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Wait before you Go

 Springtime is almost here, which means it is time to get outside! Our family is fortunate to live a couple of blocks from our local neighborhood park. My daughter has been trying out her balance bike (which is basically a bike without pedals) and she is soaring!


And that is great - except for when we have to cross the street. There have been many times where the neighbors have probably looked out there front door after hearing me screaming,


“JOVIE, WAIT BEFORE YOUR GO!”


“STOP AND LOOK BOTH WAYS!”


Lucky for me, she does a substantial job of coming to a halting stop just before the sidewalk ends. Once I am able to catch up with her: we stop, look both ways for cars, and begin to walk across the street to the playground.


Every parent goes through this: teaching your kids how to properly wait for cars before they cross the street. We do this to keep them safe. We do this to help them develop their critical thinking skills - and to teach them patience. Most importantly,we do it because we love them.


Waiting before we go is an essential tool in our life, and also in our relationship with God. We are tempted to go full throttle in what we feel called to do - but much of the time - Jesus is just calling us to wait before we go.


The psalmist teaches us this lesson in Psalm 27:14


Wait patiently for the Lord.

Be brave and courageous.

Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.


There is a beautiful structure to this portion of the Psalm. Wait - be brave and courageous - and wait. We tend to view waiting and being brave and courageous as incompatible - I know I have. There are times and seasons where the most brave and courageous thing that we can do is wait, and wait patiently.


Being bold and courageous doesn’t always mean starting something new or bringing in great change. Sometimes being bold is saying “I’m gonna wait patiently on the Lord.” God is faithful in all that he says and does. Waiting on the Lord and His timing proclaims our trust in who He is.


In a season of constant change and transition, may you have the boldness, bravness, and courage to wait patiently on the Lord.


Gracious and holy Father,

give me wisdom to perceive you,

intelligence to fathom you,

patience to wait for you,

eyes to behold you,

a heart to meditate upon you,

and a life to proclaim you,

through the power of the Spirit of Christ Jesus our Lord.

Amen.


  • Prayer of Saint Benedict

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