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October 19, 2007

Waiting in Ambush for God

by Shana Schutte

You may be surprised, but I don't love to wait, for anyone or anything. Even so, it seems like I'm always waiting, somewhere for something. How about you?

Without hope, waiting for God to act on our behalf can feel like torture. But with confidence in Him, waiting can feel like joyful anticipation. Isaiah 30:18 says, "Blessed are all who wait for Him." Part of the definition of "wait," which is the word chakah in the original Old Testament language, means to wait "in ambush." Just thinking about this definition makes me smile. Imagine it.

Waiting in ambush for God is like a happy-faced dog who knows his master is coming home; so he stays by the door, ready to pounce when he arrives. It's like a young woman who counts the minutes for her to date to show up for the prom. It's like a freckle-faced boy who anticipates Christmas and counts the days until December 25th. Waiting God's way means we have hope because we know that something good is going to happen--in God's time, in God's way. When faith replaces distrust, the agony of waiting can turn into hopeful anticipation.

Waiting in ambush for God means I'm fully convinced that He is working behind the scenes. In it, I allow my heart to dream about the goodness that will be mine after my wait is over. On the contrary, when I wait without dreaming, my future hopes are not hope at all, but despair. The end result of waiting in faith is always a reward. When we wait without hope we may act out of our unbelief through sin.

To wait in ambush for God means I may have to choose to trust Him God until He shows up. I may have to ask myself, "Shana, what do you believe? Do you believe that God is working on your behalf? Will you choose to trust that He has not abandoned you? If so, lift up your head, girl! God is on His way!"

What about you? Are you waiting for Christ to do something in your life? Are you waiting for Him to answer a prayer? Fulfill a desire? Stop an ache? Lift up your head and wait in ambush for God. He's on His way!

"Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed." 1 Corinthians 1:7 (NIV)

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