From the Editors February 13, 2012 Issue

Wait on the Lord

The Editors

Many in the world are waiting . . . waiting . . . waiting . . . for a healthier job market, a stronger economy, a better government, or peace and stability. And some may feel like they are waiting indefinitely or even in vain. Often helplessness or resignation sets in. The problems of the world can seem insurmountable or, at least, beyond the scope of one individual’s ability to make a difference.

There are also people who think this waiting is necessary because their religion or philosophy leads them to believe it is so. Some view endurance as a necessary step to a future salvation or as proof of their fidelity to God. And there are those who see such a form of suffering as a means to be purged of sin and materialism, which will prepare them for a higher state of attainment. After all, the Bible does state, “Wait on the Lord” (Psalms 27:14).

Does “waiting on the Lord” imply a passive acceptance of deferred good? Or does it rather, perhaps, mean we should wait on God right now, as a waiter or waitress waits on a table? A good waiter is proactive, alert, and fully involved in serving the customer. There is a vital, mutually beneficial relationship between the one who is served and the one who is the server. Serving God in this fashion does more than bless us; it enables us to experience and know Him, Spirit, in all of His vast holiness and glory. When we wait on God, we see that we are one with Him.

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