Awkward Waiting In Prayer

You can listen to this post on Refresh Her podcast.

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I will never forget the anxious moments of waiting. I was a soon-to-be post college student seeking God’s will for my future. My name had been given to a pastor (Cunningham) who was looking for a secretary for the Christian school at his church, and I was waiting for my appointment with him where I would be interviewed for the position.

I arrived promptly at our set time, climbed the stairs to the Student center, and from a distance, peeked into doorway of the interview office . I saw a man talking with a student. Immediately, I assumed that he was the man I was waiting for. I seated myself on a sofa outside the office, in a place where I would be easily seen when he exited the interview office. Then I waited…and I waited.

At another place across from where I sat, a man was sitting on a sofa. It appeared that he, too, was waiting for someone. I was thinking about the exam that I was going to be taking in the next class period and wishing I could be studying instead of just sitting. The waiting grew wearisome. The interview inside the office continued, and I grew more and more impatient and frustrated. I kept looking at my watch wondering how long I would have to wait, and wondering if I would miss my appointment because he’d gone too long with this other person. Finally after 15-20 minutes, the gentleman that was seated nearby got up and approached me, and suddenly I had a funny feeling that my waiting had been in vain.

“Are you waiting to be interviewed by him?” the man asked, nodding toward the interview office.

“Yes I am” I replied.

“What is his name?” he asked.

“Mr. Cunningham” was my answer. The man smiled and then said laughing, “I am Mr. Cunningham! I assumed you were waiting for him since you kept looking toward that office!”

I introduced myself and then our interview got underway. Of course, you must realize that I got the job, and I also got his son for a husband a few years later – now that’s some deal!

As I’ve looked back over that interview all those years ago, I remember how awkward I felt waiting. After waiting for a long time a person begins to realize that something isn’t right. Perhaps someone waits for a friend at a restaurant and they never show, then they look at their calendar on their phone and realize their lunch date was for the next day. Sometimes waiting without response can have a tragic end because the person who was supposed to show up was in an accident or got sick. Waiting for people can have awkward moments.

Waiting on the Lord is altogether different, however. Lamentations 3;25 says,

The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

Even when we wait for a very long time for the Lord to answer our cries, we don’t have to wonder if He’s misunderstood. We don’t have to question if He’s really going to show up. There’s no need to doubt about Him keeping the appointment! He will always hear, He will “show up” at just the right time, and He will keep His appointment with us and our situation!

We need to remember that because God is eternal, He is not limited by time.  Our prayers are always on His ears.  In Luke 1 we read…

Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,

9 According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son.

How long had they prayed?  How long had she waited until she may have decided it was never going to happen? Verse 7 reminds us they were “well stricken in years!”

However, God had not forgotten.  While she was waiting, God was listening.  He was at work, doing what only He could do in a way that He would get the greatest glory!

We live in such an instant society that we get frustrated if we have to wait for more than a few minutes for ANYTHING!

Isa 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

The eagle sits at the edge of the nest and waits for the winds to blow, then at the right moment, he catches the wind under his wings and he soars!  He flies high because he is resting on the wind to carry him.  

We need to wait for the Spirit of God to move, then take flight only when He initiates it is the correct time.  It will be far less wearisome work when we learn to wait for Him.

Waiting gives us an opportunity to develop our trust in the Lord and to strengthen our faith in Him. We’re forced to come to grips with the fact that He— and He alone— knows what He’s doing. Waiting helps us grow in patience. ` Elizabeth George

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. Psalm 27:14

Do you feel like you’re sitting and waiting so long for God to answer that it feels awkward?  Are you wondering if God is going to show Up? 

Is waiting for God worth it?  What might Elizabeth say if we could ask her? Even though it happened in a different time frame and in a different way than she ever dreamed, I feel sure she would encourage you and me to wait on the Lord!

As you wait on God, don’t get up and leave. Don’t start doubting. Don’t start sighing in desperation. Your waiting will not be in vain. You can trust in Him because He is good and will do good in your life! 

What are you waiting for God to do?  Keep praying.  He hears you and loves you – don’t doubt that! While you’re waiting, feel the nearness of the One to Whom you are praying! The Lord is good to them that wait for Him!