Marinating since 03/12/2025
I wonder, how many times does the good book say “wait for the Lord,” or something to the same effect. He seems pretty set on getting that message across to us – he who has ears!
What does it mean to wait for the Lord? We use that word “wait” in modern times to mean mainly the first definition I find, “to remain inactive or in a state of repose, as until something expected happens,” but there are many other ways in english to use that word, which hit the meaning closer to the heart, for instance; one who waits tables – expectantly waiting to be of assistance. But anywhoo, let me throw down some Hebrew meanings, from Strongs concordance: qava, “to wait, look for, expect… look eagerly for…. lie in wait for… linger for…. to collect, bind together…. to be collected.”
I guess with all of this I just want to reiterate a point that I have made (to myself) in other places, waiting is not a passive activity, it is indeed active. But also, even in that there is an aspect of passivity, of waiting upon someone else, but not wholly, but kinda….
Well a nice mess I’ve made of the entry to this topic of silence! I saw a glimpse of the connection to waiting and silence and jumped on it. I still don’t even know what I am trying to say, but I shall move on.
When it comes to silence, and the way that it strikes me right now, I have a couple impressions of what that involves;
Darkness.
Loneliness/wilderness.
Confusion.
Deep work.
Growth.
Darkness. I get this from Isaiah 50, the last two verses speaks of the person who in walking in darkness, their response should not be to try to get a light (indeed no!), no, but in the darkness they are to “trust” and “rely” upon God. “Embrace the darkness, but don’t resist the dawn.”
Loneliness/wilderness. Another verse comes to mind that I’ve been meditating upon recently, from Psalms 25 I believe… yes, 25 and verse 16; “Turn yourself to me, and have mercy on me, For I am desolate (lonely) and afflicted.” There are times when we are cut off from others, or that we cut ourselves off. It is a time in the wilderness, where not much grows, where not many (if any!) people are there. It is a loneliness place, the wilderness, it is a quiet place. But God does something in that place that cannot be done in the place of abundance, comfort, and happiness.
Confusion. This is just at times the natural response to such times as darkness & loneliness, we are disoriented, much does not make sense, and pain seems to be a constant companion. Why?! Our very bones ache within us (psalm 6:2). Head spinning, heart stopping. He is faithful.
Deep work. Why all these things? Because He is faithful to do the work that needs doing! He is determined to produce his kind of love within us, the unselfish and unconditional kind, but for that to take place he has to go deep, very deep, rooting out things that we never knew were within us. It is a painful work, but oh how faithful he is to perform it!!!
Growth. Jesus had something to say upon this matter; “Most assuredly, I say to you, [I think he is very serious about this truth!] unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” Wow. There is no other way, it must die! I have never noticed that one little word like I did just now reading it, the word is “if,” it shows that not all shall actually die, and if they don’t die then the fruit won’t come. Die! You must die! I guess I shall go to the next thing Jesus said immediately following that; “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
Don’t want to die? Woe. But if you are willing to stop loving yourself, to even hate your own life, life indeed you will have eternally. “I was made for heaven, I was made for Jesus.” (John Mark Pantana)
To die is not pleasant. So stop expecting it to be.
I shall end with the verse that inspired the title of this page, whether justly titled for its contents or not, I shall defer judgement.
“Unless the LORD had been my help,
My soul would soon have settled in silence.”
psalm 94 and 17.
The Ponderings of
Jack Bones
English