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Christians love to use the phrase “I’m waiting on God.” My favorite response to this statement is something along the lines of “waiting on God? Are you ahead of him?” I can’t take credit for that one. Thanks!
Christians, if we were honest with each other (and we can do that, right?), we could admit that the “waiting on God” thought does 2 things. 1, it makes us sound super holy, and 2, it gives us an excuse to not do anything, right?
I wonder who is waiting on who, though. Sometimes I picture God up in heaven, looking down on me…watching us pray, cry out to him, hit something, pissed off…frustrated and aggravated…begging “WHY, God?? WHEN, God?? HOW God?? And I see him shaking his head at us saying, “My son/daughter…I’m waiting on YOU!”
Too many Christians today are “waiting on God” to part the sea or move the mountain before taking their next step. God doesn’t always have to stop the sun before we make our next move. In addition, he’s given us a brain and the ability to put one foot in front of the other. If I had to take a guess, chances are that God is waiting on YOU to make the next move. Make a prayerful decision and go for it!
Certainly there are times, when used properly, that waiting on God is the best thing to do.
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This post makes me soooo glad I’m not a Christian any more. No more praying about things and wondering if God answered and if so what he said, or whether ‘his’ answer was me telling myself what I wanted to hear or what I didn’t want to hear but I thought God wanted to tell me…all that particular source of confusion and stress is behind me now, forever…
Bill I’m confused by what’s below (part of what you wrote): are you telling Christians to go for it or to wait? When are the ‘times it’s certainly best to wait on God’ and when are the times someone should ‘go for it’?
You’ve reminded me of the Samuel Beckett play “Waiting for Godot” in which the two tramps spend the entire play wasting time while waiting for Godot to arrive. They even admit to not being able to recognise Godot if he turned up.
Anytime someone talks about “waiting for god” I immediately think of the play “Waiting for Godot”. We wanted to put on this play at my Christian high school because we thought it was clever and would spark a discussion (mind you I was a very serious fundamentalist then). We barely avoided detention once our teacher read the play. As a side note, my partner in our unwitting crime had unbeknownst to me at the time already lost her faith but was terrified of letting anyone know (especially her Pentacostal preacher father, eeeesh) I think that play was an attempt by her to get her feelings out. When I found out her true feelings I felt sorry for her and that I would pray for her, man, what arrogant @$$ I was.
Unfortunately hover beat me to it, damned curvature of the earth and my -5 GMT.
Oh well, nothing to be done
It seems to me that a lot of Christian teaching goes like this:
“Obey God.”
“How do I know what God’s will is?”
“Try your best to find out, using common sense and good judgment along the way”
It seems like atheists and Christians all end up using common sense and good judgment anyway because God is unknowable. I like the atheist way better because it avoids trying to determine what’s unknowable along the way, which I found confusing and stressful.
(when I say “God is unknowable” I mean, his will is not determinable with any significant degree of certainty - the evidence for this is the failure of Christians pursuing it to agree on what it is)
Well, God helps those who help themselves!
I do think this is one of the traps religious people can fall into, along with “the devil made me/him/her do it” type of thinking.
The mindset encourages — even sanctions — passivity, inaction, and the blame-game, especially if you’re part of a religious community in which the people around you are repeating that sort of thing about their own lives or to you every time someone hits a rough patch.
The reality is it’s much better both psychologically and physiologically to take action — to be proactive about your own life. Confidence comes from taking a chance and doing something, from making decisions, from putting yourself on the line.
Before this degenerates too much into another Christians-are-deluded comment session. I will say that the act of praying allows you to calm your thoughts, sort of discuss the idea/problem in your head, weigh the pros and cons, whatever the situation needs and be able to come to a resolution.
There are many times when you do this praying/meditating and you can honestly say that you have no idea which way to go on whatever it is. You just have to pick something and go with it.
Obviously why you have come to a particular conclusion differs between the atheist and believer but the process is essentially the same.
I just read a post over at FriendlyAtheist about Devin Hester of the Chicago Bears. He gives praise to God for what he is able to do which is truly amazing. I’m making a statement here about his beliefs but he gives God the praise for his abilities. I could make the argument that God wasn’t the one showing up for his two-a-days in high school, or maintaining a gruelling workout and diet schedule, going to practices, pouring over film, whatever else is necessary.
