Wait

“Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength”  Isaiah 40:31

Wait – There are lots of different attitudes when it comes to waiting.  Waiting in line at the store can evoke impatience.  Waiting for news from a doctor may cause anxiety.  Waiting for a court date might result in anger.  Our emotional responses to situation where we don’t get immediate results are a good indicator of the kind of inner strength and peace in our lives.  In this verse, Isaiah draws attention to the kind of attitude we have when we are waiting for God.

The Hebrew word qawa emphasizes enduring hope.  This is a word that gives us a picture of anticipation.  The emotional reaction here is like waiting for a birthday party or for Christmas day.  It is the anticipation of joyful fulfillment.  No matter how long it takes, we are eager to see the day arrive.  That eagerness is the essence of hope in God.  Life doesn’t always go the way we plan.  Ask Job.  But with hope in God we can be assured that no matter how long we wait, no matter how strange the circumstances, we can be confident that God will fulfill His purposes in us.  Qawa is hope that lasts.

The Bible says the even the wicked have hope.  But their hope is not based in the righteousness of the Lord.  It is only a false and temporary reprieve.  In the end, they will find only judgment (Proverbs 11:7).  For hope to be more than wishful thinking, it must be based in something that is permanent and reliable.  Anyone who has ever experienced an unexpected tragedy in life knows the truth of this claim.  We are lulled to sleep with false hopes in money, jobs, family or society only to be shocked awake when our hope is suddenly dashed to pieces.  Isaiah reminds us that putting our hope in God will never result in disappointment.

In this verse, this word is a participle.  That means it is verb that acts like an adjective.   It describes the subject with an action context.  “Those waiting” or “those hoping”; eagerly anticipating and expecting.  The action is continuous, present tense.  This is a moment-to-moment attitude of confident trust in Him.  It’s not a recollection of the past or a wish for the future.  It is right now readiness to see God act.  That’s the abundant life.  The life that expects and anticipates God’s next moment fulfillment.  What a change in attitude it would be if we fully embraced the thought that God might show His hand in the very next second of our lives!

Are you an anticipating follower or have you let your next-moment hope slip away?