Wait upon the Lord

“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)

Good morning, my friend.

Today I come to you with a very familiar scripture passage. We have heard this one quoted hundreds of times over the years. Thousands of sermons have been preached and hundreds of books have been written about it, so what I share may not be anything new to you. Sometimes, however, we just need a reminder.

Here in the Midwest, we have had a series of gray days: cool, damp, and cloudy. It is spring season here, so we are used to those lazy, warm days of growth – times when the grass awakens from its slumber, flowers are in full bloom, nature is alive. Yet it seems our world has hit the snooze button a few too many times.

Everyone with whom I talk is groggy. We are as if we are in a fog. The world seems to have gone crazy these past few years. We’ve endured (hopefully) COVID, financial setbacks, health setbacks, political upheaval, and there seems to be bad news everywhere we turn. We spent years running full-tilt, chasing our illusive dreams, trying to keep up with the Joneses, spending every last penny we’ve earned to get something that will satisfy. Yet all has been to no avail. Now, we’re just tired.

But I have good news for you, today, my friend. It’s ok to slow down! We just need to re-focus our thoughts onto Jesus – the Author and the Finisher of our faith. We have spent so much time chasing the shiny things, the gitter and the glam. We have found ourselves like the videos online of the cat or dog chasing the laser point, only to find it has no substance, no reality. I can tell you this for certain: Jesus is real. It’s time for us to re-center, to slow down long enough to re-evaluate our true vision.

Isaiah has written about the trials of Israel – of their punishment for rejection and rebellion. He has told of God’s turning away from them in order to bring them back. His words are prophetic for the nation of Israel at the time; however, they speak to us in our modern, digital, Tesla, space-age world as well.

The Bible seems quaint now-a-days. It seems so old-fashioned. Reading scripture to some is like watching an old black-and-white silent movie. It lacks the “wow”-factor of a CGI-enhanced action movie. Reading scripture is boring (according to many). It seems out-of-touch, they say. God’s Word sets a standard that is impossible to reach, they claim. It speaks in words of dust of people long-since dead, places to which we cannot relate, doing things that are, to our modern world, barbaric or primitive.

But for those of us who have stepped back, to we who have turned again to the God of our fathers, it is a refuge. Sure, it takes energy to read. It makes us turn off our media-riddled thoughts, it forces us to imagine and actually comprehend – instead of being spoon-fed what to think. People accuse Christians of being brain-washed or belonging to a cult. Yes. Yes! I have been brainwashed! My mind is being renewed – of being re-programmed and re-birthed – with the mind of Christ! Yes I belong to a cult – a band of followers who hear and respond to the teachings of One Person. We all follow somone or belong to a group or class of people. Whom do you follow?

I follow the One Who came to save me, to redeem me into fellowship with the God Who created me. Jesus is the only One Who knows the heart of the Father, and it was just that He came to reveal. I follow the One Who told me He would take my burden in exchange for His light and easy yoke (of fellowship and belonging). I follow the One Who took my sicknesses and diseases upon Himself, then nailed them to a cross of death long before I ever knew I needed that. I belong to and follow the One Who is closer than any brother, One Who promises to never leave me nor forsake me. I follow the One Who consoles me in my losses and comforts me in my pain. I follow the One Who has walked my tomorrows in advance and can show me the Way to peace and joy. I follow and listen to the One Who pulls back the curtain on world events, shows me the truth behind it all, and reassures me this is not all there is. I follow the One Who gives me rest in the middle of chaos, peace in times of turmoil, and strength far beyond any I could ever muster. I follow the One Who tells me that when the battle becomes too great all I have to do is show up and He will fight it for me. That’s Who I follow. Whom do YOU follow?

Today is another gray day. And yet, the Son is shining brightly in my heart and spirit. Today I can rest in Him and allow Him to re-boot my virus-laden mind. Today I can feed on the love and care of my heavenly Father. What is old-fashioned about spending time with Someone you love? What is old-fashioned about feeling a sense of security and calm? What is old-fashioned about having a healthy body and lifestyle? What is boring about knowing we are in the middle of a spiritual battleground that surrounds us on every side? There is nothing quaint in belonging to the God of the universe, the One Who spoke the Word and brought it all into being. There is nothing odd or weird about being grateful for His goodness in my life. So, I enjoy the gray days: those days when I don’t feel like running around like a lunatic.

Today, my friend, let me invite you to simply stop for a few moments and take inventory of your life. With all the energy you expend, all the activities you are involved in, all the craziness and lunacy in your life: to whom are you being faithful, whose mandate are you fulfilling, what is the end goal? I challenge you to allow God to give you a checkup – to search out your heart, to probe your innermost thoughts and intents. Let Him share His love with you. Allow Him to minister healing to those deep-seated wounds. May He speak peace to your storms. And may you find yourself wrapped up in the loving arms of Jesus Christ today.

Be blessed.