“My soul waits in silence for God alone; from Him comes my salvation.” Psalm 62:1 (NASB)
Recently, I pulled into a store parking lot and parked in a reserved spot for pick-up of online purchases. I followed the instructions on my phone, and waited. And waited. And, impatiently, waited some more. What was merely a few minutes felt like hours as I intently watched the front doors for the clerk to come out with my purchase. “Come on! What’s taking so long?” I muttered under my breath.
Why do we hate waiting so much? Has our culture groomed us to want everything “immediately” by providing us with options like high-speed internet service, free 2-day shipping, and door-dash? Or, are we just “impatient” by nature? How many of us can sit in a waiting room and “be still,” not checking email, or surfing the net, or watching the TV screen on the wall? Why have we become so uncomfortable with “stillness,” and “waiting,” feeling like we have to constantly be “doing?”
Being still doesn’t always come naturally for us. It requires self-discipline. We need to intentionally turn off the music, push away the phone, and close the laptop. So many things in life can tax our time, deplete us, and bring us stress, be they “in” or “out of” our control. Perhaps it’s time to reacquaint our selves with the old practice of just being still, especially before our Abba Father.
“I waited patiently for the Lord: and he reached down to me and heard my cry.” Psalm 40:1 (NASB)
Throughout the Psalms, David speaks of “waiting patiently” on the Lord. I imagine he became very familiar with this concept as he had to literally wait on God for deliverance from his enemies. While most of us are not in that position, our own circumstances can make us feel very confined and isolated. God is much easier to find in our stillness. He’s more accessible when our minds are quieted. He may even choose to speak to our hearts, once He can be heard. Because He’s aware of our tendency toward busyness and over-stimulation, He gives this instruction, “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10a) Note: we have to be still first! In order to know God, and hear His answers to our pleas, or understand His guidance in matters, we need to get quiet and give Him time to speak, much as in any two-way conversation. And then, we need to “wait patiently” on Him. Sometimes, for longer than is comfortable.
Are you lacking “peace?” Be still before the One who loves you most. Are you feeling frenzied? Be still before the God of order. Do you need some answers? Be still and wait upon the omniscient God of the universe.