I’ve spent a lot of time this year on a single verse. Isaiah 40:31 “but they who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up on wings like eagles. They shall run and not be a weary. They shall walk and not faint.” It was the theme verse for a camp I did this year, and in order to make eight sessions that worked from this verse, I had to look at it upside down, backwards and sideways, and in all of that study, I feel like I grew in my understanding and appreciation of all that this verse means. It is truly a great word of comfort and encouragement from our Lord. 

That being said, it makes me nervous when I apply it to creative people, because I wonder if we will get that waiting part wrong. What do I mean? How many times have you as a creative said you were waiting for something? I want to do that project but I’m waiting until I’m better. I feel like God has called me to do this, but I am waiting until I have what it takes. I’m ready to do this project but I’m waiting until condition “X” is perfect, etc. etc. etc. How many artists are waiting tables, waiting for their big break? I don’t think that is the kind of waiting the Lord is talking about here. Oh there is nothing wrong with getting a job, to cover the bills while you are doing the work God has called you to do. Jobs are sometimes the way God provides for us while we wait for things to fall into place, but as the old saying goes, it’s easier to steer a moving car. While we are waiting on the Lord to bring the call to fruition, there are usually still things to be done. 

When God calls us to something, there is only one proper response, and that is obedience. When He calls us, the waiting is over, and the time to move is now. 

You don’t have everything you need yet? 

What do you have? Start with that and trust God to provide for you as you do the work. 

I’m waiting until I get better?

You know how you usually get better? By doing the work.

I’m not good enough?

The God who called you, knows your ability, or lack thereof, to do what He wants you to do. He is not surprised by your inability, and where your ability ends is where His grace begins. 

I’m waiting for my big break.

So is everyone else. Make your own breaks. Put yourself out there and do the work. Build your skills and hunt down opportunities. In the mean time, do the work.

I love the principle of waiting on the Lord. I know in the time of waiting, God is at work, making us able, strengthening us and renewing our strength. Making us better, and wiser and sometimes quite frankly just teaching us to depend on Him instead of idolizing our own strength. What I don’t love, and I have been guilty of this more times than I care to count, is when people who are clearly called by God say they are waiting on the Lord, and I just want to say to them, “Are you sure it isn’t the other way around? Are you sure God isn’t waiting on you? 

Is there time to wait on the Lord? Of course there is, but most of the time it’s not an inactive wait. Most of the time it’s about stepping out in faithfulness and depending on God, waiting for Him to come through. To close I would remind you of Philippians 1:6: “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Who began it? God! Who will complete it? God! Who did He begin it in? You! The outcome is not up to us. It might be finished in our lifetime, or it might not be completed until the day of Christ Jesus. What is up to us is to be obedient to the call and do the work in faithfulness. Don’t worry there will be plenty of time to wait on the Lord while the thing is in process. There will be times where the only way it moves forward is if He moves. That’s how we learn to depend on Him. Wait on Him in the process, but be faithful in your obedience to Him.