Daughter in Waiting Ministry

Hi,

I’ve wrestled with this for weeks. What does it mean to wait on The Lord? Is there a specific way we are called to wait on Him? Does not waiting “well” or the “right way” cause us to prolong our wilderness season? I’ve heard countless theological views, opinions, and scriptures to answer these burning questions and the truth is – I’m still searching for the answer. I think I may never have the ideal answer because God is first and foremost a personal God. So, I choose to act in obedience by what I see biblically. One of the greatest examples of waiting on the Lord for me has been the story of King David. His story resonates with me and is one the Holy Spirit uses countless times to teach me, to instruct me, to mold me. 

When I first surrendered, God clearly and urgently spoke my calling to me and empowered me through His Spirit to walk in that calling. In my naivety, I thought God speaking my calling and giving me clear directions to follow meant that my calling was right around the corner. I thought it meant that the promises He spoke would happen right then. You can imagine my surprise when one month later they didn’t come to pass, two months later they didn’t come to pass, five months later – you can picture the rest. He’s even added more to my promises and I’m still waiting for just the first one to come to pass. I’ve come to realize that when God speaks a promise, it doesn’t mean that it’ll be fulfilled right when He speaks it to you. For my journey, a waiting season is required. As I wait for all of these promises to come to pass and to step into my promised land, I look to none other than the biblical example I’ve told you about – King David. 

I wait on the Lord by praising him. Sometimes my praise is full of joy and awe. Sometimes I have to actively command my soul to do it despite its anguish. Sometimes, all I can do is cry as I read the scriptures. Regardless of how I praise God, I choose to consistently wait on Him through praise and worship. One of the most memorable times I’ve spent with the Holy Spirit happened the first month of my surrendering. I was in a state of joy – I tend to ride in that feeling when I’m in this state because for those of you in the wilderness, you know these moments can be few and far between – and I wanted to learn all I could about God so I said a quick prayer in my heart for the Holy Spirit to guide me through The Psalms so I could express all that was in my heart that I couldn’t form into words. And as faithful as He is, He did just that. The next two hours consisted of Him walking me through this book, carefully selecting each Psalm that resonated with me, my season, my circumstances, and the prayers in my heart. It was a magical moment. One that has shaped my praise and worship posture. One that has shaped my waiting. 

What I love about The Psalms is that we don’t have to rewrite what to say to God. At moments we don’t know what to say or how to say it, we can simply read through this book. Because David’s story resonates so much with me, his beautiful words to God also do. David received the promise from God that he would become King of Israel yet spent over ten years of his life hiding from the king at the time, Saul, until that promise would come to pass. And as you read through The Psalms, you can see and hear the anguish of waiting that David went through. David wrestled with his waiting season but that wrestling didn’t stop him from praising. Praising God doesn’t mean that you dismiss your circumstances, your concerns, etc. Praising God is simply stating ‘although I feel this deep pain or sadness, I acknowledge that the Lord is with me in this, I acknowledge that the Lord is above this, I acknowledge that the Lord will see me through’. A Psalm I like to recite when I don’t feel like praising and worshiping is Psalm 42. The specific authorship of this Psalm is unclear but I adore it.

“Why are you cast down, o my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”

Psalm 42:5

Waiting for the Lord by praising him is a heart posture. It’s a choice we individually make. We can choose to command our souls even when it’s hard. It’s a personal decision only you can act on. If you look through The Psalms, including the ones written by David, you see that this is exactly what’s being done. A personal choice of praise and worship despite the circumstances. In Psalm 34, David writes to see and taste that the Lord is good. In Psalm 8, he rejoices over the fact that God takes thought of him. If you are in a waiting season, I recommend you use The Psalms in your prayer routine. Read them, study them, recite them. Make a list of your favorites for separate occasions. I have a collection of different Psalms for different moods of prayer. I have a list I use only to worship. I have a list I recite for help, I have a list for when I need God to transform my heart and mind, and so on…I also recommend choosing one or a few biblical examples of individuals who are walking through seasons similar to your own. Read their stories and see how they overcame or didn’t overcome their situations. You can do so by inviting the Holy Spirit to guide and teach you on how to apply the lessons learned through these individuals in your personal life. Most importantly, wait on Him through praise. It is a difficult thing to do in the waiting seasons of our lives, but if we trust God at His word, we know that He has our best interest at heart.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Jeremiah 29:11

Take this act of faith if you’re willing. Invite the Holy Spirit to guide you through The Psalms and/or even another biblical book that can speak directly into your waiting season. Remember this if you’re weary:

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”

Romans 8:26

Sincerely,

Anne