Isaías 40

Isaías 40:31

Meyer - “What a chapter might be written of God’s delays! It is the mystery of the art of educating human spirits to the finest temper of which they are capable. What searchings of heart, what analyzings of motives, what testings of the Word of God, what upliftings of soul… All these are associated with those weary days of waiting, which are, nevertheless, big with spiritual destiny.” Be still, My child, and know that I am God! Wait thou patiently—I know the path you trod. So falter not, nor fear, nor think to run and hide, For I, thy hope and strength, am waiting by thy side. —Hein God stretches our patience to enlarge our soul. HOW LONG? (READ: Psalm 13-note) How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? —Psalm 13:1-note My friends Bob and Delores understand what it means to wait for answers—answers that never seem to come. When their son Jason and future daughter-in-law Lindsay were murdered in August 2004, a national manhunt was undertaken to find the killer and bring him to justice. After 2 years of prayer and pursuit, there were still no tangible answers to the painful questions the two hurting families wrestled with. There was only silence. In such times, we are vulnerable to wrong assumptions and conclusions about life, about God, and about prayer. In Psalm 13, David wrestled with the problem of unanswered prayer. He questioned why the world was so dangerous and pleaded for answers from God. It’s a hard psalm that David sang, and it seems to be one of frustration. Yet, in the end, his doubts and fears turned to trust. Why? Because the circumstances of our struggles cannot diminish the character of God and His care for His children. In Ps 13: 5-note, David turned a corner. From his heart he prayed, “But I have trusted in Your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.” In the pain and struggle of living without answers, we can always find comfort in our heavenly Father. — Bill Crowder Not ours to know the reason why Unanswered is our prayer, But ours to wait for God’s own time— To lift the cross we bear. —Anon. When we pray, God wraps us in His loving arms. His Hand, His Heart (READ: Psalm 13:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6-note)- Sometimes God doesn't grant our prayer requests right away. After a while we begin to feel like the psalmist who said, "How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?" (Psalm 13:1-note). I remember feeling like that on one occasion when I had come to God, confessed my sin, and asked for forgiveness and a renewed sense of joy. It seemed as if God's ears were closed to my cry. Only after continuing to pray and wait for a long time did I regain the joy that I had sought. In John 11, we read that Mary and Martha called for Jesus to come because their brother Lazarus was very sick (John 11:1-44). The Lord delayed and Lazarus died. When Jesus finally did come, however, He gave them a whole new appreciation of His love and power. Why do you suppose God often delays His answers or denies our requests? I think the answer is this: When God withholds His hand, He wants us to look to His heart. In other words, He wants us to learn more about His goodness and His love, and to trust Him to do what is best. If He's withholding an answer to a request that is very important to you, just be patient. Keep asking and believing. He may want you to look at His heart—and to gain a new appreciation for His wisdom and love. — David C. Egner And since He bids me seek His face, Believe His Word and trust His grace, I'll cast on Him my every care, And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer. —Walford When God withholds His hand, trust His heart. Do Something With Nothing - A newspaper ad showed three people waiting for a city bus. Two of them were bored and listless, while the third was happily playing a game on a small electronic device. “Do something with your nothing,” the ad said. “That nothing time. The time in between everything else you have to do.” The idea was to sell the portable player so people could use all those segments of wasted “waiting” time. I suspect that many of us already constructively use those small increments of waiting time to read a book, memorize a verse, or pray for a friend. It’s our longer waiting periods filled with uncertainty and indecision that may leave us anxious and frustrated. Paul challenged the Christians in Ephesus to “walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ep 5:15,16-note). The Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest suggests that this refers to time (kairos - word study) in its “strategic, opportune seasons” and means “making a wise and sacred use of every opportunity for doing good.” During those seasons when we wonder, “How did I get here and when can I leave?” it’s best to look for our God-given opportunities instead of focusing on the obstacles. That’s the way to do something with our nothing. — David C. McCasland Wait and, in waiting, listen for His leading; Be