Wait.

If there is anything I don't like about being a Christian, it is waiting for God. 

It is miserable.

I pray and pray for something to change, and nothing happens. I ask why he would put me through this.  And he says, "Trust me.  Keep waiting."

The spiritual side of me meekly responds, "Yes, God.  I know you know what you are doing, and I will keep waiting for you to do what you are going to do."

Everything else in me looks for ways to make it happen.

I am not supposed to do that.

Isaiah 40:30-31 says, "Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (NIV)

Soaring like an eagle sounds great and all, but, considering the human inability to fly without the aid of a machine, is impossible.  Why should I wait for something when I don't know what it is going to be?

Luckily, my ESV reference bible helps put the eagle idea into perspective. 

Exodus tells the story of the enslaved Isrealites leaving their captors and heading towards freedom.  In chapter 19 Moses is on Mount Sinai talking to God.  God says,

"(4)You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.  (5) Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine..."

The Isrealites had a horrible life in Egypt. They had been stuck in slavery for hundreds of years, and were treated as horrible as you can imagine.  Then, God destroyed the Egyptians (see Exodus 7-11 for a complete description of the plagues on Egypt) and carried his people on "eagles' wings" to a place where they would be God's "treasured possession."  I don't know about you, but my "treasured possessions" are kept in safe, dry places, wrapped in socks and carefully stored, or displayed where everyone can admire their splendor. 

I think I feel God treasuring me most when I am doing his will, and sometimes that means waiting for something that seems painfully urgent.

One last note: Nate Boyt spoke at Puget Sound Christian Center last Sunday (January 2nd, 2011).  He pointed out that waiting on the Lord means soaring on eagle's wings.  No flapping, no fuss, no making-something-happen.  Simply outstretched arms trusting God to carry me where I need to go.

My goal?  No more flapping, no more scheduling miracles, and plenty of time enjoying life as a treasured possession.

P.S. As of this posting, Nate's sermon is not yet available. But I am sure that in the future it will be posted here, should you like to listen to it.  Stuff I learned in journalism class makes me feel like I should do this.