The Waiting is the Hardest Part

If you are a child of the 1970’s and 80’s, or remember those days, or you are a fan of classic rock, you may already recognize the title.  It is from the song “The Waiting” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers album “Hard Promises” from 1981.  “The Waiting” peaked at #19 on the Billboard chart and remained on the chart for six weeks during the summer of 1981.  You can view the video for “The Waiting” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMyCa35_mOg

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are not the only ones who are waiting.  All of us are waiting to see what school will look like in the fall.  Waiting to see if there will be sports and football.  Waiting to see if and when there will be a vaccine for the COVID 19 virus.  Waiting to see if the governor will move us to Phase 3.  Waiting to see if and when our lives will return to some semblance of life pre-coronavirus.  We wait on these and many other things in our life.

“The waiting is the hardest part” say Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.  I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to wait.  I don’t think I’m alone in disliking to wait. We want fast food today.  If the line is too long or the wait too long, we are likely to go to another restaurant.  We want fast access to the world. I can turn on my 24 hour news network and find out what is happening across the world.  I can pick up my smartphone and find an address and directions to your home or another location in minutes.  Little need for a phone book or a map anymore.  I can order almost anything from my computer or my phone and it will be at my door in a matter of days.  We are not people who like to wait.  A pastor friend said God answers prayer in three ways, yes, no and wait.  I don’t know about you, but wait is the hardest answer for me.  Yet, that is where we find ourselves today.

Fortunately, God is with us while we wait. Isaiah 40:31 (ESV) says “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”  Psalm 27:13-14 (ESV) says “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”  These are only a few of many verses that talk about waiting.

While we wait for news of the Coronavirus, or school, or Phase 3, or so many other things in our lives, may we look to God to help us, lead us, and guide us while we wait.

Waiting on God,

Kevin Smith