This fundamentally comes down to your world view, I don’t see a god and therefore only see the work that Devin puts in. A believer sees a god as the source of Devin’s strength and inspiration which informs everything else.
As a slight aside there is a business theory that it is better for a manager to make a decision, any decision, and stick to it than to wait and see or to change decisions part way through. If my geek history is correct this was how the business structure of Microsoft was set up in the early days. They’re doing OK for themselves now aren’t they?
Several well known sayings also support the attitude of the “go-getter” over those who are more passive. I believe that North American culture (as diverse as it is) is generally supportive of risk taking as well.
I agree with Skeptigator about the benefits of - whatever you want to call it - meditation, being still, prayer, taking time to quiet oneself and calmly think through the options and/or discuss them with God (if you believe he exists).
(Even though I object to having a moment of silence forced on my children)
Toni wrote:
Absolutely - and as best I recall, lots of people in the Bible are praised for doing this. So it’s not as if it’s an ‘anti-Biblical’ idea.
Hey maybe this is what I always needed - I found it in the ads below the comments box: How To Pray and Get Answers
For me, God works. He works for those that love and wait on Him. When I make myself available to Him I’m left in awe at what He does in and through me. Waiting on God is not laziness or indifference. Waiting means I am ready to do what He is asking me to do. Waiting for me gives me times to get myself in order so that nothing will conflict with His will when He speaks or directs. I wait, God works….One of my favorite verses is Isaiah 40:31
“Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.”
Helen, I’m sorry that was your experience…it hasn’t been mine. Things are made knowable as I seek Him out and He guides my steps. There have been many times when I had to step back and say “Ok Lord now what?” He has ALWAYS given me direction…it’s been anything but stressful. That ad you posted cracks me up…one of thousands of scams. I’m glad it’s not reality..
Thanks God’s Gal - yes, that definitely has been my experience.
I’m probably going to regret this but but I’m going to ask anyway.
GG, what is the difference between taking time to pray and receiving an answer in your head and taking time to meditate and receiving an answer through your own thought processes? It isn’t as if the clouds literally part, a hand points down from heaven and the answer booms out at you (sort of like a Monty Python animation). Is it? ‘cos it’d be weird if it was.
The brain is an incredibly complex processing unit with built in storage and a fair degree of random access memory after all. How do you know where your inspiration comes from? Not that the end result changes.
Hey guys, how are ya?
Let me clarify something here. The overall theme of this blog is me saying, “Go for it!” The last sentence I wrote, though, said, “Certainly there are times, when used properly, that waiting on God is the best thing to do.”
I’ve seen people use the “I’m waiting on God” statement to justify their laziness. There are some things that probably don’t require an answer from God.
Should I get a job?
Should I treat my family better?
Should I date this guy (when the answer is CLEARLY ‘no’)
Yet people will continue to pray w/o taking action.
My favorite part of Christianity is making prayer-based decisions. For me, that’s when I see God show up the most in my life. I believe that he honors our “this MIGHT be God” endeavors. In addition, every prayer-based decision I’ve made has pretty much changed my life for the better.
I hate to see Christians watch their lives pass before them, always wondering, “what if,” constantly waiting for God to show up in person and give them the nod of approval.
I subscribe to Toni’s way of thinking too. To me, one of the main ways I think God uses to show us what he wants us to be doing is by looking at our talents/abilities.
Hov, never meant to imply we don’t use our brains….I know God has the best script for my life planned out for me. So in my daily and life long decision making I consult with Him. Like Bill said, every prayer based decision I’ve made has been correct and best for my life. I’ve done it without God, doesn’t work for me.
Bill: You’re right. People use waiting on the Lord for an excuse to sit back and watch the world go by. We are called for a purpose. And, when He says go…we need to be off our blessed assurance and go.
GG, you weren’t implying a lack of cognitive ability. I was just asking what the difference between thinking you hear God’s solution in a prayer and thinking you’ve got a solution in your own mind is. As an unbeliever I don’t see a difference and was wondering if you had any insights?
Hov….because I know His voice and direction….there are times when He asks me to walk and let Him guide my steps…other times there are definate things He asks of me…including wait. And no, I don’t have voices in my head LOL
I have given this much thought “waiting on HIM”. Its very distrubing to see “Christians” say I am waiting, and looking immobile, and sad actually. So I have come to a different thinking..
