WORSHIP IN THE WAITING
But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.
Micah 7:7 (ESV)
“But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.”
Habakkuk 2:20 (ESV)
Have you ever sat across from someone, attempting to elicit a response, but you were met with awkward silence? And what were mere seconds of waiting felt like hours of difficult, undesirable discomfort? The Bible is full of moments of silence, especially in seasons of suffering, as evident in the stories of Job, Naomi and Jesus, to name a few.
When I come face-to-face with hard times, I seek out God, praying for answers to a myriad of questions, including When will this end? Why is this happening to me? Where do I go from here? Often silence follows. Believing that He was not interested in me or my circumstances, I used to become disheartened from the lack of God’s response, which made the suffering even more agonizing, leaving me feeling alone and abandoned. However, God’s truth promises that He’s not absent and He does care, working all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).
God has lovingly shown me the purpose behind the silence and the blessings that come from it. Silence provides the opportunity to exercise my faith and to continue worshipping Him. I am to trust in Him and lean not on my own understanding; to acknowledge Him in all my ways, and He will make my paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6). In the silence, I choose to submit to His sovereign plans, for they are good and far better than my own. Waiting in the silence evokes a posture of gratitude as I reflect on His faithfulness when He did answer – even when the answer was a no for my protection and redirection. I find myself more eager to dive into His Word, listening more intently for His voice when He does speak in His perfect timing. God’s still small voice should always be louder than the worldly noise competing for our attention–even if it’s the sound of silence.
APPLICATION: Recognize and trust that God is working in the silence. Ask God for a heart of obedience and a deeper dependence on Him while you wait.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for always working in and for me, even when I don’t immediately experience it. Create in me a desire to continually seek You in the waiting and wholeheartedly place my confidence in You. Help me grow in the uncomfortable. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?