WAITING IS NOT PASSIVE!

BY PASTOR JASON BRIESACHER

BUT THOSE WHO WAIT FOR THE LORD WILL RECEIVE NEW STRENGTH.

ISAIAH 40:31 (EHV)

We live in a fast-paced world that wants everything instantly. We can order food, and it arrives at our doorstep. We have information instantaneously at our fingertips. But if we are to love the Lord our God with all our minds, we need to practice biblical meditation, a word that means turning over to gain a deeper understanding.

Our relationship with God grows when we practice these things, and our understanding of Him will change as we continue to turn things over in our minds. We want our relationship with God to form instantly, but deep relationships take time.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 tells us that a cord of three strands is not quickly broken. While one person may be overpowered, two may defend themselves, but the third strand strengthens it. A rope intertwined with three cords is not easily cut. We actively participate in a cord of three strands when we pray. The Bible says that the Holy Spirit is praying for us (Rom. 8:26) and that Jesus is interceding for us at the right hand of the Father (Rom. 8:34 and Heb. 7:25). When we pray, we gain new strength.

Isaiah 40:31 seems passive. Those who wait on the Lord will gain new strength. While it looks docile, it is the Hebrew verb “Qâvâh” (kahvah). This word encourages us to sit, linger, expect, and hope. But one more definition makes it an active expression: to collect, bind, and twist together over time.

When we wait on the Lord, we bind ourselves together to Jesus and the Holy Spirit as we lift our prayers to the Father. We learn to hear His voice and answer His call as we talk and listen. We are developing a stronger relationship with God that takes time to develop. As we grow stronger in our relationship with God, we are not easily broken because we no longer fight alone but stand firm as a cord of three strands. You will not be easily damaged when you choose to wait (Qâvâh) on the Lord.

Moving Forward

When you pray today, ask God, “What do you want to say to me?” Then write down His responses. He is waiting to speak. Are you ready to listen?