The AART of Waiting…

Waiting is not something we humans are generally very good at. From kids at Christmas and birthdays to grown-ups … still at Christmas and birthdays! On top of our inherent tendencies, our culture is ever-increasingly influenced by the saturation of convenience and affluence and technological advances — all in ways that feed our need for it (whatever “it” may be) now — or at least much sooner that “it” used to be or happen. Information at your fingertips. Google it. Ask Siri or Alexa. Next-day…better yet, same-day delivery — by drone!

Like I said, waiting… is not something we’re very attuned to.

So what! Is waiting such a good thing? Isn’t faster better? Improve efficiency… Produce more in less time… Why make such a big deal? The good ole’ days weren’t all that good.

For some reason, waiting is one of the major themes of Scripture. Prescriptively and descriptively, waiting is an essential part of our life before the Lord our God. Yet for all that encouragement and exhortation to wait, there’s little to nothing about how to do it.

Well that doesn’t help much… What are we supposed to do? Google? Siri?

Thankfully, waiting in Scripture has everything to do with why and Who — and that reveals to us the Enabler of the how. As we turn away from all that is earthly and focus our attention and desire upon the Lord our God — as we behold Him as He reveals Himself to us in Word and Spirit and Truth — we come to understand the value and joy in waiting. Our anxiety is replaced with expectation and then matures into anticipation as we experience the rewards of God’s grace and providence.

Now, don’t get me wrong … I haven’t gotten this all figured out and down to a science. This is still a continual learning process for me and will be unto the end. That’s why I’m inclined to describe it as an art — one that is continually refined and practiced and nurtured and honed and cultivated. Let’s talk about that word — art. It’s helpful for me to think of it as an acronym — forming an acrostic of sorts — that calls to mind again, not the how, but above all the Who.

Accede to &
Act in accordance with
God’s will, imperative, prerogative, and purpose.
Rest in…God’s absolute omnipotence, eternal sovereignty, timeless omniscience, and peaceful omnipresence.
Trust in…God’s immutable faithfulness, mercy, justice, and love.
As you consider the AART of waiting, read through these Scripture passages and invite the Spirit to work in you…revealing the joy of anticipating the fruit of waiting on the Lord.

Gen. 49:18; Ps. 27:14; Ps. 31:24; Ps. 33:20-22; Ps. 37:7-9; Ps. 37:34; Ps. 38:15; Ps. 40:1-3; Ps. 130:5-6; Prov. 20:22; Is. 25:9; Is. 26:8-9; Is. 30:18; Is. 33:2; Is. 40:28-31; Is. 49:23; Lam. 3:21-26; Mic. 7:7; Zep. 3:8; Acts 1:4-5; 1 Cor. 1:4-9; Jas. 5:7-8; Jude 17-23

Frustrated and Distraught!

Psalm 73 provides us with a great reminder that is both refreshing and exhorting. In times of frustration and sheer disbelief at the ways in which people… all sorts of people — especially leaders, whether in politics or the press or business or academia — seem to get away with wickedness, we need to hear this.

The psalmist begins with context and perspective. (Ps. 73:1) We must never forget the character of God… He is good.

Then the psalmist begins reflecting on his own flaws and sinful inclination. (Ps. 73:2-3)

Over the course of the next few verses, he complains profusely of the apparent “good times” the wicked are enjoying as the continually get away with everything. (Ps. 73:4-12) We can taste the frustration building…

The psalmist then utters words that should send a chill through us… yet, they are words we have to admit may have echoed in our minds before. He regrets that he ever bothered with righteousness! (Ps. 73:13-14) What did he gain? Why bother?

Then his tone takes an immediate turn and we realize that he has been recounting his thoughts — sharing his heart with us. (Ps. 73:15-16)

But what brought him back to his spiritual senses? The psalmist “entered the sanctuary of God” and there found discernment. (Ps. 73:17) When we’re coming to the end of ourselves and can’t make sense of circumstances and events — that’s no time to fade away from God. Then we must seek Him even more earnestly — we must chase after Him and find fellowship with other believers as we pray and worship the Lord together! (Heb. 10:24-25)

Now the psalmist begins speaking with God directly. We are assured that those who persist and remain in wickedness will suffer their just end. (Ps: 73:18-20) And we see the progression from the psalmist’s bitterness of soul to conviction. (Ps. 73:21-22)

Through the remaining verses (Ps. 73:23-28) we see proclamation of hope and victory as the psalmist praises and gives thanks to God.

Let these concluding words from the Word echo in our hearts…
“Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Reliance, Sufficiency, and Consequences

Mulling over Oswald Chambers this morning, the Spirit gave me some perspective on the past few months …

Understanding my self-reliance and self-sufficiency as it conflicts with God-reliance and God-sufficiency is beginning to free me from a way of thinking that leads away from prayer and into anxiety or even indifference relative to the extent to which I confront or ignore a circumstance or need.