Torch, Spring 1995

- I Forced To Wait b Dr. Martin Clark Waiting is tough. Most of us prefer to act. Waiting can be an aggravation, for we have things we want done and we are inclined to get on with them. Sometimes being forced to wait makes us feel vulnerable and, Gonsequently, insecure. Doing something- anything--can give us the illusion that we are in control, and we then feel more secure. Faced with important decisions, we find it uncomfortable to wait on the Lord. We have grave suspicions about those who wait easily. We tend to attribute laziness or apathy to those whom we see waiting and seeming to enjoy it. Our "logic" follows this course: active is good, passive is bad. Doing is active and therefore good; waiting is passive and therefore bad. We assume that waiting is passive, when, in fact, waiting on the Lord can make us very active. Perhaps this is demonstrated in what might be the most well-known Bible verse on waiting. 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, they shall walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31). · t the very least, Isaiah tells us that waiting on the Lord will lead to renewed strength and increased acfvity-soaring like eagles, .running, and walking. If waiting is not passive, how, then, do we actively wait on the Lord? Waiting on the Lm:d involves knowing and doiog now what He wants us to do. In virtually every circumstance of life, we can find something to do to please God. Waiting on the Lord entails a life of faith that includes prayer; seeking to know God better; and reading, meditating, and acting on His Word. These activities certainly are active, not passive. When done rjght, they engage the mind and eart in a se ·o'us and strenuous quest that resul s in growth, answers, and sometimes, more questions. Sometimes we are called to "be still , and know that I am God" (Psalm 46: 10). Being still can be hard work, and knowing that He is God involves actively learning more about God through His work in that situation. Being still- waiting for God to work-means surrendering control by doing all we know we should do, trusting God for His direct intervention. Beyond active prayer and devotional exercise, we wait on Him by using the ~esources He has provided. Seekillg the counsel of godly elders, examining our God– given gifts and opportunities in the light of biblical values, makillg and testing tentative decisions-all of these are legitimate activities that honor God and that can be used by Him to bring resolution to our dilemmas. In the decision-making process, we honor Him by waiting on Him. For example, waiting on the Lord when seeking career advancement means doing all we can to please Him while we work the process. We maintain our devotional experience. But we also examine our lives .for the way we can depl oy our talents and interests for the advancement of His kingdom and focus our best energies on our current responsibilities. Short-changing a current employer while searching for a new position is not waiting on the Lord. RatQ,e,r, such action dishonors Him. We honor the Lord in our decision– making when we wait on Him "for the right one to come along." This should involve developing our gifts and opportunities to assure the best stewardship of life possible, whether single or married. Waiting on the Lord would cause us to honor God by agreeing with Him on the high calling of singleness, if tha ·s in His plan. It would cultivate a spirit of joy and fulfillment, rather than a lifetime of loneliness and frustration and "wasted years." Ultimately, waiting on the Lord means hoping in the Lord. For the child of God, hope is not an empty wish . Rather, it is a firm certainty in the promises of God-a certainty that motivates us to deeper faith and more complete obedience. Hope gives meaning to waiting so, whi e waiting may still be tough, it can also be fulfilling. Dr. Martin Clark is vice president for development at Cedarville College. He maintains an active preaching ministry, teaches seminary courses in counseling, and is a consultant for strategic planning. Dr. Clark authored Choosing Your Career: The Christian's Decision Manual and The Bible Has The Answer with Dr. Henry Morris, as well as numerous articles in a variety of publications. He ea.med deg.re~~ at Bob Jones University and V1rg1ma Polytechnic and State University. Torch 13