Dr. Harry Reeder sixteen months ago. We still do not have a permanent Senior Pastor and our congregation has been told that it will probably be next spring before our pastoral search concludes. For now, we wait and, honestly, it’s hard to wait and not to worry or be frustrated with the search process. Briarwood was blessed to have had only two senior pastors in its storied 64-year history. The last sixteen months have been filled with uncertainty and waiting.
A season is defined as “a limited or temporary period of time.” There are four seasons every year, each one characterized by differences in weather and the number of daylight hours. Seasons provide a certain rhythm and framework for much of our lives and celebrations. Seasons of waiting, however, usually feel like winter frozen in time all the time. A winter waiting season often feels like the same gray, dull days all stuck together for months.
The Bible gives us examples of men and women who experienced long waits:
Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born.
Joseph spent years in prison.
Hannah endured years of infertility.
David waited years to assume his throne.
Israel spent 70 years in Babylonian exile.
God was silent for 400 years between the Old and New Testaments.
The ascended Christ is currently seated at the right hand of God the Father WAITING for his enemies to become his footstool. (Hebrews 10:13) He’s been waiting over 2000 years for his kingdom to be fully consummated. What a comfort to know we have a Savior who waits!
Anna & Simeon were two faithful servants who waited well. They relied on God’s promises and waited hopefully & expectantly as they anticipated the promised Savior. They kept looking, waiting, and serving before they finally saw Jesus. Contrast that with the way I usually wait: churning & burning; stewing & brewing. The truth is that God’s people will constantly be waiting, but God’s people must not be worrying while we wait. God cares about how we wait. How can we wait hopefully, joyfully, & expectantly in seasons of waiting?
Dr. Frank Barker, Briarwood Presbyterian’s founding pastor, and his wife Barbara
The Bible gives us some very practical strategies for cultivating steadfast hope in seasons of waiting. We:
Face our fears – Identify whatever our fear is, acknowledge it, and lay it before the Lord. To the one who knows the fear of the Lord, there’s no reason to fear anything or anyone else. KNOW fear = NO fear! “Blessed is the man who fears the Lord…he will have no fear of bad news, his heart is steadfast trusting in the Lord.” (Psalm 112:7)
Feed our souls – Three practical ways to feed our souls in seasons of waiting include knowing God’s Word, praying, and remembering God’s past faithfulness. The book of Psalms is particularly helpful for feeding our souls while we wait. Knowing that the psalmist also asked God “how long?” questions not only comforts, but also encourages us. (Psalm 6:3) We can also use the book of Psalms to pray and remember God’s past faithfulness (Psalm 78).
Fix our gaze – Look up! We must not focus on our circumstances, but fix our eyes on God Himself. Focus on his character, faithfulness, sovereignty, and glory. “I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2)
Facing our fears, feeding our souls, and fixing our gaze allows us to hold onto hope. Biblical hope is a faith that looks and leans forward. It is both an anchor and a lifeline during difficult seasons of waiting. (Hebrews 3:6) We can hold on to hope because God is holding onto us. God works while we wait and never wastes our waiting.