Waiting Well

Psalm 37:7 (NIV)

Be still before the Lord
    and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
    when they carry out their wicked schemes.

This verse makes me uncomfortable. It is telling me to do two things that I find extremely difficult: being still and waiting patiently.

How do we silence ourselves and “be still before the Lord?” What does “waiting patiently” look like? 

We don’t come to a place of stillness overnight. It takes intentional planning and practice. We need to create a space where we can practice being quiet. Maybe there’s a chair in a room or outside on your patio in the cool morning that offers a quiet place to sit. Distractions will always abound, both physical and mental. Telling the thoughts in our head to “sit down and be quiet” might have to be what you say to yourself, so you can begin to create the space to be still. Allowing yourself to “not do it right” is okay. Like starting an exercise program, we won’t master it right away. But we can start with a small step to sit quietly before the Lord and be still.

Waiting offers another opportunity to consider how we might be attentive and attuned to the Lord when we are not running 100 miles an hour. Just like the waiting room at the doctor’s office, we pause and take time in the moment, expectant for our appointment. Waiting is temporary. Waiting is not wasted. Waiting enhances our faith and builds trust.

As this verse offers us the instruction of what we can do in being still and waiting patiently, it also reminds us of what not to do; do not fret. Our media-crazed culture bombards us with seeing what everyone else is doing. Comparison is rampant to get us to feel less than and not enough. Getting worked up over what other people are doing detours us from being able to be still and wait well.  

Thankfully, we are not left to figure this all out on our own. The Lord is waiting for us to admit our weakness and is ready to supply the strength to be still and wait well. Our Heavenly Father is generous and faithful to hear our prayers and answer. We can be still and wait patiently as we continue to desire to grow closer to Him.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you that You don’t leave us to figure everything out on our own. Thank you for Your grace and gift of the Holy Spirit that helps us in our weakness. Increase our desire to be still so we can listen and wait for You to speak. Thank You that You faithfully hear us and will answer. In Jesus Name, Amen.