Waiting on the Lord can sometimes be difficult. It crosses the grain of our souls from which we would choose to move things along at our own pace. I’ve often said to myself, and others, that waiting is one of the hardest things the Lord ever asked of us. What am I really saying about this divinely-imposed intersection?

Waiting and tarrying can be quite different. To tarry means to linger in expectation. To expect is housed in faith–faith that our God will not only act but will act within the promise of the Father.  When I wait without expectation, my flesh crawls, balks, pouts, and insists upon being coddled. It’s really the best my flesh can do.

“Behold,  I send the promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” [Luke 24:49]

The choice left to us is: will we tarry for the promise? will we tarry for enduement of power from on high? or will we trudge ahead in our own strength, propelled by our own wills–thus, lacking His power?

We all tarry differently; however, being available to our Lord’s bidding, leading, and empowerment is critical. Self-promotion will always cause us to falter. Moving outside of His timing will always birth an ‘Ishmael.’ Acting in our own strength will never produce fruit that remains.

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give it to you.” [John 15:16]

We just need to be available to the Spirit of God when and where He leads. That means our pace slows down to tarry, our wills submit, our spiritual ears open, and we heed. In tarrying, we become fully aware of how prone we are to strip our gears and wander. All the more need to tarry.