Have you ever really thought about the meaning of the words to the song
"Teach Me Lord to Wait." The words were written by Stuart Hamblen in 1953
and I wonder if they were written because of some tragic event that happened
in this man's life. The words of this song echo words that we all need
to think about from time to time, because often our time and God's time
are different. When we pray to God for something, are we willing to
wait on His own good time to answer our pleas? Maybe too often, in
our way of thinking, not answered our prayers because they are not
answered in our time. Maybe we need to be saying each day, "Teach me Lord
to wait." Part of the chorus of the song is based on Isaiah 40:31, "But
they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their stretch; they shall mount
up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall
walk and not faint." This verse is in contrast to verse 30, "Even the youths
shall faint and be weary and the young men shall utterly fall." Those that
look to human strength, even though they be young and in prime physical
condition, shall faint and be weary and utterly fall. But, those who wait
upon the Lord shall find renewed strength such as the wings of an eagle
soaring and with this renewed strength they shall run without weariness
and walk without fainting. Isaiah's words were written to the Jews looking
to the time when they would be in Babylonian captivity. On the long trip
from Jerusalem to Babylonia, even the young would faint, but those that
waited upon the Lord for their return trip would find renewed strength,
although they would have to wait seventy years. Think of the joy that soared
in the hearts of the Jewish people when they heard Cyrus's degree that
they could return home to Jerusalem. Are you looking forward to the trip
home to the New Jerusalem? Teach me Lord to wait!