Worship in the Waiting…
I sat staring at a blank screen for hours at a time praying God would fill me with something to say, yet He remained silent. Days turned into weeks and months still, the words wouldn’t come.
As a child, I remember my mom referring to my Papa Hurt having the patience of Job. Apparently, that is not an inherited gene because far too often I want things to happen instantly.
Seemingly insurmountable obstacles in life kept piling up, and I was stuck! I felt utterly paralyzed by an inability to move in any direction.
Maybe I had stepped out too early or didn’t hear God correctly when it came to sharing His message of hope through my writing.
In the midst of the waiting, I continued to pour over scripture hoping to string a coherent sentence together.
But still my mind was blank...
Finally, nearly three months after not having written a single word, I awoke with the image of the Israelite people on my mind. I pictured them arriving at the Red Sea with the Egyptians quickly gaining ground behind them. I wondered if in that moment they too felt stuck, overwhelmed, and out of options.
God had rescued them from Egypt but here they were facing an obstacle that seemed unimaginable. However, as we read the account in Exodus, we learn that God does in fact deliver His people, yet again.
But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent...”
(Exodus 14:13&14, NASB)
The story goes on to recount the God of the universe performing another miracle before his chosen people. Using the act of obedience demonstrated by Moses in the stretching out of his hand over the sea, God’s people walked across DRY land.
Then the narrative continues…
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back over the Egyptians, over their chariots and their horsemen.” So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal state at daybreak, while the Egyptians were fleeing right into it; then the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, even Pharaoh’s entire army that had gone into the sea after them; not even one of them remained. But the sons of Israel walked on dry land through the midst of the sea, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. When Israel saw the great power which the Lord had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses.
(Exodus 14:26-31, NASB)
I didn’t share my musings with anyone as I thought it was just some random imagery that had popped into my mind. Later that night, however, while preparing for bed, Ryan referenced the same passage of scripture and how God was using it to minister to him. The following day while watching a sermon online the pastor’s text just happened to be Exodus 14.
Having received the same message for the third time in as many days, I was certain the Lord was using it to get my attention.
Now armed with the message of deliverance, I had to respond.
No, my obstacles didn’t magically vanish with this divine revelation. In fact, my life wasn’t altered at all. What did change was my perspective to my season of waiting.
God’s message of deliverance served as a reminder of the countless times He has faithfully carried me through each physical, emotional, and spiritual battle I’ve faced.
God’s message of deliverance served as a reminder that my response in the midst of the waiting is often more crucial than the outcome.
God’s message of deliverance served as a reminder that He is in complete control of all things, regardless of the chaos around me.
As we continue to read the story of the Israelites we see their response to deliverance is worship.
Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took the timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dancing. Miriam answered them,
“Sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted…”
(Exodus 15:20-21, NASB)
Can you imagine the rejoicing that took place following that encounter? Having witnessed another of God’s miracles was absolutely cause for great celebration.
Nevertheless, their story doesn’t abruptly end after the crossing, their season of waiting isn’t complete. God’s people don’t suddenly stop facing hardship or trials just because the Egyptians are defeated.
Seasons of waiting are inevitable, it’s what we choose to do in the midst that matters most.
Where do you find yourself today? Perhaps like me, you are in a such a season. You diligently pray for God to intervene in a mighty way just as he did for his people long ago.
As we seek to live like Christ, may we adopt a posture of worship; a reflective, hope-filled spirit, mindful of all He will do to see us through our season of waiting.
