Are we waiting patiently for God to act in our lives and in our world?
Our culture doesn’t encourage either waiting or patience. Paul speaks about going without – of thing we “do not yet have” -and of weakness – two more things our culture is not keen on.
Yet, in this place of waiting, of need, and of weakness, God provides. His provision comes through the Spirit, and through prayer. We may be weak, but through the Spirit, we have the help from God we need. When in our confusion and weakness we don’t even know what to pray for, the Spirit prays for us. In an incredible picture, Paul talks of the Spirit – living with us – interceding, praying, on our behalf, and of God searching our hearts. God knows what we need, even when we don’t. And through the Spirit, prayers are constantly being said, prayer that mirror God’s plans and purposes for our lives.
So, while we are waiting, God is at work, bringing about his plans and purposes. And God does this not in some abstract way, but through his presence in our lives by his Spirit, lovingly weaves our lives into the rich tapestry of his work in the world. We would know far greater rest in our hearts and minds if we fully understood that God is the powerfully at work in our lives, and that life doesn’t depend upon our strength, or clever plans. Our part, says Paul is to wait, and to wait patiently. God is not absent – he is with us through his Spirit. God is not silent – he is in constant communion with our hearts. God is not inactive – he is at work, through the Spirit, in our lives.
May today be a day when we wait patiently for the Lord, trusting that he is with us, speaking and acting in our lives, fulfilling his plans and purposes as we wait. And may this fill our hearts and minds with hope.
