Meekly Wait and Murmur Not

"For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside Thee, what He hath prepared for him that waiteth for Him." Isaiah 64:4

"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him." Psalm 62:5

"Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation." Psalm 62:1

"I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD." Genesis 49:18

"These wait all upon Thee; that Thou mayest give them their meat in due season. That Thou givest them they gather: Thou openest Thine hand, they are filled with good." Psalm 104:27, 28

"The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season." Psalm 145:14, 15

There are those times in life when I feel like all I'm doing is waiting. Sure, there are a ton of distractions along the way. But, mostly, I'm waiting. Waiting, waiting... and more waiting. Whether real or not, I feel balanced on a dropping off (or flying off) spot - toes gripping the edge - eyes peering out into the vast possibilities of life - waiting on God's big push. Or worse yet, more often, I feel as if I am still searching for those important spots - as if my life would be so much better if I could just find one. 'Why won't God lead me to it? Why won't he help me fly when I'm there? Why all of this waiting? What is the holdup?'

Some of you belong to an email list for church. A few years ago, a dear sister used to make posts regularly that were of great comfort to me, and there is one in particular to which I often return. One that includes some reminders for me which I always seem to need. Below are some excerpts from this post.

I have been much blessed in reading a biography of Lilias Trotter, written by Miriam Huffman Rockness, and I hope to post some excerpts from this book at some point. Lilias Trotter, born in London in 1853, into wealth, privilege and status in Victorian England, felt a call to serve God in places where the Gospel was unknown.

After sending the posts on "waiting on God" recently, I read the following [related] passage in this book this morning:

Lilias wrote in her diary (12 December 1922): "Time is nothing to God--nothing in its speeding, nothing in its halting--He is the God that inhabiteth eternity." And children of eternity "can afford to tarry His leisure no matter how short [their] time is."

"To Lilias this meant that even when there were no outward signs of encouragement, she would keep a listening heart tuned to her Father's voice, then faithfully do what He said. As she loved to say, "He knew what He would do." This meant complete rejoicing when His purpose was revealed in the proving of His promises. And it meant for the future that same waiting on God, content with simple obedience, understanding that the results of one's work on earth may be realized long after one's time on earth is finished.

"Over and over, throughout the pages of her diary, Lilias writes this faith refrain: "Blessed are all they that wait for Him." She firmly believed that time is nothing to God, nor to His children, "Les Enfants de l'Eternitie," the children of eternity.

May we be encouraged by the example of Lilias Trotter and other faithful saints, to "press on" in faithful obedience and trustful waiting concerning our Father's promises and commands...

"Show me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day." Psalm 25:4, 5

"And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him." Isaiah 30:18

"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved."
Psalm 62:5, 6

"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." Psalm 27:14