Those Who Wait for the Lord
Wise words from a wizard
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but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)
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“You’re late.”
“A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to.”
That’s one of my favorite quotes from The Lord of the Rings movies (there are many, many great quotes).
God’s timing is not our timing.
That fact is one of the great frustrations in my life. I’m sure you’ve often felt the same. God does things on his own time & agenda and it’s often much slower than I expect.
Although sometimes He moves much faster than I’m ready for, a different frustration.
Regardless, my trouble is lining myself up with His timing.
I would do well to wait patiently on God.
Luckily patience is a fruit of the Spirit, so God has already said He will develop it in my life. Of course He won’t just gift me patience; rather giving me opportunities to be more patient.
To learn patience.
Hard to do in the age of the microwave, but a reality we all must face.
This verse brings hope & optimism whenever I read it. It is, of course, poetic in its language. Choosing to create metaphors of flying eagles, energetic runners, and wide-awake walkers.
(It doesn’t mention crawling, which is the speed I’m used to, ha!)
Sometimes the fastest approach is actually the slow one.
Instead of dealing with false starts & mistakes, slowing down and waiting on God allows me to make the right approach from the start.
Or, as one of the Hobbits says, “shortcuts make for long delays.”
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2025 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV®Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
