Guest Blogger: Bishop Foley Beach

Today’s guest blogger is The Rt. Rev’d Foley Beach. +Foley is the bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the South and the Rector of Holy Cross Anglican Church in Loganville, Georgia.

WAITING ON THE LORD

Many times in our journey following the Lord, we are called to wait – wait for directions, wait for counsel, wait for answered prayer. Since we Americans have a difficult time waiting, too often we don’t wait for Him, and we get ourselves in a mess.

The prophet Isaiah wrote to the believers of his day: “those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31). The word “wait” can be understood in several different ways… 1) As in being patient over time (waiting). Driving around Atlanta after 3:00 one often has to wait! 2) As in serving. Restaurants have waiters (now often called servers).

The Hebrew word from which this passage is taken takes these meanings even deeper. To wait is a hopeful expectation. It is looking forward with eager anticipation. Isaiah is saying that those who wait with a hopeful expectation that the Lord will act will not be disappointed – they will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, and they will walk and not faint.

The Scriptures encourage us that while we wait for the Lord: to wait patiently (Ps. 37:7) – “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their evil schemes” (NIV); to wait quietly (Lam.3:26) – “It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord” (NIV)’ to wait expectantly (Lam.3:24) – “I will say to myself: “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him” (NIV); and to wait in His Word (Ps.130:5) – “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and his Word I put my hope” (NIV).

Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. Isn’t it amazing how exhausted we can get doing God’s work? However, as we wait for his leadership and direction, and his coming, our strength is renewed. Too often, rather than waiting patiently, quietly, expectantly, and in his word, we are fretting and anxious and non-trusting– and our strength is zapped. Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength.

Those who wait on the Lord will soar on wings as eagles. It is an interesting thing about eagles – They soar they don’t fly. They wait for the correct wind, and then they ride that wind – soaring to the heights. Isn’t that a great picture for us as we wait on the Lord? When the wind of the Spirit moves and blows, we ride with wings as eagles to where he wants us to go.

Expectantly wait on Him. And when the Holy Spirit moves, when the wind blows, then soar on wings like an eagle, run and not grow weary, walk and not be faint. In the meantime, wait for Him. And while you are waiting – renew your strength.