Rooted Faithfulness in Waiting - Your Nighly Prayer - February 12th

Rooted Faithfulness in Waiting
Your Nightly Prayer
by Kyle Norman

TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE

 “The LORD is good to those who wait for him.” - Lamentations 3:25

SOMETHING TO PONDER

Let’s be honest, waiting can be hard. Does anyone enjoy waiting? Do you search for times to wait during your day? Do you intentionally choose the longest line at the grocery store, or look for bumper-to-bumper traffic on your commute to work? 

I didn’t think so.

In this world of instant gratification, where high-speed internet is never fast enough, the need to stop and wait often brings frustration and annoyance. We have an aversion to waiting. This may make sense as we navigate this world of ours. We have things to do, people to see, and places to go. 

But what about our life with God? Could we be called to cultivate a discipline of waiting? Could the inability to sit and wait prevent us from experiencing the rich delights of God?

Scripture reminds us, “The Lord is good to those who wait for him.” This passage is taken from the center of the book of Lamentations. Lamentations is a book that articulates wrestling, confusion, and sorrow in our lives with God. It was written, in part, to mourn the devastating fall of Jerusalem, and to cry out to God with expressions of heartache.

Yet in the middle of this lament-laden book, there is an articulation of God’s faithfulness. In the center of the book, surrounded by poetic articulations of weeping, stands the promise of God’s lovingkindness towards us. God’s steadfast love never ceases, and his mercies never come to an end.  

Waiting for God is an activity of redemption and healing; it is a daring position of faith. Waiting reminds us that the very atmosphere of our spiritual lives is God’s boundless grace. We do not pray as one crying to a faraway force; we pray as people who reside in the care-filled presence of our Lord. The Lord is faithful to us; He is good to those who trust and count on him.

Waiting, however, is not just about recognizing the presence of God. In waiting, we offer ourselves unreservedly to the Lord. We reach out for God’s presence before we reach out for a particular answer or action. Waiting reminds us that God works on a timescale different than our own. As we wait, we dare to believe that Christ’s delays are never his denials, and that his apparent silence does not mean his absence. 

Thus, we wait in the knowledge that, beyond our understanding or perception, Jesus is active. The fact is, Jesus is always acting on our behalf. His salvation is stalwart, and his forgiveness is real. Yes, waiting can be hard and even frustrating at times, but it is also an important discipline. Waiting for the Lord teaches us how to live our lives in trust and faith.  

If you are in a time of waiting, be encouraged. Keep praying. Do not give up. Yes, it can be frustrating and hard—Jesus knows that—but times of waiting can be an opportunity for you to rely on his power. Waiting is never wasting time; it is not sitting around doing nothing; it is not the faithful equivalent of twiddling your thumbs. In waiting, we give our souls the space they need to dwell in the presence of God, and to respond to God’s goodness when the time comes.

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Almighty God, in your holy presence, you call us to stop our striving and rest in your unchanging power.  You call us to look to you before we look to our own power and might. You call us to be silent before you, to wait in faithful worship for the redemption that you have promised.

In this world of frenetic activity and instant gratification, help me to hear your counter-cultural call to slow myself down and wait in your presence. In your call to wait, you call me to trust in your faithfulness and to live in light of your promises. When I feel tempted to take my life in my own hands, create in me a stillness of soul, and a longing of spirit which binds me to your presence. 

There are times, O Lord, when the things of this life make it difficult to see your mercies renewed every morning. But your faithfulness is great and eternally extended to me. In this moment, Father, I turn my soul’s attention to you. I open myself to your activity, and I dare to believe that you, O God, are doing nothing in my life.  And so, I wait for your work to be revealed.  I wait in hope. I wait in faith, and I wait in unfailing love.

I pray all this in the name of Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Lord. Amen.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON 

1. Lamentations 3:24 says, “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope for him.” What does it mean for you to see Jesus as your ultimate ‘portion’ in your life?

2. Lamentations 3:26 says, “It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” What benefits have you experienced from cultivating a waiting spirit?

3. What are some practical ways that you can create spaces to wait in your daily life?  How might you enter these places faithfully and prayerfully?

Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/Zbynek Pospisil

The Reverend Dr. Kyle Norman is the Rector of St. Paul’s Cathedral, located in Kamloops BC, Canada.  He holds a doctorate in Spiritual formation and is a sought-after writer, speaker, and retreat leader. His writing can be found at Christianity.com, crosswalk.com, ibelieve.com, Renovare Canada, and many others.  He also maintains his own blog revkylenorman.ca.  He has 20 years of pastoral experience, and his ministry focuses on helping people overcome times of spiritual discouragement.

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