The Hardest Part is the Waiting by Emily Carter

I wrote this article on Monday, August 31 knowing that I would be taking my four-year-old daughter to the eye doctor two days later. On Wednesday, the doctor told us that our four year old has an abnormal pupil, something that 20 percent of the population has, and that it was most likely nothing to worry about. However, since we had just noticed that one pupil is larger than the other is, he wanted her to have an MRI just to make sure everything was what it should be. As I send this to the editors, we are waiting for the MRI to take place on September 9th. You will receive this blog on the 13th, while we are waiting on the results and follow-up appointment that is to take place on Friday, the 18th. Waiting is hard. Today, if you find yourself like I do, in a season of stillness, WAIT on God.

W – Wait in Wonder and Commit Your Way to Him.
A – Abstain from Anger
I – Prepare for Your Inheritance
T – Trust God and Talk to Him

Wait in Wonder and Commit Your Way to Him. Psalm 34:4-5 says, “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this.” Wait in wonder, delight in God. Think of all that he has done for you personally and for his creation and marvel at his handiwork. This will be a time of praise that will move your focus off yourself and onto the Father. He loves you dearly and you are his glorious creation. You are his prized possession. Commit Your Way to him. Lift up your situation to him. Let him know you want to do things his way. His will is what you want to be accomplished in your life. Nothing but his perfect and pleasing plan will do for you.

Abstain from Anger. Psalm 34:8 gives us great advice. As you wait, don’t get angry or fret. This is hard to do, especially when we have been waiting for something important for a long time already. Remember, the longer you wait, the more time you have to prepare for his plan. And the more time you have to become the person God wants you to be.

Prepare for your Inheritance. Six different times is Psalm 34 the word “inherit” or “inheritance” is used. Wow! We are told, in verse 9, to hope in the LORD. In verse 11, we are told that the meek will inherit the land and in verse 18 that the inheritance of the blameless will last forever. “Those the LORD blesses will inherit the land” can be found in Psalm 34:22. In verse 29, it is the righteous that inherit the land, and finally, in verse 34 we are encouraged to “wait for the Lord and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land.”

Lastly, Trust God and Talk to the Lord. The Hebrew word used for “trust” in Psalm 34:3 denotes a confident expectation. Believe that, as you wait, God is at work. He is preparing you for his plan. He is working out all things for your good. As you trust him, talk to him. Psalm 34:30 says, “The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom and his tongue speaks what is just.” The only way we will be able to speak the right words is by spending time studying God’s word and talking to him.

Waiting is never easy, but the desires that God has for your life are well worth the wait!