Waiting is for Warriors

Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord! -Psalm 27:14

                   Good courage: to wax mighty, to behave valiantly, to prevail

           It’s before the battle, before the adrenaline, the rush, the action, when there are only questions—Will I survive? Is my cause worthy? Is my life valuable?—that the character of the warrior is built. Imagine him, lying awake beside burning embers, watching as clouds race across the face of the moon, anticipating a looming battle. Sure, life is not easy for the warrior. Sometimes he must do things he dislikes; sometimes he’s thrust into battles he wants nothing to do with. Battles are not pretty. 

           But sometimes, it's the days, the nights of waiting that are the hardest. He feels stagnant. He wants to march, to go anywhere, to do something great, to be a hero. People never get medals or accolades for sitting around the fire ring and baking potatoes. Heroes always seem to be those who have the sword, who are doing something.

           But waiting is for warriors.

           A hero is not someone who fights independently or creates his own battle plan. A hero takes the captain’s orders and obeys... after he waits for the orders. We are so used to action--possibly to the point of idolizing action-- that we frown on waiting, forgetting that battles would be disasters without warriors who waited.

          Abraham did not wait. He was not applauded for his “initiative” in having Ishmael. Sure, God gave Him the promise, but he did not wait for God's fulfillment. 

          Joseph did wait. He did not understand why God brought him to Potiphar’s house and then left him in prison for several years. But he waited. He was faithful where he was. He was a true warrior, and God brought him out of prison at the right time to save all of Egypt and Israel.

          Be assured, waiting does not mean laziness or inactivity.  You don't need to just poke the fire and bake potatoes. Training happens outside battles. Invest in where you are. Be faithful. Wait for your command, not your neighbor's. And when God says go into the battle, charge! To hold back would be cowardly.  

         Don’t lose heart if you're waiting. Trust Him with where you are, develop your relationship with your Commander, and listen. Wait until God says "Go!" and then go with all your might. Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. He promised it, and His plans for your life are much better than yours.