For Those Who are Weary in Waiting

Weariness creeps up on us unawares – sort of like the flu.

One minute we’re fine, the next we feel like death swarmed over us.

I finished speaking at a singles event last week when a woman with kind eyes came up to me. “I loved your message”, she said, “I’m still waiting on the Lord”, then her eyes filled with tears as she continued, “But I’m weary in the waiting.”

Weary in the waiting.

I knew exactly what she meant.

Lately it feels like the waiting just won’t stop. No matter how hard I pray, I’m still waiting. No matter how smoothly I try to negotiate my situation with God, it’s like He’s not listening.

I get weary in the waiting. I don’t start off weary, but somewhere along the line the weariness creeps in. And it won’t leave me alone, no matter how many psychological techniques I try. Every step feels like a ton of bricks. Every prayer feels unanswered. God’s presence feels far.

You know the gig.

We’re not alone in our weariness. A few of the greats felt it too.

Abraham was weary in the waiting – and took matters into his own hands. The result was strife in his home.

Moses was weary in the waiting and ended up spending 40 years in the wilderness for it.

Saul was weary in the waiting and his impulsiveness lost him the kingdom.

The list is long. I bet you could make your own.

Weariness in the waiting is common but not fatal if treated rightly.

Consider David.

At first, he looked unstoppable. After killing a lion and a bear with his bear hands, he went up against Goliath and won. A total Gonzaga if you ask me.

The guy just couldn’t lose for the life of him – until he started losing.

And just like the flu, one day he looked like God’s favored child, the next he was hiding in caves on the edge of despair: he’d come down with a case of the waiting.

And all his dreams looked unfulfilled.

And all his hopes were deferred.

All God’s favor seemed lost.

But it wasn’t.

David’s dreams did get fulfilled. God’s favor was still alive and active in David’s life. David’s future was secure.

Are you weary in the waiting?  Do what David did. In 1 Samuel 30:6, David strengthened himself in the Lord.

If you’re weary in the waiting, strengthen yourself in the Lord.

You do that by spending time with the Lord, not running from him.

You do that by letting go, not trying harder.

You do that by resting in the Lord, not just wrestling with Him.

Are you weary in the waiting?

Open up the Psalms and read them. Think how weary David was as he wrote the words to the Psalms.

Are you weary in the waiting?

Use your words to sing praise to God. Most of what we say when we’re weary we don’t even really believe. Focus your energy simply on praise.

Are you weary in the waiting?

Ask God to help you endure.

I’ve come to the conclusion that I am utterly unable to rev up enough hope on my own to overcome my weariness in the waiting.

I am totally and completely dependent on God to renew my strength in the waiting.

All I can do is humbly come to him and ask.

Are you weary in the waiting?

Run to your Father of mercies, this God of all comfort who will comfort you in your affliction. Share in Christ’s suffering. Remember our God who raises the dead. Stand fast in hope that’s unshaken.

God will deliver you yet again.

Are you weary in the waiting?

You’re not alone.

The great revivalist R A Torrey once said “I must pray, pray, pray. I must put all my energy and all my heart into prayer. Whatever else I do, I must pray.”

Are you weary in the waiting?

Pray. Pray. Pray.

And just like the flu, one day you feel like death has swarmed over you, and then the next, just like that, it’s gone. 

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life” Proverbs 13:12

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