He’s in the Waiting
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Why do you complain, Jacob?
Why do you say, Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord;
my cause is disregarded by my God”?
28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. -
The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid?11 Teach me your way, Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations.
13 I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
KB – ‘A Long Weight’
Exercise: To your neighbour – share a story about ‘a long wait.’
On morning of my accident I read these words in Psalm 27:
‘The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid?
v14 Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.’
At the time of my Accident in 1979 there was much prayer for healing, FGB, mother’s prayer network, ORU, Wimber, Francis McNutt, prayer groups in church – a real volume of prayer for healing. 45 years later, I am still waiting.
Isa 40:27-31 How do we stay close to God when we are waiting. Pray, praise, the Bible.
Isa 40:27 answers our frustration and our concern even answers that question - is God even aware of me?
I’m sure we have all been in a situation where we’re praying for guidance or praying for a miracle. It needs to be now. Then you don’t get the job or the house, the condition worsens or the loved one dies. We are tempted to say: what’s going on? I give up praying.
In this session – pause to behold God is in the waiting.
1st Session I explained that I want to dip into the Isaiah 40-55 in these sessions. Isaiah assures us we are held, God is with us, God is for us and will not break (Isa 42:3) us in our troubles. Isaiah shows us we are not forsaken, indeed God is in the waiting.
Read Isa 40:27-31 Psalm 27:1,11-14
Whatever the situation there is Waiting and Renewing and Rising in v31 that help us respond to God’s silence. You are here this week for different reasons - maybe experiencing hard times, anxiety, worry, in trouble and you need God to show up - you feel overlooked Isaiah 40v27 how long O Lord? How do I respond? It is good that you are here and I pray that you will encounter our Lord and Saviour in the waiting.
Waiting then Renewing
Waiting
Isaiah 40:27 Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God”?
God answers ‘Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is an eternal God, the Creator of the whole earth.’
“He does not get tired or weary; there is no limit to his wisdom. He gives strength to those who are tired; to the ones who lack power, he gives renewed energy.”
As I wrestled (as it were) with the Lord in prayer, I poured out my heart to him that he was not as up close and personal as when I first believed. It was a very personal encounter which I wrote about in ‘Lake of Tears.’ During that prayer time I ranted at God, ‘God you don't know how hard this is, the tears, the frustration, the loss, the pain, you don't know.’ It was anguish expressed.
Read Lake of Tears excerpt pg 117
NB God is Omniscient (all knowing) - when you pray that sort of prayer, it is not new information to God. When you say Lord, I'm ill, I'm in trouble, I'm struggling, I’m lost. Do you think God is up in heaven and saying, ‘Oh no, I forgot all about him - I was so busy with Ukraine’ that I forgot about Kelvin struggling ‘down there.’ Nonsense, he is omniscient - all-knowing. He is omnipresent: ever-present everywhere.
Other religions give you advice, mindfulness techniques, prayer patterns or posture - Christianity gives you Christ. A person within you, dwelling, with you – waiting, around you – guarding. A person, not a feeling nor an exercise - a presence – withness - God with us. If God seems silent or seems to keep us waiting it is not because he isn't there not because doesn't love you. His promise is his presence.
Renewing, ‘those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.’ Isaiah 40:31.
Many times, when I was a Healthcare Chaplain, I have sat with people, and they say I don't think God hears me. I don't think he is with me and I reply, ‘If you put God as the sentence starter, then it is a prayer that God hears and answers. eg ‘God, I don’t think you hear me’ - that is a prayer. I don't think God hears me is just a statement.
Debbie’s Story: I met Debbie in hospital a few years ago. She was blind, bedridden, bed-blocking, felt lost with no hope – demoralised in the waiting. The Chaplain visited and gave present hope (not future). I spoke about the Lord being present, reaching out to each one of us. I spoke about holding on to Lord. We held hands – meaningful being a collaboration between the disabilities (sight and mobility). We realised that tactile was important. She received a holding cross as a symbol of holding on to the the Lord Jesus, to his cross.
When we suffer, trouble or illness and there doesn't seem to be a way out we are so vulnerable spiritually, physically, mentally. Reaching out through the scriptures and reflecting on the meaning of the cross is so important. The Holding Cross has become a symbol of holding on to the Lord in our prayer times.
Renewing is what is going on here. Debbie trusted in the Lord, she was being renewed. Of course, the transformation is on going. Please be assured, God is active in the times of waiting.
Exercise: Holding Cross
Hold the cross gently in your hand, allowing the shape to fit comfortably in your palm.
“Lord, I am holding on to you. Thank you that you are upholding me (Isa 41:10).
I know that nothing can separate me from your love (Rom 8:38); Neither death
nor life, Angels nor principalities, Things present, nor things to come, Evil powers,
heights, depths, or anything else in all creation – nothing at all!”
In the waiting, it is enough simply to hold the cross – still and quiet – this is a tactile prayer.
Maybe you have no words, and it is through the sense of touch that you are expressing your love of Jesus and your need of him.
Holding the cross can be a symbolic way of praying for others, especially those who are suffering.
If you are ill or in need, simply holding the cross and longing for God is enough (Psalm 42:1).
