If only you would tear the heavens open and come down, so that mountains would quake at your presence — just as fire kindles brushwood, and fire boils water — to make your name known to your enemies, so that nations would tremble at your presence! When you did awesome works that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains quaked at your presence. From ancient times no one has heard, no one has listened to, no eye has seen any God except you who acts on behalf of the one who waits for him. —Isaiah 64:1-4
You are not
It is normal to feel
“But many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads, who had seen the first temple, wept loudly when they saw the foundation of this temple, but many others shouted joyfully. The people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shouting from that of the weeping, because the people were shouting so loudly. And the sound was heard far away.” —Ezra 3:12-13
“If only you would tear the heavens open and come down, so that mountains would quake at your presence.” —Isaiah 64:1
“Prayer is nothing more than turning our heart toward God and receiving in turn his love.” —Leanne Guyon
“From ancient times no one has heard, no one has listened to, no eye has seen any God except you who acts on behalf of the one who waits for him.” —Isaiah 64:4
“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart be courageous. Wait for the Lord.” —Psalms 27:14
“I waited patiently for the Lord, and he turned to me and heard my cry for help.” —Psalms 40:1
Waiting can be
“If we have faith in God’s willingness to act on our behalf, it’s possible to wait for him to act. And the waiting isn’t a waiting of anxiety but a waiting of anticipation. It’s based on the certainty that God is coming.” —Eugene Peterson
For further study:
Scripture: Isaiah 8:16, 29:10-12, 30:8-9; Psalm 27:14, 40:1
Resources: “Making All Things new” by Henri Nouwen
Community Group Guide:
Read through the passage in two different translations.
As you heard the Scripture, what stood out to you?
How have you felt in times of waiting?
How has prayer and lamentation drawn you closer to God?
Do you trust God as “the God who acts on behalf of the waiting?”
How has God used waiting to transform your life?
To prepare for next week: Read and meditate on Isaiah 40, Mark 1