Be Still and Wait: God will come through

Be still and wait – not something that comes naturally to many of us.

It can be uncomfortable, so we often turn to those handy screens we carry. Before screens we occupied ourselves with books or newspapers.

Being busy seems better than being still. But God calls us out completely with this radical idea: “Be still and wait.” Wait patiently while I work, He says. Watch for the good I am doing.

I’m not sure if God thinks I just reeeally need to learn this lesson about waiting or something, but He sure has given me lots of opportunities to practice.

When Caleb and I first married, we joined his family in Seattle for a cycling trip. Notice how I carefully chose the word cycling, not just like, a bike ride around the park kind of trip. 

Ohhhhh, no.

These crazy people trek 186 miles from Seattle, WA to Vancouver, BC almost every August. This organized ride is called the RSVP (Ride from Seattle to Vancouver and Party — in case you also want to bike 186 miles in the future, check it out here). My husband and his family had accomplished this feat five years in a row before taking a year off to pursue the incredible blessing of biking in France! 

The France cycling trip was the first biking journey where I actually joined in on the fun – and I kept my promise that I would bike as far as I needed to if my father-in-law was taking us to France. (He worried at first about biking too much, but I quickly assured him the location was worth the effort.)

Normally on organized cycling trips however, I play the position of support vehicle.

This means I carry the luggage, extra snacks, and emergency kits. It also means I drive to each rest stop before the bikers get there. Sometimes I’d arrive over an hour before they did.

So, I would sit, and I would watch, and I would wait. 

The waiting allowed plenty of time to write (woohoo!) and the rest of this post chronicles the very first time (after only being married about a month) that I joined Caleb’s family for the RSVP.

More thoughts on this bike ride: How to Sacrifice in Marriage

The First Waiting and Watching

The first stop boasted of crisp 7am air, undisturbed green grass, and calm flocks of geese. I couldn’t help but feel the peace and presence of God in the stillness of His creation as it woke. Everything acted as He commanded: “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:11) The unexpected pleasure of this trip was that I had the chance to do the same.

To be still and wait.

To watch creation unfold in the glory of what God made it to be.

When the bikers started to arrive, it was time to wait and watch for my dear husband and his family to follow suit. I imagined them feeling the same crisp morning air as they cruised through trails and traffic.

I am still so thankful for the opportunity to be part of this new family. They are kind, generous, and caring, more than anyone could hope for when it comes to in-laws. My waiting and watching was well worth it to see and support my family, and it was enjoyable to see all the different kinds of bikers passing as I kept careful lookout for those that were mine. I followed the example set by creation and that morning as I scanned the crowd of bikers, I practiced how to be still and wait.

God is Waiting Too

I am reminded of the idea that God keeps careful lookout for those who are His, just like a kept watching for my bikers. He constantly waits for us – watches us with loving eyes. He knows exactly where we are and where we will end up. 

God longs for the day when we first come to Him and experience His cleansing love and mercy. 

He watches as we grow into this love and learn to love like He does. 

Our Father in Heaven waits as we figure out that His plans are best after all. 

He watches as we live into our purpose and calling, and guides us when we aren’t quite sure what that is. 

I searched among hundreds of bikers to catch the four that were mine, and it was sometimes difficult to distinguish one among the rest.

But God knows us intimately. He knows every pattern of our being. He looks at each of us and says, “This one is mine.”

God exhibits incredible patience in waiting, because sometimes it takes a lifetime. 

He deeply believes that we are worth it, and demonstrated this in offering the ultimate sacrifice: Jesus.

Scores of believers before Jesus’ coming did much of their own waiting and watching, and never lost sight of what was promised. They trusted in God’s promises and knew how to be still and wait, though they did not experience it for themselves in their lifetime

Hebrews 11 details some of these waiter and watchers, whom I like to call “The Greats of Faith”, those who were especially commended for their righteousness and faithfulness to God.

“These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”

Hebrews 11:39-40

These men and women “through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, …quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword” (Hebrews 11:33-34) all while waiting and watching for God’s perfect plan. How much more then are we called to be patient as He works? To be still and wait as His perfect plan is revealed?

How to Be Still and Wait

Some of our waiting and watching, is simply to enjoy His presence.

To bask in the stillness of creation as it glorifies His name. To sit in awe of His wondrous works and praise Him. This is the time to be still, expecting nothing more than the joy of His presence.

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”

Psalm 37:7

“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

Psalm 16:10

Some of it is waiting and watching for something specific.

For His answer to our desperate prayers. His healing in our fragile hearts. His power to change our lives. This is the time to wait expectantly, because He will come through.

“In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.”

Psalm 5:3

“Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God. “

Psalm 16:10

During the August rides, my waiting was a time to be still and notice what God is doing along the path these bikers take. This waiting was rewarded by the joy of being reunited with my family at each stop and supporting them in their venture.

In these quiet times (and many like them), I am grateful to be still and wait.

Practice this balance with me.

Be still in His presence expecting nothing more than the simple joy of His love and kindness.

But when it’s time to wait, wait expectantly, knowing that He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.

What are you waiting for right now? Comment below so we can all lift each other in prayer! <3