Waiting for the Lord

Our bible study groups continued on in Habakkuk this morning, and in the talk the speaker encouraged us to consider:

How do we live by faith?
How do we wait on the Lord?

He gave 4 suggestions as to how we might live by faith, using Habakkuk as our example:

1. Prayerfully - even though Habakkuk has questions, he speaks to God about them, trusting in Him for the answers.

2. With perspective - we also need to be able to wait at the ramparts (2:1), to to look with perspective and wait on what God is doing to achieve his purposes. We can keep in mind the words of Paul:

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. (Rom 8:18)

Not only that, waiting on the Lord is not passive, it enables us to be obedient now:

Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. (James 5:7-8)

3. With patience - we must persevere as we wait on the Lord:

we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Rom 5:3-4)

4. In peace - we will doubt and we will have questions, but we still wait on the Lord, Hab 2:20:

But the LORD is in his holy temple;
let all the earth be silent before him.

Sometimes, we need to stop and be silent before the Lord of everything and everyone.

James encouraged us to stop and be silent for a time this week, prayerfully asking God with patience for him to remind us of his perspective.


He finished with the words of Psalm 31:14-15a

But I trust in you, O LORD;
I say, "You are my God."
My times are in your hands

I have enjoyed this series on Habakkuk - however, there will be no postings from me on it next week - it's my turn on creche!