Waiting in the Silence

We spend our lives waiting, and it often isn’t easy. Sometimes, the longer we wait, the more uneasy and frustrated we become. Most of us want what we want when we want it. Am I right?

Waiting on the Lord is similar. We take God’s promises, and the words spoken about His plan for our lives and wait. When is that perfect timing coming? When will He answer our prayers? When will we transition into the next season? When will we finally exit the valley of the shadow of death? How long, oh Lord, must I wait?

We erroneously interpret seemingly endless waiting as God ignoring our cries for help, but He is not a callous or cold God. He is compassionate, loving, and merciful. Just look at what He willingly did on the cross for you and for me!

Can you imagine how it must have been for those who lived through that time? The emotional events that led up to Jesus’ willing sacrifice on the cross and His subsequent death might have left a tangible heaviness in the air.

What was it like to see the events of Good Friday unravel firsthand? The torture? Hearing, “It is finished”? Jesus’ last breath? Watching Jesus being removed from the cross and transported away? I often wonder what Jesus’ followers who remembered His resurrection promise did while they waited for its fulfillment. Have you? I believe there were people waiting with bated breath to see Jesus show everyone He really was who He said He was—the risen Son of God.

Silent Saturday, as it is known for some, is when Friday’s sadness, heaviness, and grief are met with the excitement, expectation, and hope of what Sunday holds. The Bible tells us it is good to wait on the Lord.

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. (Psalm 62:5-6, ESV)

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope. (Psalm 130:5)

The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. (Lamentations 3:25-26)

Waiting in silence or waiting quietly is an active choice to quiet the noise of the world around us and the voice of the enemy that tries to trip us up. It’s choosing to fix our gaze on Jesus, who He is, and the truth of His Word.

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! (Psalm 37:7)

“Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth!” The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Psalm 46:10-11)

The act of being still before the Lord is about resting in Him, who He is, and what He has promised. It’s choosing to take what we know to be true of God and trusting in and looking to that truth while we await our answer. The act of abiding brings peace into our hearts and minds. Isaiah 26:3 says, You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Friends, I pray that while you wait for Sunday to come, you rest, abide in Him, and wait with hope. Trust Him, no matter how long it takes. God always keeps His promises. Sunday is coming.

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Scripture is quoted from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®). ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.