Wait

As seen in the HEARTbeat and the Village Voice

Wait

            The English language is a tough one.  One word can have a multitude of meanings.  For example, think of the word “tree.”  It can be used to describe a living plant, one that pops into our mind when we hear the word.  But it can also be used to describe the myriad of levels of automated computer answering programs, such as an answering tree, whereby you press the number of the department you desire.  Then there is the family tree, which isn’t really a tree at all!  The family “tree” is used to graphically depict the lineage of individuals and all the people they are related to, which looks like a tree.

            English is confusing to say the least.  When the word “there” is spoken, does the speaker mean the location, or the contraction (they’re), or the plural possessive (their)?  With the case of “done,” does the speaker mean to indicate the finality of a process or thing or to send someone a bill (dun) demanding payment.  By the way, “dun” also refers to a subadult mayfly!

            Now before your head explodes, let’s look at the word “wait.”  At first thought, you might think the word refers to a mindset of expectation of an event.  If so, you are correct.  The Oxford Language Dictionary defines wait as, “Stay where one is or delay action until a particular time or until something else happens.”  This defines the process of waiting.  But can we take a word such as this which basically has one meaning and apply it to something else?  As defined, wait is verb.  But what if we make into a noun?  Before you say we can’t, what do you call the staff at a restaurant who takes your order and brings you your food?  Yes, a wait staff!  Wait can also refer (historically) to a group of musicians maintained by a city or town!

            Don’t stop reading now, wait!  I couldn’t help myself.  What would happen if we added an adverb to our title, as in patiently waiting?  We certainly made the process more difficult didn’t we.  Are you a good wait-er?  Are you patient?  To be a patient waiter you must be good at both things, which some people are not.  Do we have examples of this in God’s Word?

            Several people waited patiently for God.  Abram waited patiently and prayed for a son.  Daniel waited patiently for God and He displayed His power through Daniel in interpreting dreams. Hanna, the mother of Samuel, waited for God to answer her prayer and give her a son.  Elizabeth and Zecharia waited for their prayers to be answered, and God gave them a son, and he was called John the Baptist!  Many people in both the Old and New Testaments waited on God, patiently or not, and God honored their faithfulness.

            Isaiah in his prophetic words to the nation of Israel tried to call an impatient nation back to God.  He said, “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in (wait for) the Lord will renew their strength.”

            Waiting on God is not easy.  But rest assured, He will answer prayers in His perfect time.  Trust in Him, and while this world will fail you, He never will!