Waiting WITH God
The final component of waiting on the LORD.
Dear #DailyFollower,
Introduction
One more piece on waiting on the LORD.
Today, we get to the final piece of the waiting formula. For reference (and if this is the first time you’re reading a Daily Follower newsletter), here’s the formula:
Waiting on the LORD = Waiting in God + Waiting for God + Waiting with God
In the past two days, I’ve written about each component in the formula (check them out here: waiting in God and waiting for God), and here’s the final piece.
So, what does it mean to wait with God?
What does waiting WITH God Mean?
WITH (preposition) primarily demonstrates a relationship, e.g. to be accompanied by a person or thing.
To wait WITH God is to be accompanied by God, walking with you side-by-side or, more aptly, having you within His hollow of His hands.
Waiting with God means knowing (not just intellectually but experientially) that God is right in ‘wait’ with you in the thick of the waiting season. God speaking to Isaiah paints a picture to make this point very clear in Isaiah 43:2, so you know that it’s God; let’s see what the text says from verses 1-3 (EXB):
1 Now, this is what the LORD says. He created you, ·people of Jacob [Jacob];
He formed you, ·people of Israel [Israel]. He says, “Don’t be afraid because I have ·saved [ransomed; redeemed] you. I have called you by name, and you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you [as at the Red/or Reed Sea; Ex. 13–14]. When you cross rivers, ·you will not drown [they will not overflow you; as when Israel crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land; Josh. 3–4]. When you walk through [the] fire, you will not be burned [Dan. 3:25–27], nor will the flames hurt you.
3 This is because I, the LORD, am your God, the Holy One of Israel [1:4], your Saviour. I gave Egypt ·to pay for you [for your ransom], and I gave ·Cush [Ethiopia] and Seba ·to make you mine [in place of you].
So that there is no doubt as to who is with us when we go through turbulent seasons where we need to wait for deliverance, God establishes his credentials, stating His names (the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour) and the things only He can do (I have saved [ransomed; redeemed] you, I have called you by name, you are mine).
Once that is established in your mind, He then paints the WHEN scenario so we know that it is only a matter of time. We all have to wait on Him for some form of deliverance, and we must understand that He is there with us. In the wait, we will come out victoriously.
When we wait with God, among the many things we get are these three vital gifts to make our waiting less stressful and as productive as it can be:
Abounding Peace - enabling us to sleep amid any raging storm, as Jesus did (Mark 4:38; John 14:27),
Confident Assurance - enabling us to face our wait with the knowledge there is a blessed end that delivers favourable outcomes (2 Timothy 1:12)
Enduring Hope - enabling us to keep the good fight going every day because the great God is with us in the fight and will not disappoint us (Romans 5:5)
When we wait with God, we have peace that makes no sense, an unshakable assurance, and lasting hope.
Conclusion
This is the final piece of the waiting on the LORD equation.
Now, we know that when we wait on the LORD, we:
Wait IN God: staying in Jesus - in His Word, Name, and Blood,
Wait FOR God: staying in His Spirit for divine guidance, direction and power, and
Wait WITH God: abiding in God (the Father), who gives abounding peace, confident assurance and enduring hope.
If you are in a waiting season right now, let me encourage you that there is an end to the season.
However, as you wait, wait in God, wait for God and wait with God.
Yours faithfully,
John, a #DailyFollower.
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