Words of Hope — Wait for the Lord
Dad was not the best at waiting when he was younger. He disliked waiting in line or at the doctor’s office. With cancer, you spend many hours of your life in waiting rooms. Dad learned to love to wait. He knew the value of using time that seemed wasted for something meaningful and transformational. Times most people felt was useless, he made useful through mediation, prayer, and scripture memory. Waiting means to expect for, to prepare, to trust in anticipation. Dad became skilled at using waiting times as a springboard of anticipation.
Many times I would see him sitting with his eye closed. At first, I would ask if he was sleeping, and then he would say that he imagined someone to pray for and enjoyed thinking about that person. He said he would imagine where they were sitting, what they were wearing, what they were doing, what they might be happy or sad about, and how he could come alongside that person and give courage to them. He often would pray a verse for them. One of his favorite verses he would pray for people would be Psalm 20.
One of the lines of this Psalm says, “We will shout for joy when you are victorious.” Dad imagined this as he waited, praying for people. He pictured himself preparing to shout for joy with someone over a future victory. Dad loved when people did well. He was in many ways a cheerleader as well as a coach. He uses his waiting on the Lord’s time to serve and pray for other people.
Thanks, Dad, for that excellent life lesson. I want to redeem the waiting times that seem wasted to pray for others waiting for the Lord. I want to anticipate cheering with them when the miracle comes. Thanks for memorizing these verses, Dad, and praying these through the years for me and many others.
May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.
May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.
May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.
May we shout for joy over your victory
and lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the Lord grant all your requests.
– Psalm 20:1-5
