Focus on Waiting With Hope
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to sit quietly for the salvation of the LORD. Lamentations 3:25-26 NIV
A friend gave me a sticker that reads “Until God opens the next door, praise Him in the hallway.” I put it on my water bottle to remind me to wait with praise and with hope, and not with complaining.
In this “New Beginnings” series we’re focusing on God by reading Scripture to see Him for who He really is. We’re praying to the Lord who answers. We’re asking Jesus to help us remove distractions and the sin that keeps us from connecting with Him. Yet sometimes we don’t know what God wants us to do next, or we may be struggling with something. Another discipline of the Christian walk is waiting.
Waiting is difficult. Our culture expects things rapidly. We have fast food and microwave ovens, quick computers and internet speeds, and instant gratification in so many areas of life. But the Lord often doesn’t work instantly, nor do we quickly become like Him. Answered prayers and guidance may take time. How do we praise Him in the hallway? How do we wait?
We wait with HOPE.
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:21-23 NIV
We can wait with hope because of the LORD’s great love for us. As we dig into Scripture and review His actions in our lives and especially consider Jesus Christ’s sacrificial love for us, we will come to know His love. It is because of His great love that we are not consumed by the eternal punishment for sin. As we trust in God and His great love for us, things in life don’t consume us. He is faithful.
I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” Lamentations 3:24 NIV
The LORD is our inheritance. He is our promise – and God keeps His promises. We wait for our inherited eternity with Him, but we also inherit the promises that are for us now.
“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him…” Lamentations 3:25 NIV
Our hope is certain and expectant because it is based on who the Lord is and on the truth of His word. We wait, but not by wasting our time pursuing worthless things. We wait while seeking the Lord. We can see His goodness in what He does, His creation, His character, His promises, His commands, and all through Scripture.
It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. Lamentations 3:26 NKJV
It is good to sit quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Lamentations 3:26 NIV
Sit quietly? I don’t know about you, but I tend to be over-committed and overly busy. God says it is good to sit quietly for His salvation. There’s an implied peace in sitting quietly. Instead of tapping our foot waiting for God to act or fidgeting with distractions, hope in God offers rest in the waiting. Jesus told us “Come to Me…and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28-30) I need that rest. Do you?
Let’s quiet our souls. Let’s wait expectantly, assured the God will bring about His plans and His promises for us. Let’s wait with hope.
Dear Lord, I’m thankful that Your steadfast love never ceases. Your mercies are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness. Thank you. I praise You, even when waiting. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
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Thank you for joining me and for reading my devotional blogs. Blogs usually post every other Thursday. Past devotionals are available on my website for your convenience. I pray this will be a time of growth in Jesus for you and for me.
Kathryn Breckenridge 