learning to wait

those who wait on 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 (nkjv)

i closed my eyes as i listened to those familiar words and i could feel warmth coursing through my body.

i closed my eyes and saw the vibrant colors of the mural on the back wall. i saw the lake at aurora. i saw hands lifted in the dark, silhouettes of surrendered passion. i saw jostling and mouths opening in laughter. but in the verse itself, i saw something i never noticed before.

it doesn't say, "those who wait on the lord shall.."
"receive whatever they want," not even "whatever they need."
"feel their burdens instantly lifted."
"be rescued without any further ado."

sometimes He calms the storm,
and other times He calms His child.

the storm may not have ceased
the burdens may not have evaporated
we may still be trudging along
but instead, He provides us strength to keep trudging on,
strength to keep bearing our burdens,
strength to weather the storm,
strength to run,
strength to walk,
strength to finish.