HomeWord - July 18, 2011

Waiting
This devotional was written by Jim Burns

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. 
—lsaiah 40:31 (RSV)

I’ve been learning a lot about waiting. I don't like to wait and I don't wait very well. I'm the guy who cuts across the grass to get there quick. I watch for the check stand to open and try to get there first. When I played baseball I wouldn't wait on the curve ball, and in track I'd jump the gun at the start.

My friend Don Springer taught me a good lesson about waiting. I love to snorkel. There is almost nothing I would rather do than swim in the clear blue waters of the world looking at tropical fish, coral, and the water underworld.

Don took me snorkeling in Napili Bay, Maui, Hawaii. He's a retired fireman who also likes to snorkel. He drove me crazy. He would stop for minutes at a time; I'm one of those people who is constantly swimming and moving to the next site.

But a funny thing happened when I would stop long enough to wait for Don. I saw more fish, more eels, more movements in the water than I had ever seen before in my life. Don taught me to stop, look, and listen in the water. Although I've snorkeled at Napili Bay before, I had never experienced Napili Bay until Don showed me how to wait.

It's a good lesson for life. Maybe we should quit rushing around trying to find God. Maybe we should stop, look, listen, and wait. He's there, you know. He has something to reveal and say to you today.

GOING DEEPER:

1. What's the message to you in Psalm 27:14?

2. In what areas of your life do you have a difficulty with waiting?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 40:1-3 

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