First, Isaiah begins with the reality of God not them. He is initially theological not therapeutic.
God is everlasting, the Creator of the ends of the earth, never tired or weary, and certainly not humanly understood. God gives strength to those who are weary and power to those who are weak and powerless (40:28-29).The way of waiting must have its origin in God. When we start with God, no matter our circumstance, we secure our Source. It's like being stranded on a deserted island and finding water. Nothing else matters until water is secured. But we live in a self-awareness, self-help society where people begin with themselves not God - our therapy tends to shape theology rather than our theology shaping therapy. It's no wonder we are doing everything possible to eliminate the reality of waiting. If all the answers are simply within us than all the answers, at best, are flawed by human sin and limitation. But when the answers are beyond us, hope, pure and without limitation, floods our hearts. The Source of our hope is in God not ourselves. The way of waiting is learned from the Father's heart not our childlike restlessness. Starting with God may not get us quick deliverance but it gets us quickly to the Source of everything we need.
And secondly, Isaiah lifts up to them the actual way of waiting. He says:
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 will walk and not be faint (40:31).This is a popular theme for the prophet, using the hebrew word qavah (to wait or eagerly look for) fifteen different times. So why is it so unpopular with us? Apart from human impatience, why is waiting such an unacceptable solution for us? The rest of nature seems to embrace waiting as good and necessary. What is wrong with us? I submit that pride and fear keep us leery of waiting. Pride makes us say and do things that protect our egos. We want people to be impressed so we act like we have the answers. But waiting is about not having the answers. Only the humble can embrace the way of waiting. And fear makes us avoid the unknown and crushes our ability to trust. The way of waiting embraces the unknown and requires a trust in God that significantly stretches our faith. In short, prideful and fearful people will avoid even the appearance of waiting at all costs.
Well, would it not be great if Isaiah elaborated a little? A bullet point list of suggested ways to wait would really appeal to us westerners. We prefer being told what to do rather than discovering it through the working out of our faith. And a timeframe would delight us beyond recognition! But God gives neither in advance. Why? To be a cruel or vague God? Not at all. Consider this. The "Creator of the ends of the earth" is still creating. He continues to delight in infinite variety and possibilities- especially in us. God is not churning out duplicates or repeating the same stories over and over again. He is crafting uniqueness in each of us. And this requires waiting - lots of waiting. The canvas must remain still for the artist to complete the work.
So let's conclude with a prayer. May this be timely and hopeful as you wait.
God, there is you and everything else. Nothing is like you. Forgive me for not seeing your creative work in my life. Forgive me from being too busy and not still enough to receive from you. Help me to know the strength and power that comes from You and the insight to see how it is distinct from human effort. Surprise me with the ability to delight in the wait - to relish in the brief glimpses You show me along the way. For to see the whole now would overwhelm me. And as I begin to soar or run without weariness or walk without fatigue may I do so for Your purposes and not my own - Your ways and not the ways of this world. For You hold the words of eternal life. Amen.
Ex nihilo,
R.J. Rhoden
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