Have you ever sat in a crowded theatre so engrossed in an action movie that you actually felt the emotions likely being experienced by the actors in the movie? The view from sitting in the front seat during the downward plunge of a rollercoaster on screen can make your stomach queasy and ears pop, even though you’re squarely seated in a comfortable chair that’s firmly bolted to a concrete floor! Incredible.
Life’s rapidly changing circumstances can feel like that. In one instant, peaceful bliss can change into chaos with no warning…as the rollercoaster of your life plummets to unimaginable depths. As in the theatre, our initial reaction is to get sucked into the pressures of the moment. We struggle to hang on, regain some sense of equilibrium, and ride it out…desperately hoping that the ride will quickly end.
The Lord admonishes us to guard against getting caught up in the rush of the moment, trying desperately to take matters into our own hands and work them out. Isaiah expresses it well: 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. (Isaiah 40:31)
“Yeah, right,” you may say, as I often do. “This sounds right and proper, but who can do it; how do we wait; is this figurative or literal waiting; for what are we waiting; and how will I know when the waiting is over so I can move on and deal with the matter at hand? Easier said than done!”
The quintessential message of the Bible is for us to learn how effectively to wait upon the Lord. The best classroom to learn this is … life, and the best place to apply this is… daily living.
In the above verse, our minds and eyes are typically drawn to the verb, “wait.” Could it be that the emphasis should really be on the preposition, “upon?” Ever wonder why Isaiah uses the expression “wait upon” as opposed to “wait for?” What’s the difference and what might it mean for you and me the next time we find ourselves on that downward plunge of life’s rollercoaster?
The Bible includes several references to waiting upon and for the Lord, including: And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me. (Isaiah 49:23)
“Waiting for” suggests eager expectation of a delayed (slow) response. “Waiting upon,” in its broadest sense, suggests paying “constant, close attention to,” much like a waiter in a classy restaurant serving a high level dignitary. This waiter seeks to recognize, interpret, understand and promptly respond to the slightest nuance from his/her guest which may signal a need for service. This reflects and reinforces the notion of “seeking first the Kingdom of God
Far from the idea of waiting “for” a clear response or result from a slow God, or seeking Him first before we get down to the business at hand, “waiting upon the Lord” suggests seeking Him, His way, will, insights, and approval, similar to an uninterrupted, critical power supply to expensive, sensitive computer equipment in a dirty environment with frequent brown-outs and power outages. With this fresh perspective, there is no “get the answer or result and then GO!” Rather, there is a constant walking through the problems of life and training our senses to perceive the unfolding will and purposes of God in the midst of circumstances.
In this sense, the waiting never ends, per se. What should come to an end, however, is “us.” Walking with the Lord to this extent puts us clearly on the path of Enoch who walked with the Lord and “was not.” (Genesis 5:24) Conventional wisdom is that Enoch physically disappeared, taken up to heaven as was Elijah. (2 Kings 2:11) While we may not physically disappear during our walk with the Lord, it is His desire that, in our lives, He increases and we decrease. In reality, our friends, loved ones and enemies alike need to see more of Him in us and less of us. Much like Enoch, we can aspire to “was not”(or “am not”) status in Christ by the power of His Spirit.
Inexplicable peace and patience are clear indicators of achieving “was/am not” status in Christ, reinforcing our God-connectedness. Our natural selves are normally not patient and, therefore, not at peace. But God promises to guide us by His eye (Psalms 32:8) and to keep us in perfect peace as we keep our minds stayed on Him. (Isaiah 26: 3) Peace is a gift from God, while patience is the desired product of our response to the tests and trials of life (James 1:3)
Through a series of tests and trials of faith in 2007, I struggled to find readily available reminders of these lessons to help me through the twists and turns of a year-long roller coaster ride. My natural inclinations, skills and professional experiences push me to act promptly and decisively in the face of challenges in the areas of family, finances, friends, work and health. The world grooms and applauds leaders in this manner, whereas God does just the opposite. Surprised?
What I found surprising is how the Lord opened my eyes to three simple, readily available reminders of the need to wait upon Him as circumstances unfolded, and to respond by faith in the current of His spirit (similar to the electric or tidal currents). These reminders are:
- the beats of my heart
- the blinks of my eyes, and
- the breaths of my soul
How can these unconscious biological rhythms serve as effective reminders to wait upon the Lord? It’s akin to musical notes. It’s widely regarded that the notes are not music, per se. Rather, music is what happens “between the notes.”
As with music, waiting upon the Lord, seeking His Kingdom, and His peace as the trying circumstances of life unfold…all happen between the beats of my heart, the blinks of my eyes, and the breaths of my soul. This is where God listens to and hears the “music of my life;” the pulse and intentions of my heart. As I quieted myself and meditated upon the Word, I, too, heard what God hears. In the pressures of tests and trials, all I had to do was to slow down and breathe, blink and listen to the beat of my heart, and be reminded that God is quietly and subconsciously in control, divinely orchestrating all things for my ultimate good. I only needed to perceive His current moving through me to accomplish His perfect will, much like tidal currents move the mighty waves of the ocean.
From lessons I learned in 2007, may you consider this invitation to:
- Let every breath of your soul reinforce your God-connectedness:
As you inhale, receive from the storehouse of His deep treasure. As you exhale, extend gratitude for His abundant supply.
“Breathing gratitude” ensures the continuous flow of His abundance.
- Let every blink of your eyes verify your God-connectedness:
As you open your eyes, see confirmation of His unending abundance. As you lower your eyelids in a blink, bow, as it were, in awesome reverence to Him.
“Blinking appreciation” ensures we will not miss the marvels of His handiwork …
His unfolding Kingdom on earth.
- Let every beat of your heart establish His Kingdom within you:
As blood flows into your heart, allow His Kingdom to come anew into your life. As blood flows out through your body, receive His will as being done in your life, touching others.
“Pulsating love” to others ensures we will have adequate space
to receive more of His abundance.
As you do, may you come to realize what I did the next time you are engrossed in a movie in a crowded theatre:
…your life is like that movie which only mimics reality, or what you call reality;
but the comfortable chair in which you are seated, firmly bolted to a concrete floor,
is like the immutable Word of God which over-rides or anchors the virtual reality of your life.
Learning to wait upon the “Lord of The Word” has unimaginable benefits, including an incredible climax to the movie of your life.
“Wait,” He says, “upon the Lord…”
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