strong, thy strength for every day is stored. Go forth in faith, and let thine heart take courage; There is no disappointment with the Lord. —Anon. When you find time on your hands, put them together in prayer. There are three possible answers to prayer: Yes, No, or Wait. Waiting With Anticipation - While in the military I learned to hate waiting. We were commanded to hurry out of the barracks and line up. There we would stand and wait, wait, wait for our next orders. When getting vaccinations, we would stand in line and just wait. I also did a lot of waiting in bus and train depots when I had a leave of absence. I can't say I enjoyed it, but it was different. It was waiting with anticipation. I knew that when I arrived home I would be welcomed by my wife Ginny and my loved ones. This describes the kind of waiting expressed by the writer of Psalm 130. He had been in the pit of despair over the guilt of his sins (Ps 130:1, 2, 3-note), and he had prayed and gained assurance of forgiveness (Ps 130:4-note). But he explained that it was the Lord Himself for whom he was waiting—not just His forgiveness (Ps 130:5-note). He waited with the anticipation of a watchman who knows that light will appear in the morning (Ps 130:6-note). When we're hurting or in distress over our sin, we can look up and wait with anticipation. The Lord will come! Whether through a promise directly from His Word, the wise counsel from a friend, or the quiet witness of the Holy Spirit, He will meet our need—as certainly as morning light always breaks through the darkness of night. —Herb Vander Lugt O my soul, wait on the Lord And know He sees your need; He'll make His presence known to you Through word or kindly deed. —D. De Haan Those who wait on the Lord will never be disappointed. Promised Strength (READ: Isaiah 40:10,11,28, 29, 30, 31) To those who have no might [God] increases strength. —Isaiah 40:29 Jonah Sorrentino was deeply hurt at age 6 when his parents separated. As a result, he held a lot of anger and bitterness inside. At 15, Jonah learned of God's love for him and became a believer in Jesus Christ. Jonah, also known as recording artist KJ-52, admits that he used to live like a victim of circumstances. In an interview with Christianity Today, he explained how he began to experience healing: "You definitely have to acknowledge that, no, you're not okay." He added, "You also have to reach a point of saying, 'I'm not going to dwell on everything of the past … on anger or bitterness or hurt. I'm going to move forward because God is going to give me the strength to do that.'" God helped him to forgive his parents. He wrote these lyrics to encourage others: Understand you can always find strength in Christ; God has a plan for every single part of your lives. That might be hard to understand in your troubled times, But anywhere you go, He's there with arms open wide. Beware Of Quick Fixes (READ: Psalm 106:1-15-note) - They soon forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel. —Psalm 106:13 Some people pray only in a crisis. They have a "quick fix" mentality that sees God mainly as a problem solver. When merciful solutions come, He is courteously thanked, then more or less forgotten until the next crisis. The story is told of a young rich girl, accustomed to servants, who was afraid to climb a dark stairway alone. Her mother suggested that she overcome her fear by asking Jesus to go with her up the stairs. When the child reached the top, she was overheard saying, "Thank You, Jesus. You may go now." We may smile at that story, but Psalm 106-note contains a serious warning against dismissing God from our lives—as if that were possible. Israel took the Lord's mercies for granted, and God called that rebellion (Psalm 106:7-note). They developed malnourished souls because they chose to ignore Him (Psalm 106:13, 14, 15). What a lesson for us! Anticipate great things from God, but don't expect Him to come at your beck and call. Instead, be at His beck and call, eager to fulfill His will. Like the little rich girl, ask God to accompany you through life's dark passageways. But instead of dismissing Him when your special needs are met, cling to Him as if your life depended on it. It does! — Joanie Yoder If we pray with sinful motives, Then our heart is far from right; We must seek to know God's bidding— What is pleasing in His sight. —D. De Haan God is not a vending machine. Slow Down And Live (READ: Psalm 1:1, 2, 3, 4, 5-note) His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. —Psalm 1:2-note Many of our New Year’s resolutions may actually accelerate our pace of life instead of helping us to slow down. In a quest for greater productivity and efficiency, we overschedule our days, then rush through meals, drive impatiently, and wonder why the joy of living eludes us. Carol Odell, who writes a business advice column, says that slowing down can positively affect our lives at work and at home. She believes that rushing can cloud our judgment and cause us to overlook