Waiting in the “MEAN”time

“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going….By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac  shall your offspring  be named.” He considered that God was able to even raise him from the dead,”  (Hebrews 11:8, 17-19a)

Waiting is hard, and often the longer the wait, the harder it is. In fact, it may be the hardest thing we are called to do, but it can be among the most beneficial acts of obedience God uses to strengthen our faith.

I was recently reading over the life of Abraham. He is included with several others in what is known to many as the “faith chapter” of the Bible (Hebrews 11). Seeing traits of both faithFULness and faithLESSness during his seasons of waiting encourages me as I seek to trust God in my own times of waiting, in what I call the “MEANtime.”

When I use the term “MEANtime,” I am not accusing God of being mean, but rather saying the time of waiting may feel mean when viewed through the lens of my emotions, requiring much patience, striving, or occasionally, even deep sorrow. These “MEANtimes” are not without purpose. It is in these times when surrender is the hardest, when the waiting can be excruciating, and when our faith is tried; the gold is refined and the dross is burned away.

The plans I have for my life often turn out to be far different from God’s. His ways are far beyond my understanding AND my planning. Having encountered many obstacles between Ur and Canaan, I imagine Abraham felt much the same way. He had to wait many years between the call and the fulfillment of the promise of Isaac’s birth.

There were times that Abraham acted according to his own wisdom, choosing to “help” God during his season of waiting, a struggle I can surely relate to myself! He obeyed the call to leave his home, yet he fell prey to fear along the way, lying to save his life, not once but twice. He pleaded with God to have mercy on the evil city of Sodom, yet was compelled to “help” God fulfill the promise of his “seed” by committing adultery (by his wife’s suggestion) with his wife’s handmaid, Hagar. Although he had a son, Ishmael was not the promised seed. Yet, in spite of each obstacle or faithless choice, Abraham continued to experienced God’s protection and providence and his faith grew, and God called him faithful because he waited patiently in the “MEANtime’ (Hebrews 6:15).

Waiting has its purpose. God waited until both Abraham and Sarah were too old to naturally have Isaac on their own; the book of Hebrews describes them as “good as dead” and “past the age.” There could be no doubt that God was creating life from death. Having patiently waited through the “MEANtime,” Abraham witnessed this miracle and his faith grew, providing FULL confidence that God would be able to bring Isaac back from the dead if he was to be sacrificed on that altar (Genesis 22:10, Hebrews 11:19). God was looking for faith and total surrender … Abraham passed the test!

Those years of waiting on the promise, of watching God provide, and of experiencing God’s faithfulness to His promise, provided the foundation of trust that Abraham could stand on when he didn’t understand the WHY of what God was asking. He could rest in the WHO of the GREAT I AM and the HOW of the power of His promise. He had learned through trial and victory that God could be trusted and His promises are true.

Like Abraham, I have witnessed God’s faithful hand of providence, yet there have been times that I have felt afraid and have pondered my own plans. Regardless of my circumstance, He has always been faithful, even when I have been faithless and fearful, or have questioned and doubted His plan (2 Timothy 2:13). Even to my shame, when I’ve been audaciously rebellious, He has mercifully corrected and guided me as my good Father.  I have learned that in every trial, I see more of God if I will only seek Him. If I will patiently wait, I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13).

Sometimes the waiting is long; sometimes it’s mean. It is the “MEANtime” when patience is the hardest, but most important. It is in the “MEANtimes” that we learn the most and experience God in ways we never could otherwise. Experiencing the indescribable peace of God in those times when peace makes no sense, to have a sense of calm when the world is caving in around you, when God’s comfort is felt while experiencing a loss that is immeasurable, these are moments and experiences one doesn’t have when life is quiet and going along as “planned.” These are the moments that grow our faith to that of Abraham, Sarah, Paul, and many others. Therefore, may we keep perspective in the “MEANtimes,” purposing to patiently wait with endurance, following the examples of the saints who have gone before us (Hebrews 6:12).

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

You can read the story of Abraham in Genesis 12-25 and Hebrews 6:11:8-10,17-19