“They shall not be ashamed that wait” (Isa. xlix. 23).
Often He calls us aside from our work for a season and bids us be still
and learn ere we go forth again to minister. Especially is this so when
there has been some serious break, some sudden failure and some radical
defect in our work. There is no time lost in such waiting hours. Fleeing
from his enemies the ancient knight found that his horse needed to be
reshod. Prudence seemed to urge him without delay, but higher wisdom
taught him to halt a few minutes at the blacksmith’s forge by the way to
have the shoe replaced, and although he heard the feet of his pursuers
galloping hard behind, yet he waited those minutes until his charger was
refitted for his flight, and then, leaping into his saddle just as they
appeared a hundred yards away, he dashed away from them with the fleetness
of the wind, and knew that his halting had hastened his escape. So often
God bids us tarry ere we go, and fully recover ourselves for the next
great stage of the journey and work.
Lord, teach me to be still and know that Thou art God and all this day to
walk with God.