The Sacred Act Of Waiting

– Ponderings:

We often begin the Lenten season by reflecting on Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness. We focus on his fasting and temptations … and how he leaned on Scripture to emerge victorious. But have you ever considered that the wilderness was not just a place of testing but also a place of waiting?

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness at the beginning of his ministry. It was a time of preparation, solitude, and dependence on God. While Jesus fasted and prayed, he also waited. He was waiting for God to assure him that the timing was right, just as throughout his ministry, he continues to rely on God’s timing rather than his own.

Lent invites us into a similar wilderness—a time to pause, reflect, and wait upon God. We live in a culture driven by productivity and speed, constantly racing against the clock. We often view waiting time as wasted time. But what if waiting isn’t wasted? What if waiting is sacred time? What if waiting is meant to connect us more closely to God and to prepare us for something greater?

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.” (Psalm 40:1). “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31).

Perhaps this season of Lent is not about striving to achieve more spiritually but about surrendering to the sacred act of waiting. Waiting for God’s voice. Waiting for renewal. Waiting for the next step God calls us to take. What would it look like for you to embrace waiting as a holy invitation rather than a hindrance?

Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for meeting me in the wilderness of waiting. Help me trust your timing and embrace this season as a sacred gift. Renew my strength as I wait upon you. Prepare me for what lies ahead. In Jesus’ name, Amen.