Could it be that we have misinterrupted the word “waiting”, could it be HE wants us to wait on him as in service? Think about a waiter at a restaurant and if he doesn’t comply with our requests (or commands), he is not a good waiter, and will not get a tip(at least from me).
Sometimes the waiting on the Lord is simply that HE wants us to spend time with HIM, adore HIM, Praise HIM, remember our place with HIM, love on HIM…wait on HIM. Am I doing the things HE has asked me to do, and I am being obedient to HIM…otherwise I am not in HIS will, and sitting still with no service to HIM is just not going hear HIS voice.
I was told by Christians growing up that the Lord helps those who help themselves…I spent years looking for that verse..to tell you it is just not there.
Believers who walk closely with the Lord do hear HIS voice, and it is a supernatural thing…not to be explained..there are just no words for it.
The other thing that I get hung up on is the whole timing thing. Gods time is not my time…David had the vision or the heart dream to build the temple…but actually his son Solomon built it..Gods timing?
Total agreement Darla…..it is supernatural and impossible to explain. There is a whole realm of this waiting on the Lord…I don’t have time right now but while there is only one word in our language for wait…there are many in Hebrew. In Isaiah 40:31 is qavah then there is chakah, meaning look earnestly toward something, expectantly…then there is daman, meaning stand still, and psaba meaning like you say, like a waiter, waiting for orders so to speak. So there is just alot more to it than…our measly one meaning word….I love your heart Darla!:)
I have lots to do today..but I will check back later..
Hover..what would your interruptation of the word “Waiting” be? And how many ways could it be used? just asking you b/c you are the magnificient frog..and I would just like to know…:)>-
Bill — of course — and to keep it actually Biblical, we have the parable of the three men who were given “talents” and we see three different attitudes being rewarded to various degrees, the highest to the man who took a risk, believing in his gifts and believing in the trust God put in him to use them.
To whom much is given, much is expected.
Also, Christ was a man of action. He was all about making radical changes to the way we think and act. He came to say that religiosity, while it might have its place in one’s life, wasn’t going to cut it on its own anymore. One’s actions were going to have to reflect one’s beliefs.
Yes, meditation, quiet time is necessary (be still and know that I am God), and never more so than now. We’re inundated with all kinds of information, most adults are stretched to the max time and energy-wise. It’s essential to get somewhere quiet and clear one’s head and listen for what we know is true. You can call it prayer, meditation, or just plain recharging one’s batteries, but it’s all the same. And you can call getting down to the heart of the matter listening for the voice of the divine, or just listening to one’s natural intuition — again, same difference in the long run.
The only time where “waiting on God” becomes a problem is when it becomes an excuse not to act. You gotta engage in this world — you gotta get out there and do something at some point.
I feel like over the past few years I (along with the rest of my Christian brethren) have developed an ability to discern which thoughts are of God and which are just random. There are times when I recognize that I sometimes mentally expect certain responses. Example: “Help people in need.”
I usually can tell whether or not something comes from God when it is sometimes out of the blue. Like I ask God for guidance and usually it is something that is unexpected or something I wasn’t expecting or looking for.
I’ll look more into this if anyone is still confused.
I do have one question though. Why is it that once we come up with a natural explanation for something, then God is suddenly chucked out? Science by definition looks at what we can test naturally and I understand that but then why do people then jump to a secular point of view on everything? It appears to me that one goes from science and glides over to a philosophy and claims that they are one in the same.
hoverfrog- random question. I saw that you had been with your parter for many years and you treat her like you would treat a wife but you are not married. I dunno how it is in England but in America I think married couples get more benefits (medical) for being married. Is it the same in England or do you get the same benefits as us Yanks? Just curious.
@Toni…
YES YES YES YES!
Couldn’t have said it any better
@Darla, “waiting” as in “hanging around for instructions”.
Toni, while I agree with what you’re saying doesn’t that reduce prayer to a form of relaxation and self reflection? If so then how is it different from putting your feet up and chilling for half an hour.
@kwrigh5 for your random question. I hope I would treat her like a partner rather than a wife. Forgive the distinction but for me “wife” has a whole bunch of connotations that include a sense of ownership that I’m not altogether comfortable with. Can of worms - open.
