“And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.””
Acts 1:4-5 ESV
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but 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 40:28-31 ESV
How do you wait? What does it mean to wait? I immediately think of sitting in a waiting room waiting for the nurse to call my name because the doctor can FINALLY see me. Waiting often seems like a waste of time. We live in a culture that doesn’t understand the significance of waiting. We want everything NOW! We are even willing to sacrifice quality for convenience. My example here is the difference between how I make green beans and now my wife heats them up in the microwave. She won’t deny mine taste better, however she appreciates the ease of dumping a can into a bowl and letting the microwave do the work.
Waiting is a beneficial time period. It’s a preparation period. Often, when asked to wait, we’re not quite ready to receive something.
What are you seeking from the Holy Spirit? Chances are you are, or have been, in a waiting period. He’s preparing you. Making sure you’re ready. Have you been faithful with what you already have? What lessons have you learned in the last chapter of your life? Are you ready for more?
Often we misuse waiting periods and we end up wasting time.