Waiting and Soaring
By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.
04/19/2021
Why do you say, 0 Jacob, and speak, 0 Israel: “My way is hidden from the LORD, and my just claim is passed over by my God”? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but 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 40:27-31)
Years ago, I received an invoice in the mail from our doctor. It was for services performed almost three months prior. Figuring that the insurance benefits had already been processed and the balance due was my responsibility, I paid the bill. It was for $200. About two weeks later I received an explanation of benefits from the insurance company indicating that they had paid a portion of the charges. As it turned out, the amount that was my responsibility was only $40.
Realizing that the bill had been double-paid by $160, I called our doctor’s office to see when I could expect a refund. The accounting representative I spoke with must have been having a bad day. She was less than friendly, and she assured me that I must be mistaken. No refund would be forthcoming, she insisted. Even after I explained that I had the explanation of benefits from my insurance company confirming my assertion, she did not relent.
After going back and forth with her for several minutes, I finally came to realize that my only hope was to back off and just wait. No matter how loudly I protested, and no matter how strongly I claimed my right to that $160, I was not going to get it until the doctor’s office decided to give it to me. It was beyond my control. I tried to lower my blood pressure by telling myself, “It’s only $160. It is not the end of the world. Just sit back and let things run their course. It will all work out in the end.”
When we feel like we have been wronged it is hard to wait. Some injustices in life are more serious than others. What do we do if we feel we are being cheated out of much more than $160? How do we respond when it appears as if life is throwing us a major-league curveball? In this world filled with inequities, it is not uncommon to be faced with a crisis that is marked by profound unfairness.
Isaiah the prophet speaks of a time when Israel felt her “just claim” was being overlooked by God. (Isaiah 40:27). Do you ever feel that way? Does it ever seem like God has turned away and allowed you to be treated unjustly? When you find yourself in such a predicament, remember how the Lord responded to Israel’s plea. He reminded them that He never faints or grows weary. He is always there to defend our cause. He gives us strength and power to handle any crisis, and He will see us through the injustices of life. It is a promise: If we wait on the Lord, we will walk, run, and ultimately soar like eagles.
I did eventually get a refund check for $160 from the doctor’s office. I photocopied it before I cashed it. Then I attached a post-it note with the words, “See, I told you so” on it and mailed it to my friend in the accounting office! Not really. But I confess, the idea crossed my mind! Just as sure as I got my check, you too will see justice no matter how frustrating things may seem at this time. Our God is a just God.
04/19/2021
Why do you say, 0 Jacob, and speak, 0 Israel: “My way is hidden from the LORD, and my just claim is passed over by my God”? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but 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 40:27-31)
Years ago, I received an invoice in the mail from our doctor. It was for services performed almost three months prior. Figuring that the insurance benefits had already been processed and the balance due was my responsibility, I paid the bill. It was for $200. About two weeks later I received an explanation of benefits from the insurance company indicating that they had paid a portion of the charges. As it turned out, the amount that was my responsibility was only $40.
Realizing that the bill had been double-paid by $160, I called our doctor’s office to see when I could expect a refund. The accounting representative I spoke with must have been having a bad day. She was less than friendly, and she assured me that I must be mistaken. No refund would be forthcoming, she insisted. Even after I explained that I had the explanation of benefits from my insurance company confirming my assertion, she did not relent.
After going back and forth with her for several minutes, I finally came to realize that my only hope was to back off and just wait. No matter how loudly I protested, and no matter how strongly I claimed my right to that $160, I was not going to get it until the doctor’s office decided to give it to me. It was beyond my control. I tried to lower my blood pressure by telling myself, “It’s only $160. It is not the end of the world. Just sit back and let things run their course. It will all work out in the end.”
When we feel like we have been wronged it is hard to wait. Some injustices in life are more serious than others. What do we do if we feel we are being cheated out of much more than $160? How do we respond when it appears as if life is throwing us a major-league curveball? In this world filled with inequities, it is not uncommon to be faced with a crisis that is marked by profound unfairness.
Isaiah the prophet speaks of a time when Israel felt her “just claim” was being overlooked by God. (Isaiah 40:27). Do you ever feel that way? Does it ever seem like God has turned away and allowed you to be treated unjustly? When you find yourself in such a predicament, remember how the Lord responded to Israel’s plea. He reminded them that He never faints or grows weary. He is always there to defend our cause. He gives us strength and power to handle any crisis, and He will see us through the injustices of life. It is a promise: If we wait on the Lord, we will walk, run, and ultimately soar like eagles.
I did eventually get a refund check for $160 from the doctor’s office. I photocopied it before I cashed it. Then I attached a post-it note with the words, “See, I told you so” on it and mailed it to my friend in the accounting office! Not really. But I confess, the idea crossed my mind! Just as sure as I got my check, you too will see justice no matter how frustrating things may seem at this time. Our God is a just God.
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