Wouldn’t we all love to wait for God alone—as in, not have to wait in traffic, or at the doctor’s office, or for our kids to get dressed to go wherever they/we all need to, etc.?

Unfortunately, we still have to wait for all of the above, and then some, including answers from the Lord and other people.

But when it comes to our soul, we’re told, “For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation.  He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress.  I shall not be greatly shaken.” Ps. 62:1-2 

That’s very difficult.  Wait for God alone?  What if He doesn’t answer, show up, help, or intervene “in time”?  That could result in lost opportunities, major harm, and/or at the very least, a bit of discomfort, none of which we want to experience.

All true.  But the key here is “in time”.  Who defines that?  Who decides the deadline?  Of course, we’d prefer that to be us.  Especially when we’re waiting, and waiting, and w-a-i-t-i-n-g, and wondering how long the answer or fulfillment will take to come.

We’re not alone in feeling this way.  Famous people in the Bible did, and some of them asked the Lord “out loud” about it.  For ex., David, who often asked “How long…?”, such as in Ps. 13:1-2 (four times!), Ps. 35:17, etc.  And Habakkuk—“O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear?!” Hab. 1:2 

Note that when we’re wondering “how long…?”, it also seems like the Lord isn’t listening.  Either He’s too busy, we’re too insignificant, or He’s angry at us—or so it seems.

So we conclude that we have to take matters into our own hands to alleviate the suffering, accomplish our goals, fulfill our dreams, or solve the problem.

That’s when we get ourselves into messes we wish we hadn’t created.  Remember Ishmael?  It wasn’t his fault he was born.  But imagine, what if Abraham and Sarah had waited for the Lord instead of “helping” Him fulfill His promise? 

Back to us.  As much as we think we know better what “in time” means, it’s best to let the Lord define that.  He knows, because He can see the whole picture, whereas we can’t.  Sometimes, He does reveal it to us sooner than later, such as the folks who missed their bus or car wouldn’t start on their way to the World Trade Center 9/11/2001.  They have no trouble thanking the Lord for His divine timing! 

We do have trouble.  That’s why David has to remind himself, like we do, later on in Ps. 62:5-6—“ For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.” (emphases mine)

Why wait for Him only, though?  Why not take whatever “good” solution comes along? 

For one thing, as we saw above, it could get us into a heap of trouble now, and have terrible, ripple-effect, repercussions in the future, that hurt others as well.  Second, it will never work as well as the Lord’s way.  Third, it probably won’t work at all, and will just waste our time and resources trying.

Many years ago, when our sons were ages 9 and 3, we all stood at the roadside on the edge of town, waiting for a bus, to go to women’s prayer meeting.  My husband and I were serving overseas at the time, and depending on public transport the first year to get around in this city. 

My sons and I waited and waited.  A number of buses passed by.  They asked, “this one?”  “No,” I replied.  “How about this one?”, they entreated.  “Nope.  Wrong direction.”  “This has to be it!”, my 9 yr. old declared.  “I wish it was, but it’s not headed to where we need to go.”

By now, all of us felt frustrated, and tired of waiting, and wondering.  As it happened, for some reason the right bus never came all the way out to us that day. 

Did we get on another bus because we decided we’d waited long enough? No way!  Literally, as well as figuratively.  There was no way this mama was going to let herself and her small sons end up in the wrong place!  If the way wasn’t right, we weren’t riding on it!

We waited for one bus alone.  For it only, we waited.  It didn’t come.  But, thankfully, the Lord always comes, and always comes through—in time, at the best time—not too early or too late!

To this day, 15 years later, my sons still tease me, “Hey mom, there’s a bus if you still want to go to prayer meeting!”  And I reply, “Dear ones, you know that’s not the right bus!” 😊

If we want to get to where we need to go, solve what needs solving, accomplish what needs to be done, wait for God alone.

As the Lord told Habakkuk in answer to “How long…?”,

“For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.” Hab. 2:3