“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

~ Isaiah 40:31 KJV

What does it mean to wait on the Lord? Often times in church or when we pick up our Bibles to read, we see the phrase “wait on the Lord”. But, what does it really mean? To wait on the Lord is to hope on the Lord, to trust in Him and put your confidence in Him.

Waiting on the Lord in these last days.

Without any doubt, it’s getting more and more evident that we’re in the last days. Our Savior could come at any time now to take us home. And with this growing reality comes an increase in the challenges believers would face; the persecutions will increase, the segregation will increase and the temptation will most definitely also increase. Scripture lets us know that it is those who persevere till the end that will be saved and those that endure temptation will receive the crown of life but I mean, how easy is it to persevere till the end (Matthew 24:13; James 1:12). How easy is it to not fall victim of temptation when that is all you see around you? Nevertheless, Isaiah 40:31 lets us know that those that wait upon the Lord, those that trust in the Lord shall have their strength renewed. Verse 30 of the same chapter says that the youths may grow weary and tired and vigorous young men may stumble badly but they who hope in the Lord, they who trust in the Lord, the who put their confidence in the Lord shall have their strength renewed, they would rise with wings as eagles, they would run and not be weary and they would walk and not faint.

Placing our hope and confidence in the Lord is our only sure banker to make it through unscathed. We are told that by so doing, we wouldn’t know what it means to get tired because we would keep having our strength renewed (Isaiah 40:31). So, we would not wear out from the ever-rising temptations of the world neither would we cave in when the persecutions arise. 1 Samuel 2:9 says “…by strength shall no man prevail”. Therefore, the heavenly race is not a race you can run by your own strength and ability because even the vigorous young men and youth who are expected to be more energetic, would wear out…only those that wait upon the Lord shall remain bouncing.

Waiting on the Lord generally.

This portion of the word is also applicable to other areas of our life. Perhaps you’ve been waiting for something for so long…a child, a spouse, a job, a contract, a financial breakthrough, you name it and it feels like you can’t wait any longer…you feel burned out and exasperated. Why don’t you try waiting on the Lord? …it’s a 1 + 1 package. He’d renew your strength while you wait and surely grant the desires of your heart, He offers you security and assurance (Psalms 37: 1-9). Don’t hope in men, they could fail you. Hope in the Lord who never fails, who may not come when we want Him but is always on time.

What to do while waiting?

You pray. I don’t mean to keep asking for what we are waiting on Him for, that’d just be likened to making vain repetition, God heard you the moment you asked, why do you feel like it is until you say it a thousand times that He will hear you? (1 Peter 3:12; 1 John 5:15) What I mean is to tarry in a thanksgiving kind of prayer. Keep thanking Him for that thing which you are waiting on Him for, as though it were already in your hands. Be persistent in thanksgiving. It’d draw your mind away from the lack and make you more conscious of supply but praying repetitively about what you want would make you more conscious of the lack and then you begin to worry and compare yourself unnecessarily with those who already have it through the faster way. (Romans 4:17 KJV; Philippians 4:6)

Waiting on the Lord is not something you pray for. Rather, it is a decision you have to make. It is not exactly an easy decision to make but it one that you must make to have your strength renewed and to rise powerfully as eagles. However, to wait on the Lord is to have patience. Don’t worry this is not a virtue that you have to begin to pray and fast that God grant you, it is already in you. Every believer is given the fruit of the Spirit by the virtue of the Holy Spirit who dwells in them and patience happened to also be a fruit of the Spirit! (Galatians 5:22-23) All you need do is exhibit it. Now, patience is not just about the ability to wait, it is more about our attitude while we wait. Which brings me to my next point.

Complaints. When you are always complaining you do not show good signs of one who is patiently waiting on the Lord. Complaining is a show of lack of contentedness which is not a virtue of a believer. Replace your complaints with thanksgiving. Rather than complain of what you don’t have or what isn’t, show a heart of gratitude for what you have!

To wait upon the Lord may not be the easiest decision to make but it is certainly the best decision you could make!

“So, wait on the Lord, wait on the Lord. He will renew your strength, so wait I say, wait on the Lord”

 ~Elevation worship and Maverick City Music.