"While U Wait"

Forty-plus years ago while pastoring Dalewood Baptist Church in Nashville, TN, I wrote an article and had it printed in a little tract called "While You Wait..." Our nation is now in an unprecedented time of WAITING. We've had a Presidential election, but the outcome is uncertain. Although a conclusion could possibly be reached within hours of posting this, we may be in for an extended period of waiting before an ultimate victory is announced and an official concession speech is made. So maybe today is a good time to share a summary of my writing 'way back then on HOW TO WAIT. (The article is a bit longer than my usual blog, so I'm taking excerpts from it; they're in italics.)

My opening words were: I remember a shoe shop in my hometown. The large sign out front was in the shape of shoe sole and it read: "Shoes repaired--WHILE U WAIT." Usually several people were inside, sitting or walking around barefoot, waiting for their shoes to be mended. Today this shop, like most such places, has no 'while you wait' area; shoes are brought in, tagged, and picked up at a later time. There may be several reasons for this change, but certainly one of them is that TODAY WE DON'T ENJOY WAITING. Ours is a 'now' generation, and waiting makes many of us nervous and frustrated.

My article then described how impatient our 'instant' society had become, and how miserable most of us would get in having to wait. (That's even more intense in 2020!) I offered a 'formula' back then that I believe is most timely now:

How to W.A.I.T:

Whisper a Prayer. An important event or vital decision might be on your mind. You may be anxious about it...Take a spiritual trip to the "mercy seat" (any place were God's forgiveness, greatness and goodness are discovered in prayer)...Jesus said, "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you." Take your burden to the Lord--right now--and leave it there.

Anticipate the Best. Think good thoughts while you wait...If you are cynical or negative or pessimistic, reverse that kind of thinking. Anticipate the best possible outcome after this wait is over. Don't have the attitude of a lady I talked with; I said, "Isn't it a beautiful day?" She replied, "Yes, but it's raining somewhere!" There are people who spend much time thinking of the worst things possible. But Jesus said, "I came that you might have life, and have more abundantly." Believe that--and anticipate the best.

Invest in something worthwhile. A familiar story from the ministry of Jesus is recorded in the fourth chapter of John. Jesus was sitting outside a town, waiting for His disciples to return with lunch. He was physically tired. A confused, frustrated, immoral woman came where He was. It would've been easy for Jesus to have avoided her. But He talked with her, told her of the better way, and offered her life at its best. She accepted, and went back into town with a new joy and purpose. Jesus invested in something worthwhile as He waited. You can too...

Trust in the Lord. Put your life into His care right now. Believe Him for the forgiveness, calmness, healing, courage, strength, or wisdom you might need. Throw all your cares on Him, because He cares for you.

Then in my little booklet I shared specifically HOW to trust Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. (If that is something you're not sure you've done or not sure you are doing, please get in touch with me, using any of the contact information at the top of this page. I'd love to share the specifics.) I concluded my tract with the following words, still very appropriate in this time of uncertainty and distrust. Believe that old song, "Have faith in God, He's on His throne; Have faith in God, He watches o'er His own. He cannot fail, He must prevail. Have faith in God, have FAITH IN GOD!" While you wait, trust in the the Lord!

'Nuff said.