Comfort & Strength in the Waiting (Part 5): Isaiah 40:12-17

            Jon has done his share of waiting on me.  We’ve been married for 8.5 years, and he still doesn’t understand why anyone would take longer than 5 seconds to get ready for bed.  The worst wait I’ve inflicted on him was during our wedding ceremony.  He stood at the front of the church and looked to the closed doors at the end of the aisle.  They should be opening.  Why weren’t they opening?  The questioning eyes of a few hundred people bounced back and forth from the doors to his face.  Seconds felt like hours, and as they continued to pass, he couldn’t help but wonder if I’d worn Nikes instead of heels.  Still, the doors stayed shut.  Panic eventually overshadowed confusion, and his brain raced to figure out what he should do – what he could do.  Waiting longer was far too uncomfortable, but what other option did he have?

            Waiting is fertile ground for the weeds of fear and control.  I checked our wedding video, and the flower girls reached the stage about 90 seconds before I appeared on screen.  Those 90 seconds had Jon worrying he’d been jilted and searching for a way to change or control the situation.  His reaction wasn’t unique.  Abraham and Sarah gave in to fear when Sarah couldn’t become pregnant, and they took control to force the outcome they wanted.  Abraham slept with Sarah’s servant, and everyone involved felt the pain of running ahead of God’s plan (Genesis 16).  When Samuel wasn’t showing up on time, Saul saw the massive Philistine army and his scattering people and feared that the odds were becoming less and less in his favor.  With the pressure building, he made the rash decision to disobey God and to do Samuel’s job of offering the burnt offering.  Of course, Samuel showed up as soon as the deed was done.  Samuel called Saul out and told him that he had no one but himself to blame for the ending of his royal line (1 Samuel 13).    

            I don’t like waiting, and when the discomfort of it gets to be unbearable, I too start looking for an escape.  My mind runs ahead with made-up (often worst-case) scenarios and what-ifs.  When I get tired of going in mental circles and grieving hypotheticals, I switch to action.  I research, prepare, and work – both to distract myself and to try to manipulate my way out of the wait.  After all, I can do anything I set my mind to, right?  Am I not the “master of my fate” and “captain of my soul?” 

          

Isaiah 40:12-17 puts me back in my place and restores my perspective. 

“¹²Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand,

And marked off the heavens by the span,

And calculated the dust of the earth by the measure,

And weighed the mountains in a balance

And the hills in a pair of scales?

 

¹³Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD,

Or as His counselor has informed Him?

¹⁴With whom did He consult and who gave Him understanding?

And who taught Him in the path of justice and taught Him knowledge

And informed Him of the way of understanding?

 

¹⁵Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket,

And are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales;

Behold, He lifts up the islands like fine dust.

¹⁶Even Lebanon is not enough to burn,

Nor its beasts enough for a burnt offering.

¹⁷All the nations are as nothing before Him,

They are regarded by Him as less than nothing and meaningless.” 

    

In these words, I see God comforting His people as they waited for His deliverance from captivity.  To them, Babylon seemed too big a foe, but God reminds them just how big, how wise, and how powerful He is.  If He can hold the oceans in His hand, a “drop from a bucket” like Babylon is no problem for Him.  My infertility is no problem for Him.  $35,000 of adoption costs are no problem for Him.  Your obstacles, fears, and hang-ups are no problem for Him either.  We can trust Him – when doubts and fears arise, we need only to remind ourselves of who our Father is.  Keep holding on, and watch for Him; He will show up.        

These verses don’t just remind me who God is – they remind me who I am not.  The obvious answer to the questions posed is “no one.”  God alone can measure “the sky between His thumb and little finger” (MSG), and He doesn’t need to be taught or counseled by anyone.  When I read verse 13, the thought hit me: How often have I tried to counsel God in my prayers?  There is a difference between humbly presenting our requests with a heart submitted to His will and laying out a “honey-do” list and expecting God to bend to our will and way.  I am the one in need of counseling.  Do I listen to Him as much as I talk? 

