Waiting

Waiting is the worst.   

The reason/s for our ‘hate of wait,’ vary -- an inability to enter into the mystery of God, a compulsion to control, an addiction to rush and hurry, a disdain for ‘the journey’ and transition, an unwillingness to bow to the Sovereignty of God.   

Yet in spite of such rebellion, the necessity of waiting remains.

The theme of waiting is found in scripture approximately 106 times in 101 verses.   Most prominent is the requirement to wait for God:  

“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your hearts take courage; wait for the Lord!  (Psalm 27:14, ESV) -- “Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land…” (Psalm 37:34, ESV).

But the Hebrew people did not adopt a posture of patience, but impatience, lashing out at God with lament and complaint. I find this encouraging, for I tend to lash out with complaint.  For that reason, I identify with Habakkuk, the Hebrew prophet.

“How long, O Lord must I call for help, but you do not listen…Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?  Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds…” (Habakkuk 1:2-3) -- “Lord, are you not from everlasting…Why then do you tolerate the treacherous?  Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves…”  (Habakkuk 1:12-13). 

The treacherousness Habakkuk references is convoluted, prompting a perplexing response from God.  On one hand, is the cruel evil of Judah, and its leader King Jehoiakim.  God’s reply:  don’t worry, the Babylonians will destroy Judah (Habakkuk 1:5-11).  But Babylonia is just as evil as Judah; how can Babylonia be utilized to achieve justice? (Habakkuk 1:22-2:1) God’s reply:  Babylonia will also be punished (Habakkuk 2:2-20). 

Confusing!  

But illustrative of why waiting for God is so difficult.   Why there’s not only mystery about the way God operates but also ‘the maddening,’ for at times, things just don’t make sense.

A great joy for Peter, my son Peter, has been ‘marrying into’ the Rider family, by virtue of marrying Katie (Rider).  Each member of the Rider family has a story, but Katie’s father, Scott, has a challenging story.

Some background:  Scott is not only an accomplished financial professional in Columbus, OH., he is also a former all-star middle distance runner, winning two Big Ten titles in the 800 meters at Ohio State.  But in 2006, Scott discovered he has Parkinson’s Disease; and with that diagnosis, Scott’s life changed.   As Rob Oller storied for The Columbus Dispatch:

“Rider didn’t understand much about Parkinson’s…when he stepped outside the neurologist’s office in 2006 and began crying because he knew everything was about to change.  ‘The irony is that I discovered I had Parkinson’s while running, ‘ he said.  ‘I used to run at least five days a week, and the toes on my right foot started clenching.’  At first the disease brought only mild difficulties, but nothing comes easily now as Parkinson’s has progressed into the last three stages of medicinal treatment.  Rider’s wife Kelly, helps button his shirts.  He sometimes requires a driver for his job…and friends help him handle luggage when he travels…The simple act of walking no longer is.  ‘I stumble a lot.  It kind of sucks, ‘ he said…”  

Scott Rider’s scenario is perplexing:  a former all-star runner, now stumbling?  How do you wait for God, amid that kind of madness?   

Yet the Riders are waiting.  Sure, there’s lamenting, and at moments, anguish, but the Riders are bonded to God, expectant of the Almighty.

It’s intriguing to see Habakkuk doing likewise.  After filing his complaints, Habakkuk, is expectant -- nevertheless.

"While standing guard on the watchtower, I waited for the Lord’s answer, before explaining the reason for my complaint.  Then the Lord told me: “I will give you my message in the form of a vision. Write it clearly enough to be read at a glance.  At the time I have decided, my words will come true. You can trust what I say about the future. It may take a long time, but keep on waiting— it will happen!"  (Habakkuk 2:1-3, CEV).

What incisive verses, revelatory of what waiting for God entails:  1) Expectancy, Nevertheless (as Habakkuk stands on the watchtower, with anticipation:  Habakkuk 2:1) -- 2) Openness To God’s Provision (as God writes out a tailored direction/vision, for Habakkuk: Habakkuk 2:1) -- 3) Endurance, Endurance, Endurance (as God promises and guides, but for a long time:  Habakkuk 2:3). -- 4) Dependence On God’s Performance (as Habakkuk clings in trust, to Divine Certainty: Habakkuk 2:3).  

And so, waiting is the worst.   But waiting for God can be promising, as we discover -- over time -- divine vigor -- amid -- our anxiety and fatigue.

For '...they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. " (Isaiah 40:31)