In Lamentations (3:25) we read, "The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him." What does it mean to wait on God? To wait on God is to be obedient to divine Principle. To wait on Him is to lift thought above the sense testimony of confusion, lack, limitation, and to recognize the perfect operation of Mind abundantly manifested everywhere. It is to pause sufficiently long to ascertain whether it is mortal, erring mind or the one divine Mind which is directing one's thoughts and ways; to listen intelligently, trustingly, and actively for God's voice; to realize that whatever the anxiety, danger, or fear seems to be, God is loving, guiding, governing, and controlling the entire universe. To wait on God is to acknowledge no power apart from Him, to declare man's perfection, spirituality, and completeness here and now.
Mrs. Eddy writes (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 323): "Beholding the infinite tasks of truth, we pause,—wait on God. Then we push onward, until boundless thought walks enraptured, and conception unconfined is winged to reach the divine glory." What a picture Mrs. Eddy paints in those words! What a promise they hold! We, too, can reach the glory of divine heights when we obediently and trustingly "wait on God."
There is a pause in which we wait on God, and one in which we do not wait on Him. Either we wait with Him or we wait without Him. The pause in which we do not wait on God is based on a material premise, and indicates indecision, suspicion, procrastination, doubt. The thought which waits on Him is alert yet quiet, active yet restful, watchful yet peaceful.
Is the outlook seemingly hopeless? Does it seem as though there were nothing to live for, nothing to strive for? Wait! Mrs. Eddy tells us in reassuring words, "When we wait patiently on God and seek Truth righteously, He directs our path" (ibid., p. 254). With patient waiting and consistent confidence, we shall wake to see God's hand in all things, fulfilling the purpose of His precious love and unchanging care, and directing our steps into broader visions and wider horizons.
There can be nothing lost by alert waiting. Because of lack of courage and confidence one may wish to hold to a position outgrown; but through quiet, watchful working and waiting on God, the right way will open, and it will be found to be beautiful. God loves His children, and He bestows upon them all they need, and His bestowal is always good. One's part is to be willing to wait patiently for the unfoldment of God's plan. The belief that one may lose good while waiting on God is always a lie. The realization that good fills all space, and is the only power, dispels hurry, delay, and fear of loss. Quiet, intelligent waiting adjusts false and discordant conditions.
There is, however, a pause in which thought is stagnant, dull, lifeless. Error sometimes may lull one into inactivity, through indolence, indifference, drowsiness. One can soon discern whether one is listening to God's voice, or error's suggestion, by asking oneself, Is there spiritual activity in this pause?
A young student of Christian Science found that intelligent waiting on God brings all good to pass. She thought that she had been wronged. She tried to forgive and to eliminate resentment from her consciousness, but without success. Sense testimony rather than divine Mind governed her thought. Finally, she turned unreservedly to God and humbly asked to be shown the way to correct the error in her thinking. In quiet confidence she waited. One day she found herself thinking of the offenders without rancor. She thought of the kindly deeds she had seen them do for their friends and neighbors. As she meditated on their human kindnesses, she began to love them. With love filling her heart, her thought reached out for higher, spiritual reasoning. She realized that God never created man unjust or dishonest. His creation is perfect, and everything in His kingdom expresses perfection. Therefore the wrong she had been attaching to others was in reality never a part of anyone, but solely the false argument of the carnal mind. The unlovely traits which had seemed so real to her, had no reality, no life, no truth, no power. Because she had been willing to wait on God and to turn from sense testimony, God's remedy was seen to be right at hand. A realization of unity and brotherhood permeated her consciousness. In a few days she received a letter from these people expressing love, honesty, and justice.
Has the temptation come to one to act hastily through self-justification or willfulness? Let him brush away the cobwebs of suggestion and wait on God until he is led forward through intelligent thinking. Such waiting saves many regrets and heartaches, and he will find himself acknowledging God's gracious gift of harmony and love. But even willfulness or selfishness cannot actually separate one from God. Earnest desire for good and the correction of a mistaken sense lifts the cloud, and one finds himself spiritually equipped to express humility, kindliness, and honesty.
Willingly and lovingly to say, "Not my will, but thine, be done," brings thought into unity with Love's goodness, and the student receives blessings instead of bruises. Alert waiting does not mean resignation to the belief in inevitable evil. It means an intelligent, constant realization that all that exists is God and His creation, and that there is no evil in reality. Mrs. Eddy gives us the loving admonition, obedience to which brings all good to pass, in these words (Science and Health, p. 454): "Wait patiently for divine Love to move upon the waters of mortal mind, and form the perfect concept."
Does one find his immediate environment discordant and inharmonious? Does one wish to leave his place and seek brighter views and sunnier skies? A quiet pause for prayerful communion with God teaches the individual to eliminate irritation and resentment, and to learn willingly to leave all to the guidance of the one Mind. Even though apparently there may be no present results, it is well trustingly to continue to wait on Him. When the lesson to lift thought above the testimony of material sense has been sufficiently learned, harmonious and fruitful results are obtained, and God's purpose is manifested.
Right where one is, there is the opportunity to find God. The healing must occur in one's own thought. To find and love the beauty of God and man right where one is, heals any discordant or inharmonious condition. It is useless to blame another, or one's environment, for the belief in discord that is within one's own thought. Rather should one see evil as an illusion, a belief which has no part in God or His perfect ideas. When thought becomes acquainted with the Father, man's rightful joy and happiness are expressed. God never fails to point the way. At the right time, in the right way, as we awake, the beauty of perfection will be seen as ever available, ever at hand.
Has one served ungrudgingly and had no appreciation of his work? Wait! God alone rewards! When the work has been well done, one can afford to wait for the fruition of his labors, assured that he cannot fail to reap the harvest of "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." True service needs no mere human approbation, but waits on the glory of God.
Does one find himself at the crossroads? Does one wonder which road to take? Indecision, fear of failure, and other arguments may clamor to be taken in. But the calm "Peace, be still," will soon clear the mist, and one will hear the voice of God, saying, "This is the way, walk ye in it." And when God directs the way, all is well. It may be that human adjustments have to be made in the overcoming of false beliefs; but one may always feel His touch, His care, His guidance, His love, when he lovingly waits on God.
How often Mrs. Eddy, in her wisdom, admonishes us to wait. Our Leader's life was dedicated to God. She trustingly and obediently waited for His command. We too shall see God's power and purpose unfolding in all ways when we obediently wait on Him, expecting and anticipating only good. To wait is to be alert, expectant. To wait on God is to wait expectantly to see the power of good in operation, to accept the abundance of Love's gifts, to trust steadfastly in Mind's guidance, and to let God's law of order adjust our lives in accordance with the economy, rhythm, beauty, and happiness of Mind.
A quiet repose, a radiant glory, a loving assurance—these are the reward of waiting on God. It comes to one in the early morning prayer; in the stillness of gratitude and acknowledgment of good; in the contemplation of spiritual beauty; in the peace and rest of work well done; in the rejoicing which comes when we see God's power heal and comfort; in knowing that God's government is healing the nations. Trustingly waiting on God brings the vision of God's complete and beautiful universe, where all is perfect, and where there is no room for anything but harmonious, joyous freedom, and where man reflects God's dominion.
