When God Tells You To "Wait Around"

We live in a world where things have to happen or else, nothing will happen. If it doesn't happen now, it will not happen later.

But what if God tells you to "wait around"? What will you do?

I discovered this verse from Isaiah 30:18:

But God's not finished. He's waiting around to be gracious to you.
     He's gathering strength to show mercy to you.
God takes the time to do everything right - everything.
     Those who wait around for him are [blessed]. MSG

Isaiah 30 is actually God’s message for Judah, the southern kingdom when Israel split into two. Judah was a stubborn nation. It made agreements (in businesses, personal relationships) without inquiring the Lord. These wrong moves piled up and added more sin. As a result, this had brought them shame and embarrassment - with no help given to them.

So, the Lord told them the verse above. And He asked them to wait around.

Picking up from the entire chapter, these are the things God is inviting us to do while waiting:

We inquire the Lord. We seek the Lord when we make decisions and plans. (vv. 1-5)

We should never, never get into something without asking the Lord. Whether that be a career move, a financial decision, or a personal/romantic relationship. Seeking God's guidance should always be our first step.

We listen to the prophets. We listen to the voice of God. We want to hear God. (vv. 6-7)

It is just unfortunate that this generation does not want to talk about God anymore. We find God corny, jologs, and even offensive. We even feel God is “blocking our path.” (v.11) We refused to accept the Lord's message for us and, instead, want to hear cruelty and lies (grand illusions of ourselves and what makes us happy). (v. 12) Frustratingly, a lot of us will be successful. But this success will be hollow, "like high walls with many cracks in it" (v. 14) unless we hear from God.

We accept God's will. (vv. 15-18)

The Lord invites Judah: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.”(v.15) 

When God tells us to wait, He is actually giving us time to check our decisions. He wants us to reconsider things. He is giving us a second (third, fourth, and perhaps even more) chance so we will not make the wrong choices.

Waiting around? Take heart: God is taking the time to make everything right.

The Boy with an Oversized Slippers

I was on a bus to Batangas pier last weekend for a music enrichment class with the young people of Mindoro. As we were waiting for passengers in Lipa, I saw a little boy who was walking on his way to school wearing slippers big enough to fit his father's feet.

I closely looked at the boy, his small frame and tiny feet, and his over-sized slippers until I lost sight of him. I can't help but ask myself: wasn't he embarrassed or even uncomfortable about his slippers? Self-pity, perhaps?

Oftentimes, life has become too big to wear. The things we see on TV, internet, gigantic billboards lead us to believe in "larger-than-life." We try to be wise, visualizing ideals for ourselves. But in reality, we see nothing.

The prominent 20th century Christian author, Oswald Chambers wrote, "Simplicity is the secret to seeing things clearly." That weekend, I saw things clearly. It was a picture of a boy at peace with himself. The boy walked steadily and purposefully. He was going to school, and thank God, he had slippers on.


Abruptly, Jesus broke into prayer: "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that's the way you like it to work." (Matthew 11:25-26)