Searing pain pierces my left shoulder as I attempt to fasten my seat belt, pull up my jeans, or brush my hair. It feels as if a cattle branding iron is scorching my shoulder joint. Four months ago, I injured my left shoulder with no apparent cause. (I’m blaming it on menopause and weak joints because of lack of estrogen).
The MRI revealed two SLAP tears. The tendons connecting my arm to shoulder are torn. My appointment with the orthopedic surgeon is six weeks away. Each day I wait with hopeful expectation for surgery to repair the tears or for my arm to heal on its own. In my season of waiting, my soul clings to this verse:
“Wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14 AMPC)
Waiting is the foundation of our spiritual life.
Tikvah is the Hebrew word for hope. Tikvah is from the root word qavah which means to wait, to look for, to hope, to expect. Our hope is tied to waiting, but it’s not passive waiting. Our hope is tied to waiting with the confident anticipation and expectation of God’s intervention and/or fulfillment of His promises in our life.
Here’s where I nerd out! The Hebrew language offers concrete imagery for concepts. Qavah can also mean cord or rope.
Hope is a rope.
Hope is the scarlet rope Rahab hung outside her window. When the city of Jericho was destroyed, Rahab waited with expectation for Joshua and Caleb to rescue her and her family using the scarlet rope of hope. (Joshua 2:18).
Hope is the rope four faithful friends used to lower their friend through the roof so Jesus could look at paralyzed body. Seeing their faith, Jesus forgave his sins and healed his body. (Mark 2:2-11)
Hope is the rope that tied the young colt used for Jesus’ the triumphal entry into Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. All of Jerusalem awaited the coming of the Messiah, but most of them missed Him because He arrived in a humbly.
Wait with expectation.
The prophet Jeremiah wrote the book of Lamentations after the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and the temple. As the name Lamentations implies, this book contains the grieving and sorrowful reactions of the utter destruction of their homeland. Amid the devastation, Jeremiah reminded the people to have hope in God and wait expectantly for Him.
“The Lord is my portion and my inheritance,” says my soul; Therefore, I have hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him.” (Lamentations 3:24 AMP)
When our plans crumble and our circumstances seem dire and desolate, we can have expectant hope because the Lord is our portion and our help. We can trust God to do as He promised.
“That I why I wait expectantly, trusting God to help, for He has promised.” (Psalm 130:5 TLB)
Friend, what are you waiting for?
In our season of waiting, may we press on with hopeful expectation knowing God, who hears our prayers, is our only rock, salvation, and our defense. With God at our side, we shall not be moved.
Waiting alongside you with hope,
~April
P.S. Here are two more verses to ponder while you wait with hopeful expectation:
“In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3 NIV)
“My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.” (Psalm 62:5-6 NKJV)
© April Dawn White 2024
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