Learning to Wait
/How much time do we spend waiting?
There are everyday types of waiting:
Waiting for the Amazon delivery when you were sure you chose “same day delivery”
Waiting at the check-out counter, when it seems you have once again chosen the wrong line
Waiting for your text to be answered
Waiting at the doctor’s office
Waiting at an endless red light when you are late
Waiting for your morning coffee to brew or waiting for your name to be called at Starbucks
But then there are more challenging types of waiting:
Waiting for a job
Waiting for a spouse
Waiting for a child
Waiting for a diagnosis
Waiting for treatment
Waiting for the passing of a loved one
How much of our lives is spent in this kind of painful waiting? It can be a good portion of our lives. So how do we endure?
I have just completed a study of the Book of Ruth. So many wonderful lessons are available in Ruth, but as my family has been in a period of challenging waiting, one verse continues to penetrate my heart.
“Then Naomi said, “Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.” Ruth 3:18
At this point in the narrative, Ruth only had to wait one day, but it must have felt like the longest day of her life. What was she waiting for? It can be summed up in one word. Redemption. Would Boaz be able to marry her and step into the role of what the Bible terms, a “kinsman redeemer?” Would he be the family relative to provide for her and her mother-in-law, Naomi? Would he be the source of their hope? (Read Deuteronomy 25 for context)
But Naomi knows a truth that should have comforted Ruth during their painful waiting. “For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.” They could rest in waiting because the redeemer would not rest! Boaz was at work. He was doing the work necessary to provide for the redemption of Ruth and Naomi. He was working on their behalf.
If you are not familiar with the story of Ruth, Boaz is meant to be a forecaster of a more perfect Redeemer. While Boaz rescued Ruth and Naomi from the physical and temporal needs of food and family, Christ came to redeem us from our slavery to sin. Coming to us as man, He did the work on our behalf. The work was completed at the cross. And the good news for us is that we don’t have to wait to be redeemed — not even for one day. We can believe by faith right now that Jesus is our Redeemer, and we can immediately be saved. We can rest in the knowledge that we are reconciled with God and have the promise of eternal life.
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” Ephesians 1:7
But what about the waiting that we have to endure in this life? Is there any comfort for us in Naomi’s words? Indeed!
I have read, re-read, studied and taught Romans 8:28 many times:
“We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Today, however, in the midst of a painful period of waiting, I have a new understanding of this verse. (I love how God’s Word is living and active!) All things work together for good, because God is not resting! Christ continues to work on our behalf. He is using our painful circumstances for His Glory. It may not mean that we will be spared the suffering or the waiting, but we can be assured that He is working.
Therefore, I can rest during my waiting because “He will not rest, until the matter is settled.”