As I go to my favorite fast-food drive thru, I know I’ll have to wait. It is famous for an “all things chicken” menu, long lines, and waffle fries. But they have an efficient two-lane system that speeds things up a bit.

Typically, a teenage face greets me and takes my order. My car moves forward slowly until both lanes merge into one. By then, the food I hope for is just a few minutes away. But when I’m reaching toward a long-awaited goal or an unfulfilled dream, minutes may turn into months — or even years. Then waiting is the hardest part of hope.

The delay of what I see as grand can become a challenge to how I see God.

His process for answering prayers may be more involved than the few minutes it takes to make a chicken sandwich. He takes orders from no one. And yet, in His power and love, God always welcomes our prayers. (Isaiah 40:12-15 and Philippians 6 and 7) His answers may come in ways we don’t expect or on a timetable we don’t desire.

But in a world where a drive-thru is a quick stop for dinner, waiting loses its appeal.

As we wait for heartaches or bodies to heal, situations to change or doors to open, pauses are probably not our preference. However, pauses are often the pathway God uses to prompt my heart to trust His. The psalmist, David, took great delight in his dependency on God. Here is his approach:

“Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him” (Psalm 62:5 NLT).

There are many key words or phrases in this verse. But “Let all that I am wait” gets my attention. And “…quietly” gets an eyebrow raise. Whoever I think I am or hope to be, my heart wants to yield to who God is.  And yet, surrender doesn’t happen if I battle God for control or stop believing His promises.

Matthew Henry noted in responding to God, David “…says nothing against what He does, but quietly expects what He will do.” 

Let all that I am wait. “All” covers the whole range of my human experience. “Quietly” covers my tendency to worry, doubt or fear because waiting is not always easy.

But as we wait on the Lord, trusting Him keeps the heart open, even when hope is hard.

As a result, I continue to learn an important distinction. I don’t have to understand everything God does in order to trust Him in every situation. The efficiency of the two lanes at the “all things chicken” drive thru reminds me of two forces God uses to move us forward in His will – grace and mercy. As I wait for what He has prepared, His grace gives me strength. He provides what’s needed to keep me “in line” and lead me to His good and perfect gifts.

Mercy meets us when the wait feels too long or we’re tempted to avoid our merge with God’s plan. But hope is not just based on what I’m waiting for to happen. It comes from Who I’m waiting on to answer my prayer. If you’re waiting on the Lord to move in an area of your life, you’re welcome to say this with me: “Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him” (Psalm 62:5 NLT).

Prayer: Dear God, As I wait for _________________, You know what concerns me the most. You also know the best timing for the best solution. On days when hoping feels hard, trusting in You renews my hope. I choose to rely on Your strength, faithfulness, and love. I know Your answers are worth the wait. In Jesus’s name, amen.

Joy to the Soul: Hope is not just based on what I’m waiting for to happen. It comes from Who I’m waiting on to answer my prayer.