LIMBO

The Lord is good to those who wait for him. He is good to those who look for him.  Lamentations 3:25

According to Merriam Webster Dictionary several definitions are rendered for the word limbo: a place or state of restraint or confinement, a place or state of neglect or oblivion, an intermediate or transitional place or state, or a state of uncertainty.

Many years ago Chubby Checker had a hit song called  “Limbo Rock.” A dance game is played to this song where a pole is placed horizontally from two vertical poles. Everyone who tries to go under this pole must do so bending backward without touching the pole or the ground. The position to do this is not quite standing and not quite lying flat on the floor. As a result, it is uncomfortable. The lower the pole is placed, the more uncomfortable it becomes. Usually the more limber one is, the more successful he/she will be in this game.

I think most of us would agree that being in limbo is not a great place to be. When we have had some physical tests, we want to know the answers, even if it is bad news. When we want love from another person, we want to know where we stand. When we make a big decision, we want to know if it was correct or not. We like answers. We want to know the outcome. We relish being informed.

Yet, sometimes, when we seek God for answers, He is quiet. We feel as if we are in limbo. Sometimes we even rebel. But the Bible tells us to wait on Him. This is a good time to be limber, being pliable to the work of God’s hands, growing us in trust and patience. What can we do during this time of limbo?

We can seek God. We can pray and praise Him. We can place our hope in Him. We can be still and just rest in knowing that He is God. The game of limbo asks us, “How low can you go?” We may go very low indeed. As we wait on God’s answers, we can resist the temptation to become discouraged or angry.

As we place our hope in God, He will be good to us as He renews our strength. We must patiently endure our times of limbo and claim that eventually we will fly like eagles, we will run and not get tired, and we will walk and not get weary, just as we are promised in Isaiah 40:31.

Dearest Father, Help me to patiently wait for your answers. Help me to trust You completely. Amen.