Sunday, April 25

My soul waits for the Lord, more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.
—Psalm 130:6

We wait for many things in life. We wait through hours of labor for the birth of a baby. We wait in stark and pained helplessness as one we love is dying. We wait with frustration for a new job to present itself. We wait to grow up, to see our grandchildren, to hear the report from the doctor, for the first daffodil to push through hard winter soil to signal the coming of spring.

Some waiting is filled with expectation, and our mind and body are at attention. Other waiting is hard. Boring. Unproductive. Lonely. And waiting can leave us feeling very impatient.

So, how does one wait for what one cannot even see? For what can only be known in the inner caverns of our being? For what does not issue forth in a tangible result? How, in other words, do we wait for God?

The assumption is that waiting for God will require silent stillness, but waiting for God can also occur as we give ourselves ambitiously to work or play or love. Waiting for God only requires that we keep our ears and eyes open for the movement of grace in our lives. It's always unmistakable,often surprising, and sometimes astonishing.

Suddenly in the flash of a second, grace appears, and because we are attentive, we at once see what before was hidden from sight. We see God and are amazed.

Gracious God, let me wait for You with eyes and ears that are open for grace.

These Signposts originally appeared on explorefaith in 2008.