            You and I are only human, and our human nature drives us to put ourselves on the throne of our hearts.  Because of sin, our natural desire is to want to be the god of our own lives.  We forget just how bad we are at it until we fall flat on our face again.  We were never meant to bear that job.  Our shoulders aren’t broad enough, and our wisdom is limited and faulty.  Allowing God His rightful place in our hearts through worship and submission doesn’t put us in chains.  It frees our hearts to rest and to enjoy life through the wait and in spite of the pain. 

            When the discomfort of the wait pressures you to act out of fear, remember who God is and who you are not.  It’s not your job to fix it or force it.  Do only what He leads you to do.  Trust Him to act (or withhold action) according to His limitless expanses of wisdom and power.  When you fail, remember that the same God sent His Son, Jesus, to take the punishment for you.  Continue forward in His grace and refuse to allow shame and guilt to trip you up further.  Keep bringing your eyes back to Him, and keep getting your rear end off the throne.  God has given us all we need to wait well in the gift of Himself, but we need to let Him be God.                     

 

I know you are all dying to know… so here’s the other side of our wedding ceremony story:

 

Jon didn’t know that I was also staring at those infernal doors.  For me, time was going far too fast.  My dad and I stood, arms linked, as I took deep breaths and tried to decide if I could make it down the aisle without vomiting.  My wedding coordinator offered to walk down the aisle next to me with a vase, but the thought mortified me.  Heightened nerves, July heat, little food, and a dress that was tied too tight made my head spin and my stomach flip.  With a room full of people waiting, I had to bite the bullet and just go.  Finally, the doors opened, and I made my way to my groom with all my stomach contents in place.  The whole room breathed a sigh of relief and prayed for a short ceremony.   

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Comfort & Strength in the Waiting: Part 4 (Isaiah 40:9-11)

The year 2020 has been a “Where is God in this?” kind of year.

A global pandemic.
Economic stress.
A passionately divided election.
Racial tension.
Natural disasters.
Spikes in suicides and mental health problems.
Fear, division, and conflict on all fronts.
A loss of normalcy.

The start of 2021 brings with it a sense of cautious hope for some, while the more skeptical prepare for another year that they don’t think will be much better. In times like these, it’s easier to understand why the unbelieving masses scoff at the idea that any God, let alone a good God, is here. The truth of a sovereign and loving God appears absurd to those who see only the current state of our world apart from the metanarrative of Scripture. It’s hard enough for those of us who do believe to wrestle through the paradoxes of suffering and blessing, of justice and mercy, of a good God and a broken world.

I imagine that the people of Judah had a hard time believing the good news of deliverance when it was proclaimed to them through their captivity as well. In Isaiah 40:9, the messengers are told to declare “Here is your God!” at the top of their lungs from a mountaintop without fear. Judah’s long exile in Babylon, though a consequence of her own choices, would no doubt have screamed, “Where? We certainly don’t see Him here!” The weariness of decades of waiting would have taken its toll.


“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for; the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).


The concept of faith has been watered down to a nice sentiment of wishful thinking. In reality, it is a firm conviction of what is true regardless of any circumstances that may seem to contradict that truth. It is based on evidence (faith gets its value from its object), and it is fleshed out through obedience. The “hall of faith” in Hebrews 11 is full of people who believed God and obeyed what He was calling them to do even through the most wretched of circumstances and even when doing so made them look ridiculous to others who were watching.

The people of Hebrews 11 did not believe blindly, and neither did God’s exiled people. They were not asked to believe in a God who hid away in the shadows but one who revealed His character. Isaiah 40:10-11 provides a picture of the God who rules with strength and might of a lion alongside gentleness and tenderness of a lamb. He is a sovereign God worthy of all submission, loyalty, trust, and devotion. He also humbled Himself to walk the earth as a man and suffer a criminal’s death so that He could set us free and hold us close. He is power and compassion together. He is truth and grace together. He is our competent and capable Leader and our understanding and caring Father.

What would our world be like if all our leaders possessed such qualities? The Bible gives us hope that we will not always be subject to authorities who are shifty, corrupt, arrogant, deceitful, and selfish. Verses 10 and 11 not only show God’s character, but they also point us to a glorious future where Jesus will return at His second coming and reign in righteousness for one thousand years on earth (commonly called the Millennium) before the final judgment and the creation of a new heaven and new earth.


