Line upon Line

We all know from often taxing personal experience that “waiting on the Lord” in the chronological sense is an inevitable and even essential universal part of mortal experience. All may not recognize the “waiting” to be “on the Lord,” but all experience delays and the passage of time before desires or preferences are met. Scriptures and modern prophets have reaffirmed that universal absolute again and again. All of us, even non-believers, are waiting for something, very often with some sense of frustration or impatience.

For children, waiting for a birthday next week, or recess in thirty minutes, or a turn in line on the playground, or to arrive at a destination (“Are we there yet?”), can seem like it takes nearly forever. For all the rest of us, waiting for an illness or injury to abate, a potential spouse to surface, a pregnancy to happen or to be over, a job hunt to succeed, a burden to be lightened, a tension to ease, a struggling child to find a way forward, or a prayer to be answered, can feel beyond our ability to endure. Obligations to wait start early and stay long. They are varied and universal. They can be taxing and trying and tough.

Dictionary definitions of “waiting” include “staying still,” “tarrying,” “sitting tight,” “awaiting,” “delaying,” “standing by,” “being ready,” “abiding,” “remaining in place in expectation of and readiness for something.”

Among notable scriptural examples of those who waited in the patient, expectant sense of the word, are Simeon and Anna. After years of faithful anticipation, both concluded their “waiting on the Lord” when at long last they greeted the baby Jesus as he was being presented in the temple. In his very old age, Simeon took baby Jesus in his arms and faithfully said, “Lord, now lettest thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word” (Luke 2:29). Similarly, Anna, after having been a widow for 84 years, recognized the promised Messiah even as a baby and “gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of Him to all those that looked for redemption in Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38). Both had indeed “waited on the Lord.”

Speaking about waiting on the Lord in General Conference in October 2020, then Elder Jeffrey R. Holland offered reassurance that, although our experiences “seeing God” may not be as demonstrative as were those of Simeon or Anna, we, too, can trust the certainty of God’s promises. Elder Holland said: “There will be times in our lives when even our best spiritual effort and earnest, pleading prayers do not yield the victories for which we have yearned, whether that be regarding the large global matters or the small personal ones. So, while we work and wait together for the answers to some of our prayers, I offer you my apostolic promise that they are heard and answered, though perhaps not at the time or in the way that we wanted. But they are always answered at the time and in the way an omniscient and compassionate parent should answer them. My beloved brothers and sisters, please understand that He who never sleeps nor slumbers cares for the happiness and ultimate exaltation of His children above all else that a divine being has to do. He is pure love, gloriously personified, and Merciful Father is His name.”

We likely recognize that waiting for anything, even if we acknowledge the waiting to be by divine design, may prompt from us impatient mortal cries of “I can’t wait!” But having acknowledged that mortal weakness, we can demonstrate our earnest desire to overrule it in favor of divine strength if we determine to “wait on the Lord” in a behavioral sense, even as we “wait” chronologically. The “waiting on the Lord” chronologically implies the passing of time, or the “how long?” The behavioral sense of “waiting on the Lord” describes the “how” we pass that time. That second sense of “waiting” is “caring for,” “ministering to,” “mothering,” “aiding,” “supporting,” “attending to,” “supplying the wants of,” “serving.” That variety of waiting includes remaining faithful, caring for others, continuing to trust, and generally pressing forward with good works.

That definition of “waiting on the Lord” may mean “waiting” on Him as a worker waits on his tables, or a parent waits on a young child or a sick spouse, or a servant waits on a beloved Master. That kind of “waiting” is done dutifully, patiently, lovingly, gratefully. Even waiting forever, in that sense of the word, is not beyond the hungry appetite or capacity of a valiant disciple who desires to actively demonstrate his love of God.

Among the dictionary characteristics of “waiting on the Lord” behaviorally is “an expectation of and readiness for something.” If we are not looking for Him and watching for evidence of the Lord’s presence in our lives, we may miss Him. Social psychologists use a study to demonstrate the potential shortcoming of those who neglect to see something real, simply because they are not looking for it. They tell of an experiment wherein they show subjects a video of a group of people playing basketball. The researchers ask the subjects to count the number of times the basketball players in the white uniforms pass the ball. After the video, the researchers ask the viewers, “Did you see the gorilla?” Approximately half of the viewers say they saw no gorilla, until they are shown the video again with a gorilla sighting in mind. In fact, a man in a gorilla suit did walk in front of the camera, but the viewers mostly missed him entirely because they were looking for something else.

We are all subject to not seeing things we are not looking for. Scriptures and prophetic predictions are so helpful for tutoring our vision. Simeon and Anna had eyes to see. Surely, evidences of the Savior don’t often come as they did to them, but they do come if we too have eyes to see.

Recently a valiant couple in our ward shared the story of their new mission call and the waiting on the Lord that preceded it. Years ago, they had felt strongly that they should and would love to serve a full-time mission together. They dutifully prepared and enthusiastically submitted the requisite paperwork, and then they waited. And they waited. After what had seemed like a very long wait, the noble sister began singing the opening hymn in a sacrament meeting. She knew the song well. But after the first few measures, the rote-ness of her singing ceased, and the lyrics moved from her head to her heart. As she sang, “I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,” she almost heard a voice in her head say, “Really? Will you?” Her silent response was quick and sincere, “Yes!” Her next impression was, “Then, will you stay if I want you to stay?” That short exchange was promptly followed up by a new application to serve at the Church History Library in Salt Lake City. The response to that application came quickly and they began their service.

That year was 2019, shortly before the COVID pandemic changed so many things. The reason for their waiting became obvious, and they felt the waiting and the story of their missionary service was complete, until this year when they received another mission call, this time to serve in England. They had waited faithfully for years. And while they were waiting for the Lord and the call, they were waiting on the Lord. They simultaneously stayed still, and they pressed on. That’s “waiting for” and “waiting on.” “Happily ever after” is rarely a mature, promising expectation without committing to “joy in the journey” accomplished by diligent “waiting on the Lord” in the behavioral sense to accomplish all the good we have within our control while we are waiting for the heavens to open.

The finest narratives include high points, low points, and turning points. There are times of intense forward motion and times that offer occasion to pause, contemplate, rest, and wait for time to pass, circumstances to change, questions to be answered, and issues to be resolved.

When my only sister was 39 years old, she was relatively helplessly waiting for the inevitable advance of her cancer to end her mortal life. But even as she waited, she tenaciously waited on the Lord and those around her through determined service within the ever-decreasing sphere of her prerogative. She persistently and deliberately embraced all that was good. She waited unflinchingly on others and on Him who thinks eternally, trusting fiercely in His longtime-and-forever promises.

Three days before her death, she dictated to me a letter for her four children. The letter reads in part:

“A couple of things I want you, my children, to remember:

-Be your best self.

-Remember that some things really matter.

-Think more of others than of yourself.

-Know that God lives and listens, and that even our prayers for a miracle were heard and answered daily. There are all kinds of answers. We were answered before we went to the doctor every time. I felt completely prepared each step of the way, and I’ve never been angry or afraid.

-Don’t ever be angry with God. He loves you and He hasn’t forgotten or betrayed you. He has always been there. He sent His Son, and we are promised relief from our suffering and life for eternity because of Him. I know that’s true.”

As we battle our human impatience and “wait on the Lord,” that waiting will be more meaningful and tolerable if we deliberately invest the waiting time “waiting” on Him. “Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks; Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of the Sabbath, and are recorded with this seal and testament – the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted” (Doctrine & Covenants 98:1-2).