You are quite right though on the legalities of marriage. The tax system doesn’t differentiate between married and unmarried couples any more (or even couples and singles really). We have the National Health Service which treats everyone equally for free. i.e. laughably fails to treat anyone at all. There are insurance and pension schemes that have been challenged in the courts and forced to recognise unmarried or same sex partnerships in the same way that they recognise married couples.
There are some curious legal anomalies though. For example as long as we remain unmarried I have equal say in what happens with our children but if we were to marry now I would need to adopt them in order to regain my current parental rights. Not that this effects me.
What benefits do you “bloody colonials” get anyway for your marriage licence? Also why is it easier to get a gun licence than a marriage licence?
Great comments, Toni! The parable of the talents is a great example of how much Jesus wants people to take initiative and go do thing.
…go do things.
Off topic question. Why does God need/want to be prasied?
Re. the marriage issue. In the states if you live with somebody for a set amount of time (5 years? 7 years?) it is recognized as a lawful marriage.
Really? That’s never been the case in England although there is a popular myth about Common Law that most people seem to believe.
Well, I did a little looking around and it differs by state. So not really.
Looks like several states have recently gotten rid of common law marriage language on the books because it might require the state to recognize “teh Gay” who live together for the required amount of time.
@hover
The good ol’ US of A doesn’t have a nation health care system (for the most part) so you have get a private health insurance plan. Most health insurance plans offer family coverage but you usually have to show that your “partner” is married to you and that your kids are actually your kids. Keeps you from randomly insuring your roommate (or Zeus forbid you “play for the other team”).
I can also say (from experience) that if you have a child out of wedlock it is a super pain in the rear for a father to have any rights (especially if the mother doesn’t want you to) and to be able to insure the mother or children.
I think we may be way off-topic here.
Hoverfrog–
Prayer is so multi-faceted, although I sometimes believe the old-school Cat’lik take on prayer which is that you can really only pray for two things — to discern God’s will and for the strength to act on it. I guess that would be the only kind of request-type prayer I believe is actually possible.
But some prayer might just be putting one’s feet up and relaxing with God. Prayer like that might include gratitude and thanksgiving, or it might merely be reflective in nature — an examination of conscience a la St. Ignatius, perhaps, or maybe even something more passive.
Sometimes I think our entire lives are really just one long prayer.
I don’t know.
But it’s never bad to get away from the craziness of modern living. If nothing else, it truly does lower stress and therefore benefit long-term health (and lower health care costs for all of us, if you want to tie in the health care thingy). Maybe, from a spiritual viewpoint, taking care of one’s physical, mental and emotional states is our duty to our creator.
Toni wrote:
That makes a lot of sense to me…I don’t see how we can be the best humans we can be if we don’t take care of ourselves in those ways.
Funny, I read about that same principle in this book just last night!
If anyone is looking for something to pray about…
I have to roll out about 400 gnocchi for my sons birthday party on Saturday!
(He’ll be five in case you are wondering. Gifts can be forwarded to Vincenzo at my address in Massachusetts!
)
I can still here my own voice saying it…
“Nah!! It’ll be no biggie a party a week after Turkey Day.”
Foolish mortal!!!
R
You can buy very good hand-rolled gnocchi at your local gourmet market, you know.
Toni said:
Cough! Sputter! Gag!!!
Store bought Gnocchi!?
Surely, you must be joking my dear Toni!?
My Nonni is spinning in her grave!!!
Robert
Robert….you seem that type that can pretty much do what you set your mind to??? Happy Gnocchiing!!!! Where ya been???
Gods Gal said:
I relish the vote of confidence!
To quote a favorite movie of mine:
Seriously though, I took an extended T-Day break!
R
Hope Tday was good to ya! It’s funny when people talk about their kiddos being 5. I just got our tree up along with all of ornaments they made at that age…now our youngetst is almost 20….sigh…goes way too quick!
Oh, I don’t know…I’ve had homemade stuff that’s just awful and high-end, gourmet made-on-the-site stuff that’s a thousand times better. We have both Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods, though, which aren’t everywhere. We also have several very good caterers in the area.
I’m always willing to delegate to people who can do something better than I can. More time to spend on what I love and what I’m good at — and what I make a living at. And then they can enjoy making a living at doing something they’re good at and love to do. Win-win, AFAIC.