Waiting With Expectancy - Isaiah 40:31
“they that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not be weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31)
George and I recently went to Disney World. There were a lot of changes that had taken place since we had been there, just 8 months prior. The pandemic of Covid-19 had struck! Things had changed.
Where previously you crowded in line as close as you could possibly get to each other, as you waited for the next ride or attraction, now you waited at stopping points in the line. These stopping points said, "PLEASE WAIT HERE." Same lines but waiting was different.
As I stood at one of these stopping points, I realized the waiting seemed different this time. I believe it had something to do with not being so crammed in with everyone else. We had space to breathe. I liked it! What? You liked waiting? Yes, it was different.
First of all we had to pay attention or otherwise we would either miss when the line was moving forward or accidently move too quickly and get ahead of where we were supposed to be. Waiting became almost a game.
Secondly because we were not crowded with people all around us, it was easier to see how we were progressing in the line. The anticipation was greater! There was a thrill of knowing there was something better that we were getting ready to experience. "It's not much further, see, we are getting closer, we are going to make it! We are almost there!" We could see!
We know that this verse in Isaiah was written for the Israelites in captivity. They were waiting on God. The word "wait" in this verse can also be translated "hope" or "trust". It's an action verb.
It doesn't mean just standing still, twiddling our thumbs and idly waiting for God to show up and recharge our spiritual battery.
The word translated into English as “wait” is from the Hebrew root, qavah . In Hebrew, to qavah is to twist and bind together as the fibers of a rope, eagerly waiting, hoping for, expecting.
Think about this... If we look at this Scripturally, to "wait on the Lord" is a process in which we twist and bind the fibers of our life, our desires and wishes and wants, the good, the bad, the ugly, our strengths, our weaknesses, everything that makes up who we are, we bind to the very fibers of God, Himself, in all of His goodness, His mercy, His righteousness, His grace, His love, His holiness, and His Word. When we "wait" through prayer and seeking His face, God does this amazing work in us. We are interwoven with Him.
When we do this we rise above the confusion, the crowds and clutter, the distractions of this chaotic world and we can see more clearly. We can see what He sees. We can see from His perspective. When we do this it gives us a renewed strength. A renewed strength to face tomorrow with expectancy and hope.
So how are you doing? Are you waiting? Are you looking with expectancy and hope? Let's "wait" on Him today and let's go soarin'!