What does the Bible mean when it says we’re to ‘Wait on the Lord?’

Perhaps you know a parent (or are one) who has an adult son or daughter who has walked away from their relationship with Jesus. Maybe your waiting to hear back from the doctor surrounding a diagnosis that could change everything in your life. It could be you’re facing a financial hardship that seems overwhelming, and you can’t see past the mountain of debt you’re dealing with.

The word Qavah in Hebrew means, “To wait with hope and expectation.” It’s the concept of tying our lives together with the Lord at all times and in every circumstance, and to be intertwined with Him.

Isaiah 40:31 is a perfect example of how we need to be trusting and relying on the 24/7, 365 presence of our Lord and Savior: “But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him]
Will gain new strength and renew their power;
They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles; They will run and not become weary, They will walk and not grow tired.”

If you find yourself so stressed, and so tired, and literally weary day after day due to any variety of trouble you or a loved one are facing, now is the time to lean heavily into your relationship with Jesus and trust that He’s completely aware of how to sustain you by providing you with the strength you need.

David is a great example of faith and courageous trust in God, based on his confident expectation that the Lord would save him in his times of difficult situations. This is what he said in Psalm 27:14, “Wait for and confidently expect the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord.”

May we have similar confident expectations that the Lord will be with us while we wait for our prodigal children to come back to Him! Or, as we’re waiting for the lab reports to help determine our next move surrounding our physical ailments. As well as to trust that He will in fact make a way through our financial crisis! May we truly recognize that He always knows what’s best for us, and that He’s promised to never leave us or forsake us!