important things and valuable people. Carol encourages everyone to slow down, and even suggests the radical idea of welcoming red traffic lights and using the waiting time to meditate. In Psalm 1, there is no hint of a frenzied pace. It describes a person who enjoys the blessing of God. Instead of thinking and acting like those who rarely consider spiritual matters, "His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night" (Psalm 1:2-note). The result is a fruitful life and a well-nourished soul (Psalm 1:3-note). Isaiah wrote, "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You" (Isa. 26:3). Just for today, try thinking about that verse whenever you have to wait. Isn’t it time for all of us to slow down and live? — David C. McCasland If you’re working hard to make a living, Never taking time to smell the roses, Now’s the time to heed the Bible’s wisdom: Find true joy before your life’s day closes. —Hess Come apart and rest awhile or you may just plain come apart! | —Vance Havner The Beauty Of Silence (Psalm 62:1-8-note) - Truly my soul silently waits for God. —Psalm 62:1 Written on the wall behind the pulpit of the church we attended in my teens were these words: "The Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him" (Habakkuk 2:20). And keep silence we did! All eight of us boys said nothing to one another as we sat waiting for the service to begin. I loved this quiet time and often succeeded in pushing thoughts about girls and the Detroit Tigers out of my mind. The best I could, I tried to reflect on the wonder of God and His salvation. And in the silence I often sensed His presence. Today we live in a noisy world. Many people can't even drive without music blaring from their car, or the beat of the bass vibrating their vehicle. Even many church services are marked more by noise than by quiet reflection. In ancient times the pagans cried out in a noisy frenzy to their idols (1Kings 18:25, 26, 27, 28, 29). In sharp contrast, the psalmist saw the wisdom of silence, because in quiet reverence God can be heard. In the stillness of the night under a starry sky, in a hushed sanctuary, or in a quiet room at home, we can meet the living God and hear Him speak. The psalmist's words are relevant today: "Wait silently for God alone" (Psalm 62:5). — Herbert Vander Lugt Speak, Lord, in the stillness, While I wait on Thee; Hushed my heart to listen In expectancy. —Grimes To hear God's voice, turn down the world's volume. Praying And Waiting (READ: Nehemiah 1:5, 6, 7, 8,9, 10, 11) - Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. —Psalm 37:7-note A Christian couple was deeply distressed because their married son and his family had quit going to church and were giving God no place in their lives. As their friend, I advised them to continue showing love, to pray, and to avoid starting arguments. But at the family's annual Christmas gathering, the father gave his son a lecture in the presence of the other siblings. The son and his family left in anger and broke off all contact with his parents. It's hard to rely on prayer alone when you want something to happen right now. But that is what Nehemiah did. He was distraught by the news that the Israelites in Jerusalem were in grave danger (Nehemiah 1:3, 4). He was a man with great leadership ability and in a favorable position to receive help from the king he served, so he was eager to help his people. But he knew that he could be executed for coming into the presence of a Persian king without being invited. Therefore, though he had asked God to give him the opportunity immediately, he trusted God enough to wait. Four months later, the king opened the door for him to make his request (Neh 2:1,4). It's not always easy to be patient, but God can be trusted. Wait patiently for Him. — Herbert Vander Lugt Praying, resting, waiting, trusting— These are words that tell a story; As we wait for God to lead us, He responds, "Just seek My glory." —Hess Delay is not denial—pray on! Riding Out The Waves (READ: Psalm 25:1-10-note) - What can ride ocean currents for years before finally washing ashore and springing to life? According to National Geographic's World magazine, it's a nut that is native to South America and the West Indies. Some people call them "sea hearts." These 2-inch, chestnut-colored nuts are hardy, heart-shaped seeds that grow on high-climbing vines. They often fall into rivers and float out to sea. There they may ride the currents for years before coming to shore and sprouting into a plant. This life-bearing, time-enduring, wave-riding seed illustrates a basic spiritual principle. God's plans may include extended times of waiting for Him to act on our behalf. This was true of Noah, who endured ridicule while spending 120 years building a ship; of Abraham, who waited for the fulfillment of God's promise that he would have a son in his old age; and of David, God's anointed, who chose to wait for God's timing rather than take the life of envious King Saul. Sea hearts can't choose