“WAIT” Training
By Karen D’Amore
“But those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength…”
Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV)
I can still hear Adi’s thick Yugoslavian accent hurling orders like a military drill instructor: “PU-USH…PU-USH…WHAN MORE…YU KAN DOO IT!” Once aspiring to be a competitive bodybuilder, I enlisted the help of a professional bodybuilder/personal trainer. With dumbbells firmly fixed in my grip, “pumping iron” became my melodious theme song. Trembling with exhaustion, my muscles were pushed to the point of failure daily. This painful type of resistance training causes the muscle fibers to tear, then rebuild stronger than they were before. Complying with the “No Pain, No Gain” motto…my body ached perpetually. Pushing through the pain, though tempted to quit, I found that perseverance produced staggering results. I was stronger than I ever could have imagined!
Weight training is sweaty, tiring, and painfully difficult…but necessary to build strong physical muscles! As Christ-followers, spiritual strength is imperative! Desiring to firm our “flabby faith,” God recruits us into His gym, where He builds our spiritual muscles through…“WAIT” training. Like weight training, “wait” training can also be painfully difficult. Throughout Scripture, we read the “waiting” stories of many. Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years for a child. Jacob waited over seven years for his beloved Rachel. Joseph waited 13 years for full freedom. David waited 15 years for his new job as king. Each of these “waiting” stories poignantly reflects the faith of the “waiters,” as well as the God-glorifying results!
What are you waiting for? Are you feeling crushed under the weight of the “wait”? The heaviness may seem unbearable and the “wait” tiring and painful, but “wait” training is a discipline intended to strengthen us. Hebrews 12:11 reminds us, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
Waiting on God pushes us from a position of self-reliance to God-dependence. It spurs us to grow in the confidence of His sovereignty and His ability to bring all things to completion, in His timing, and in a way that benefits His children and glorifies Him. Waiting on God is never passive, but always active, requiring us to cease our own pursuits and give God our undivided attention. Perseverance in the “wait” exercises our faith and builds strong spiritual muscles.
Is your Personal Trainer whispering…“W-A-I-T…W-A-I-T”?? Don’t sweat…rest in His grip and…WAIT…as He renews your strength!
“God does not give us overcoming life—He gives us life as we overcome. If there is no strain, there will be no strength.” – Oswald Chambers (1)
GOING DEEPER:
1. How is your “wait” training? Are your spiritual muscles firm or flabby?
FURTHER READING:
(1) Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, Discovery House Publishers, 2008.
Married to Dan, Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at Craig Berns Salon. She’s a leader for Oakwood’s Tuesday a.m. Bible Study and a volunteer at the Wildlife In Need Center.
