Now Wait Just A Minute

By Reverend Michael Farias

Summer is finally over and we can all get back to normalcy.

Most church and ministry leaders find summer a trying time because it’s as if someone has hit the pause button. Everything is disrupted by vacations of staff and personnel, schools are on break, church attendance is down, as is income, and weekly prayer meetings have been suspended for the summer.  The temporary disruption requires patience as we wait to get back to moving and shaking.

This month, our blog theme is waiting and patience.

As leaders, we must learn to patiently wait, not just during summer disruption, but at all times in our ministry.  I don’t know about you, but I sometimes find it challenging to wait,  probably because of my entrepreneurial tendencies.  I just want to go, always looking for the green light, ready to launch and build and proceed to the next challenge or adventure the Lord has for me. It’s challenging, but I’m learning to patiently wait.

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.  Isaiah 40:31

We must recognize that a season of waiting does not mean a season of stagnating.

In the Old Testament, the Israelites traveled through their wilderness journey according to the pleasure and will of God. Their movement and advancing was to be done at the leading of the Lord, and not of their own desire and ambition.  I’ve often wondered who had it easier - them or us?  They were led by a cloud by day, and fire by night, we are led by the Holy Spirit.  Their experience was external, physical, and visual for all to see.  Our experience is internal, personal and by faith.

The methodology may be different, but the principle is the same; wait on the Lord.

Whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed. Numbers 9:22

It did not matter how long the waiting period was.  They waited in their tents and did not move on to the next adventure their ambition drove them toward.  Then, when it was time to move and shake, they were ready.

Waiting time is not boredom time, it is getting ready time.

Even though Israel didn’t know when the cloud would move them on, whether two days, a month, or even a year, they were ready.  They had to be ready.  The moment the cloud moved, they had to pack their belongings and pick up the tabernacle.  They had to always be ready or they would miss the leading of the Lord.

At the commandment of the Lord they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the Lord they journeyed.  Numbers 9:23

There will always be seasons of waiting on the Lord.  Whether it’s two days, a month, or a year, the prudent leader will wait and prepare.  As difficult as it may be to put on hold the next great thing you have in mind for the kingdom, it is wise to wait.

Israel knew their protection and provision came from the Lord, so they watched and waited for the cloud and fire to move. They did not get ahead of it, and they did not get behind it.

I am cautious and careful because I never want to get ahead of the Lord and be looking over my shoulder, hoping and wondering if he’s there.  I certainly don’t want to peek out of my tent one morning and realize the cloud moved on as I was sleeping, and now I am left behind on my own, wondering which direction to go.

Wait on the Lord. Have your strength renewed. Mount up and run, walk and do not faint. Teach us, Lord, to wait.

Have a Greater Than Gold day.