Michael St. Pierre

November 4, 2021

The Active, Quiet Process of Waiting

What are you waiting for?

A friend of mine is waiting for a situation with his son to improve. A relative waits for test results from the doctor. A neighbor waits for her daughter’s behavior to level out.

We all wait for things. The question is, how well do you wait?

I’d give myself a waiting grade of a C on a good day. As a New Englander who then lived in New Jersey for 15 years, I’m not the most patient person. If you’re driving too slow in an intersection, I’ll lay on the horn. It’s just how it works in Jersey.

How about you?

Today’s Psalm from the Catholic Mass is Psalm 27,

Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD


The Psalmist wants to remind us that our waiting can be active. It is not a waiting that sits back and wrings our hands in worry. Rather, it is a waiting that does something, it accomplishes something and is courageous because it is flooded with hope. 

God is in control and the sooner we place our waiting inside the context of His Providence, the better. Our waiting will then feel more productive.