to be patient, but we can. Nothing is harder or better for us than to follow the example of David, who wrote Psalm 25. By waiting on the Lord we can have peace, and our faith will grow—even while we are riding out the waves. — Mart De Haan THINKING IT OVER What circumstances make it hard to wait for the Lord? How do we know we won't be disappointed when we wait for Him? God stretches our patience to enlarge our soul. Not so in haste, my heart! Have faith in God, and wait; Although He seems to linger long, He never comes too late. -Torrey Directions From Above (READ: Pr 3:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) Trust in the Lord … ; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. --Pr 3:5,6 During a visit to Chicago, I stayed on the 25th floor of a downtown hotel. As I gazed out the window, I was fascinated by the maze of cars flowing four lanes abreast in opposite directions. One motorist faced an emergency. He had engine trouble and was stalled in the middle of all that traffic. From my vantage point I could see for blocks. I watched several drivers switch into the same lane as the stalled auto, unaware of what was ahead. Thinking they were gaining time, these motorists were actually crossing over into a lane that would only spell greater delay. As we travel along life's road, we do much the same as those misguided drivers. With our limited foresight we select the route that seems best—only to find that the temporary advance has led us into a course filled with delay and heartache. But how reassuring that we can look to One who is above everything, who knows the end from the beginning! This is why the writer of Proverbs could say, "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths" (Pr 3:6). When the Lord indicates a "stop" or a "change of lanes" or a "wait," we should gladly obey. Yes, look for direction from above. — Richard De Haan He leadeth me! O blessed thought! O words with heavenly comfort fraught! Whate'er I do, where'er I be, Still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me. —Gilmore The best way to know God's will is to say "I will" to God. God’s Delays (READ: Hab 1:12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, Hab 2:1, 2,3) - Waiting is hard for me. I want answers now. Postponements perplex me; deferrals daunt me. I’m baffled by God’s delays, wondering why and when. “How long, O Lord?” The prophet Habakkuk wanted answers as well, but God chose to take His time. “I will stand my watch … to see what [God] will say to me,” Habakkuk wrote (Hab 2:1). “The vision is yet for an appointed time,” God replied. “Wait for it; because it will surely come” (Hab 2:3). Faith never gives up. It knows that despite appearances, all is well. It can wait without signs or significant indications that God is at work, because it is sure of Him. “Each delay is perfectly fine, for we are within the safe hands of God,” said Madame Guyon (1648–1717). We too must learn to view each delay as if it were “perfectly fine.” Postponements are reasons to pray rather than grow anxious, impatient, and annoyed. They’re opportunities for God to build those imperishable but hard-to-acquire qualities of humility, patience, serenity, and strength. God never says, “Wait awhile,” unless He is planning to do something in our situation—or in us. He waits to be gracious. So take heart! If God’s answer tarries, “Wait for it; because it will surely come.” — David H. Roper Soon shall the morning gild The dark horizon rim, Thy heart’s desire shall be fulfilled— “Wait patiently for Him.” —Havergal God stretches our patience to enlarge our soul. What's Worth Waiting For? (READ: Psalm 40:1-17-note) I waited patiently for the Lord … He has put a new song in my mouth. --Psalm 40:1,3 Psalm 40 is tough to take. It recalls a time when David was forced to wait. But as he looked back with a new song in his heart, he saw that the wait was worth it. By implication, when we are in the middle of a muddle, we must wait patiently for the Lord (Psalm 40:1). That advice looks better in the Bible than it does in life. Patience is hard for people who drive to the One-Hour Photo Shop, take their clothes to the One-Hour Cleaners, and get breakfast at a drive-through window. We cook dinner in microwave ovens and gulp down remedies that offer "fast, fast relief." Overnight mail is too slow, and we get irritated waiting for a fax. The people we live with, work with, play with, and worship with can absolutely unnerve us. They can be obstinate, frustrating, selfish, insulting. It's hard to be patient with them, and it's harder still to wait on the Lord. Hymnwriter Phillips Brooks admitted, "The hardest task in my life is to sit down and wait for God to catch up with me." Yet patience is part of God's strategy for maturing us as Christians. It's a lost skill we all need to cultivate. If you have no joy because you're always in a rush, slow down. God will give you a new song--but first you must wait patiently for Him (Psalm 40:1, 2, 3). — Haddon W. Robinson