In Hebrew, the language of the Old Testament, the word for wait means to expect, to hope, to hang on. Sometimes our interpretation of wait is: inconvenience, untimeliness, aggravation, unpleasantness. In a Bible study once, I learned the answers for prayer were yes, no, and wait. So, I like the Hebrew definition and its positive translation of expectation and hope and “hanging on.”

Though our lives have decidedly changed through the last sixty plus decades, God still does not have a drive through lane. We, as a society, have bullet trains, fast food, instant pressure cookers, world wide access a click away, fast, fast and faster. Biblical scholars, I’m certain, have counted how many times throughout God’s Holy Word, He implores the word WAIT. Are you expecting answers to a prayer? Are you awaiting end times and His return? Are you hoping for a miracle? His WAIT means, expect it! Hope for it! Hang on to it!

Your creation and birth into His world took nine months, not a snap of the fingers. Is He teaching patience with His use of WAIT? Is He polishing the rough edges of you before your request is answered? Knowing the mind of our Father is not in our job description but understanding His directive of WAITING and its meaning of expecting, hoping and hanging on allows us to know His unconditional love for each of us. Hang on! This life is a gift and our wait time will pass quickly if our hope is in the Lord.

Originally posted in October 2018 by Jill