Even the prophet Isaiah taught on the idea of waiting on the Lord; he wrote, 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). What Isaiah wrote is still applicable to those that follow after the Lord today: It is when we wait upon God that we find ourselves refreshed, renewed, and strengthened to handle what lies ahead. We see the same thought conveyed in Lamentations, The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him (Lamentations 3:25).
Waiting is not easy; we have been conditioned since birth that everything has to happen now. We like instant gratification for our efforts. All you have to do is go to any restaurant, bank, or store and watch the way people react when they have to wait in line for five minutes or longer. It is against our fleshly nature to wait especially when we need to hear from the Lord. We want God to answer on our time and often forget that simple message taught by the prophet Isaiah, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD (Isaiah 55:8).
Not only is it hard to wait, it is also even harder to listen. We are surrounded by constant sound. As I am preparing this devotional, the washer is going, the television is on, and the air conditioner is also making noise. Oftentimes, we turn on the radio in our cars just to have some background noise rather than awkward silence. It is during the quiet times that the Lord will speak to our hearts, as he did with the prophet Elijah, And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice (I Kings 19:11-12).
Within the book of Samuel, there is this beautiful account of Samuel, in training to be the next high priest of Israel, from his youth, he was being raised by Eli for the purpose of serving the Lord. Samuel had reached the point to where he was tender and patient enough to listen to God, and had thought that it was Eli that was calling him at night. While waiting after guidance from Eli, the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth (I Samuel 3:10). It was not until Samuel was honestly ready to listen that God was able to speak to his heart!
With David, Elijah, and Samuel, all three men learned to wait on the Lord and to listen for his voice. All three men had faith to know that God would provide guidance to them, all three men knew that God would reward their patience. We see the exact same thing taught the book of Acts, And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed (Acts 16:25-26). Paul and Silas could have begun to worry about their fate, could have begun to make schemes and plans, but instead, they prayed and waited on God. They had faith to know that God had heard their prayers and the faith to know that God would answer at the time that his answer was needed.
