Wait for it…wait for it…

I was just talking to a friend of mine about Luke 24 & Acts 1—the place where Jesus tells His disciples not to leave Jerusalem but to wait. What an incredibly difficult proposition! They had been given a mission (a great one at that) and they must have been pumped full of passion after spending a little over a month in dialogue with the risen Savior. This was no time to wait; this was the time to act.

But, the Master told them to wait. They knew they were ready; Jesus knew they were not yet fully equipped. They believed they had all the information they needed; Jesus understood they required more than information—they needed the overflow of the Holy Spirit’s presence. They had a huge task ahead of them, but it would all start with a lot of sitting, a lot of praying, and a lot of waiting for a “something” that was not very clear at all.

Yes, the 120 got to hang out and pray together, and that had to be encouraging. But I wonder about the times when normal life was happening. Someone had to go get food. I imagine there were kids to take care of. Do you think someone in that bunch may have still had to go to work? What about sleeping arrangements?

Regardless of the specific conditions present (we’re just not sure), the fact is, it is hardest to wait in the day-to-day. Getting a mission from God is grand, and praying or dreaming with your fellow believers about your future can be exhilarating. Waiting for “something” to happen and having to continue to live life well in the mean time…that’s just plain difficult.

Yet they are told to wait. Jesus had been getting His disciples ready for 3 years, but those last few weeks were imperative. I’ve found that sometimes it’s the last little bit that really makes the difference. When we take a shortcut to get to our calling, we miss the best part of the preparation He may have for us. When we think we understand the assignment well, and when we “help God out just a little” before all the pieces are in place, we may jeopardize the entire mission.

Though waiting isn’t fun, especially after we have received a promise, it is often essential. I do find two very encouraging things about this scripture in that regard:

First, what the Lord had them wait for was better than anything they could have engaged on their own—Taking things into our own hands never accomplishes the purposes of God that are “immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine”.

Second, the definition of wait here does not imply that they needed to sit around with their hands in their pockets until something happened. Wait means to expect with hope; this is an active waiting that is full of faith and anticipation.

I can grab onto that. I can remember the things God has said to me and faithfully and expectantly believe that He is at work in me, around me, and even through me to bring what is promised about. And I get excited to think that it is going to be better than anything I could ever manufacture on my own.