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September 2002 Table of Contents
From My Heart To Yours
Waiting
By Jackie Evans
 I can't think of anyone I know who enjoys waiting.for anything (except me when it comes to a Starbucks latte; that, I will wait for!). Most people are impatient when it comes to waiting for anything. Could it be because we live our lives in such a hurry we think we don't have time to slow down? I heard a song on the radio recently that went something like this. "I'm in a hurry to get things done; I rush and rush 'til life's no fun. All I really have to do is live and die but I'm in a hurry and don't know why."
But what do you do when you are waiting on God to solve a problem, correct a situation, or bring salvation to a friend or family member? First, you wait! Second, you wait, and third, you also wait. You wait with patience, you wait with courage, you wait with crying and you wait with great hope! Doesn't sound like much fun does it? But this is what God tells us to do. Above all, we are not to run ahead of God. I have done this and, each time, through terrible failure, I realized (although I already knew this) God really didn't need my help that He was most capable of taking care of the situation all by Himself in His own time and in His own way.
I looked up a few scriptures to support ways we should wait on God.
I With our soul: Psalm 62:1-My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation.
I With quietness: Lamentations 3:35, 36-The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the Lord.
I With patience: Psalm 40:1-I waited and waited and waited for God. At last He looked; finally he listened.
I With courage: Psalm 27:14-Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.
I With crying: Psalm 69:3-I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched; my eyes fail while I wait for my God.
I Wiith great hope: Psalm 130:5, 6-I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, and in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning; Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.
I'm sure we all have someone for whom we have been praying for salvation for a long time. Some people are not easy to talk to about God and his goodness. Some have more material things than they could ever want and can't see where there is a need for God in their lives. Besides that, they may be just plain good people.
Jerry and I have friends for whom we have been praying for seven years. These people have to be dealt with on a very delicate nature, spiritually. We sought advice from a pastor friend of ours who knows them and his advice was, "Just be their friend." This is what we have tried to do. Recently, the son was involved in a serious car crash in the New England area. We happened to be about an hour away at the time. This was a trip we had made for which we really didn't understand the purpose but we made it anyway. When the accident happened, we knew why God had placed us in the area. We were able to visit them at the hospital the next day before flying home and, for the first time, pray with them. We rejoiced all the way home because we felt like God had finally opened the door for us just a peek. We just thanked Him that we were alert enough not to have missed this wonderful opportunity He had given us to minister to this family.
Isaiah 64:4 says, "For since the world began, no one has seen or heard of such a God as ours who works for those who wait for Him!" Isn't it a great thing to know that, while we are waiting on God, (maybe not even patiently or silently) when it seems nothing is happening and maybe we feel He really isn't hearing our crying and pleading, even though there is no evidence He is doing anything for us, He really is working for us.while we wait for Him.
Isaiah 40:31 says, "Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not get tired. They will walk and not become weary."
What an exciting promise from God!
Grateful for His Faithfulness,
Jackie
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