I used to be an impatient person. I hated sitting and waiting for things. Then, I got a summer job at a restaurant in my hometown.
“Waiting” took on a whole new meaning. It certainly did not mean sitting around.
Waiting tables meant that I had to remember the detailed requests of dozens of customers simultaneously, from orders for extra spicy chicken wings to mild, boneless, gluten-free ones. It meant learning an entire menu and kitchen inside-out. It meant juggling beverages, refilling popcorn baskets, and making sure there was extra ranch dressing at table #5. It meant being quick, sharp, and (regardless of the level of cortisol pumping through my veins) altogether pleasant.
I’m still generally impatient. Waiting for that to change was taking too long.
BUT: The most life-changing takeaway from my stint as a waitress (aside from the fact that, to this day, no restaurant napkin holder or sauce caddy is safe from my compulsively tidying hands) was the outlook that waiting is so much more than I thought it was—especially when it comes to matters of faith.
What does it mean to “wait upon the Lord”? Through study and life experience, I’ve come to believe that spiritual “waiting” is active, empowering, and ultimately transformative. It’s anything but passive.
Waiting Is Active
We often hear or read verses about “waiting on the Lord” within the context of being patient in our suffering:
“Bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success” (Alma 26:27).
Sure, the Lord encourages us to faithfully wait for the reprieve of eventual, promised blessings. We watch and wait for His return. We wait for prophecy to be fulfilled. We wait for trials to pass. But based on His characteristically radical, transformative teachings, I highly doubt Jesus Christ expects us to sit around.
Waiting for seeds of faith to produce fruit, for example, demands “diligence” in “nourishing the word,” pruning and watering and tending it so that roots can spiral securely into the soil of your soul. (Alma 32:42) And “behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof…and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.”
I like that: “by and by.” In other words, “as time goes on,” there will be fruit to sustain you continuously. Enjoy the delicious fruit as it grows, and you’ll have the energy to keep gardening.
Waiting Is Empowering
Beyond being active, waiting is empowering. The roots of the word itself are inspiring.
Originally, in 1400s Old French and Old English, the word “wait” (deriving from “gaitier” and “wacian,” respectively) actually meant “to defend; to observe carefully; to be awake; to be strong, engaged, and lively.”
In that context, “waiting on the Lord” suddenly becomes far more engaging. Take Isaiah’s renowned reassurance and replace “wait upon” with any of those synonymous phrases:
“They that [defend] the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles” (Isaiah 40:31).
“They that [remain awake with] the Lord…”
“They that [observe] the Lord [carefully]…”
“They that [are strong, engaged, and lively] …”
Our more current definition of waiting as “remaining in place” or “attending to the needs of someone” didn’t come until centuries later. But even then, in the context of “waiting upon” someone to meet their needs and address their instructions— “They that [attend to the commands of] the Lord…”—it is enthrallingly promising.
As servants attending to the commands of our Master, we are promised strength to soar above the gravitational pull of mortal life. Obedience to His commandments empowers us to rise upward, skyward, heavenward. And like waiting, submissive obedience is ennobling:
“Thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me” (Isaiah 49:23).
Submission to the Lord cultivates certainty in Him. Waiting upon and submitting to His commands is arguably the most active, deliberate way you can approach life. The Lord calls for a covenant people who love and lift others. He calls for peacemakers and gatherers. He calls for effort.
Waiting Is Transformative
As I waited tables at the restaurant, the rewards of my work were recurring. So were my mistakes. In the span of a single evening, I’d earn bouts of delighted laughter, collect favorable tips from some customers, and flinch at the annoyed disappointment of others. But I didn’t have time to stew over my mistakes. All I had time for were quick mental notes on how to improve as I greeted the next tableful of guests.
I have a feeling it’s the same with waiting on the Lord. The rewards of actively engaging with His commandments come over and over, as do the lessons learned. In my opinion, it’s an exciting, energizing way to get to know Him and how He works.
“Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart” (Psalm 27:14).
For more uplifting articles see the links below.
▶ 3 lessons from a storm in scripture to rely on when life takes unexpected turns
▶ The quote about eternal progression bringing me an incredible sense of peace
▶ Expert tips for enjoying spiritual stillness—no matter what’s on your plate
