“Those who wait upon 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
A great deal of contemplative practice involves “waiting upon the Lord” in silence and receptivity. For long periods of time we may get the impression that nothing is happening. Day after day we sit in our chairs without so much as a tinge of inspiration or insight. We may feel that we are wasting our time.
However this beautiful verse from Isaiah reassures us that something very important is happening as we “wait upon the Lord.” God is renewing our strength as we sit in his presence, opening our hearts to the work of the Holy Spirit.
The Hebrew word translated as “wait” is — qavah. The literal meaning of qavah is to “bind together like a cord.” Strands of string get stronger as they are woven into a rope. So while “waiting upon the Lord” we are being bound together with God and strengthened. Contemplative prayer is a means by which the Spirit weaves the various strands of our lives into the fabric of God’s love. Thus, by waiting upon the Lord we are strengthened for daily life and service.
We may not perceive this renewing process taking place as we sit in meditation. However, over time our prayer results in the strengthening of our faith, our souls, and our trust in God.