“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).


While you wait for the provision of a new job, for the end of social distancing, for the return of large-scale gatherings, or whatever it is you are waiting for, you can find comfort and strength by cultivating your faith. Remind yourself of who God says He is, and look forward to the day when He will return and make all things right. Remember that He is here – He has not abandoned us. Listen to Mike Donehey’s new podcast, “Chasing the Beauty,” for more ideas on how to look for God in your everyday life. Trust that even through 2020, God has been causing “all things to work together for good to those who love [Him], to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). Keep obeying Him, don’t grow weary of doing good, and know that “He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6b). If you seek Him, you will find Him – He wants to be found.

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Shirley

            She leaned down so that I could whisper in her ear with my hands cupped around my mouth.  My eyes darted over to my parents to make sure they weren’t paying attention as I divulged to my grandma the scheme my brother and I had devised to spy on Santa that Christmas Eve night.  Her blue eyes sparkled, and she barely contained her amusement as she listened to our plan to sneak back upstairs after Mom and Dad went to bed.  She delighted in her grandchildren, and we could do nearly no wrong in her sight.  

            However, I do remember one particular occasion that my brother was getting into mischief - enough to warrant a stern reprimand from the sweet-natured woman everyone knew wouldn’t hurt a fly.  “Ryan David Wayne!” she exclaimed with a scowl that quickly melted away as she realized her mistake of adding my Dad’s middle name into the rebuke of my brother.  My brother’s offense was completely forgotten by all three of us as we laughed together and went about our day.  

            We loved going to grandma’s house.  We’d sit on her lap and watch Cartoon Network while snacking on buttered pop-tarts, bread and butter, or her candy stash.   She knew I liked to draw and always made sure to have a stack of paper and colored pencils ready for me to use.  I’d play on her keyboard, and she’d tell me about how much she liked listening to Randy Travis, Alan Jackson, and George Strait.  Occasionally, I’d eat pickles, and she’d let me drink the pickle juice when they were gone.  She’d also make us strawberry milk and let us take it to bed until we accidentally spilled it all over the water bed one night.  Even with mishaps such as that, she adored us and would have given us the world if she could. 

            Grandma was always there.  She watched us overnight when our parents needed a sitter.  We knew we would see her at the end of any ballgame, concert, or school play.  When Grandpa bowled in a league, she would sometimes take us along to watch him.  I remember falling asleep on her lap there once.  At the motorcycle shop, she had toys we could play with, and she’d walk out with me to get a cream soda from the pop machine.  Even into adulthood, I could look forward to a phone call on my birthday and a birthday card every year from her and Grandpa.  After I was married and moved over 6 hours away, Grandma came with my parents to see our house and spend some time with us in Kansas.    

            Most holidays were spent at least in part at Grandma’s house, and we thoroughly enjoyed her family-famous chicken and homemade noodles, fried chicken, and scotcheroos.  She loved making her kids’ and grandkids’ favorite dishes.  In the weeks leading up to Christmas, Grandma relished the time when we would help her put up her Christmas decorations.  She would tell us stories about the older ornaments, and our excitement and innocence brought her great joy.  For Christmas Eve, we would attend the Christmas Eve service at Grandma’s church, and then she would always let us open at least one gift afterwards.  

            I was her “Sweetheart,” and she was one of my safest places on earth.  She loved her family fiercely and would have given her right arm for any of us.  Giving and taking care of everyone were her things.  Every goodbye was accompanied by a hug, a kiss on the cheek, and an “I love you.”  We loved her dearly too.

            This last goodbye has been harder to stomach.  Grandma tested positive for Covid-19, and it is also suspected that she may have had a stroke.  While her health had been declining for some time, we were still caught off guard when we were informed on November 25 that she had taken a turn.  On the afternoon of November 27, Grandma went home to be with Jesus.  Our hearts are aching with her absence, but we are grateful that her suffering has come to an end.