Staff Talks with Francis: The Strength in Waiting

So last night I spoke at Stanford to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Great group of people. I always have a good time there. Um but I asked the question, you know, I don't know how many people in the room, and something probably around there. >> Um I said, "Hey, just be honest.

How many of you are planning on tomorrow morning before you start your day, you're going to spend at least half an hour in the word in prayer just you and God >> just by a show of hands. Maybe six >> six to eight, you know, hands that are kind of halfway like this.

And um I knew pretty much all of them. And it kind of shocked me. It really surprised me cuz I thought I grew up in a time where that was just the norm. That was the discipline. That's what I was taught in my youth group. Like you just get up and uh and that's just been my process.

Of course, I've missed days, but it's pretty much the staple of my life for over 40 years. Um, and so I I don't know, it just took me back a little bit like, wow, they really even as I was explaining like how many of you are planning on this, you just saw people's faces like, no, you know, like just the moment I said woke wake up early, they're just like, you know, this look like, wow.

And I get it. Okay, these are the athletes at Stanford. So, they're probably the most busy because you have the academic Stanford environment, but on top of that, uh, to be a collegiate athlete aspiring for the big leagues, it's like, wow, that's a that's a busy person. These are busy people, yet they made time to come and they they're there every week.

Um, so I applaud them for that. But it just surprised me how that's just not the norm anymore >> for people to sit and quiet their mind. And contrast that with uh last week I you know I went to that convent. >> Did I say the right thing?

Yeah. Where where the nuns were and and uh the lifestyle when they showed me like Yeah. This is the room we go into kind of the chapel and it's just silence for the first four to five hours of the day and it's like wow and then all day once a week is complete silence before Jesus like these ultimate of extremes of we can't squeeze that time into and and I started thinking about, you know, like our our pastor's gathering on Sunday, a verse that was highlighted was out of Isaiah 40, I think it's 31.

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They'll mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not grow weary. They shall walk and not faint. um and realizing, wow, there are a lot of people who don't know how to wait >> and therefore their strength is not renewed >> and therefore they're anxious, suicidal, um they just are ready to lose it.

Um and how much of this is over our inability to sit in silence, wait upon the Lord. So much of scripture is predicated on waiting. You know, it's it's like there are those who are their god is their stomach. Like whatever their appetite is, they're just going to fulfill it right then.

Um and then there are those who and he contrasts that with those who are eagerly awaiting a savior from heaven. even our resistance and sin and maintaining our purity is I'm going to wait for that. I'm going to keep the marriage bed pure. It's so much of our faith is about waiting.

And and yet the enemy is has got us in a culture right now where waiting is a bad thing. >> You got to wait for your internet. You got to wait for uh a response on your, you know, on your text. It's like, gosh, I've been waiting for an hour for this guy.

And but everything is about how waiting is a bad thing. That's just our culture and it's what we're taught. And um and yet that's going to destroy your walk with the Lord. I mean, everything is about our hope and waiting rather. I mean, that's the Hebrews 11. It's it's like, no, we're waiting for a better city.

Um, and I will suffer what I need to suffer. But even the church culture has become, wait, something's wrong because, >> uh, this isn't fixed yet. This isn't right yet. Um, and meanwhile, Hebrews 11, yeah, you may die and not see it. Uh, that's our faith. That's our you're you're waiting for something greater.

And so there isn't much of an eagerly awaiting the savior because we don't eagerly wait for anything. >> Um you know even Amazon now it's like you can get it the same day. Uh it's like okay that's faster than me driving to the store. You know it it's it's just this crazy time that we live in.

But I don't think we're seeing how it's destroying the essence of what's kept our faith strong for so many years and kept uh the church strong for years is this ability to sit in silence and with an expectation um that he's going to reward those who earnestly seek him.

And that's what faith is. and you're just sure of what you're hoping for. And I'm sure that I get alone with God and he will minister to me because he's a gracious God and that's his desire and that type of faith and expectation. Um, and so something we committed to do as uh as pastors, you know, so it's not just another convicting message is, hey, let's come back next week and and talk about things we figured out that we could do to improve our waiting.

Um, to get better at that, we have to be getting better at waiting. And um you know for me just initially I'm hope you almost have to wean yourself off and so just yesterday I just started going okay I will only check texts during odd hours you know so like I could check it right now but come 12:00 I got to wait another hour.

Um just something as silly as that. Uh, and each time I wait, I go, "That's right. I'm called to a life of waiting." Um, and even that that nun was telling me like it's it's weird how she feels a pressure to respond to people as they text. And it's just like that's not of the Lord.

I'm not going to let them dictate to me uh how quickly I have to respond to them. And um God in his time is going to do that. One of the things she asked me too cuz you know did this whole thing in Brazil get home then the next morning you know fly out or I came here and then go to Phoenix and right when I land a a priest picks me up because I have an appointment with him and he drives me to the hotel.

But then we do a quick quick bite at this taco truck and you know we we're talking you know because I I just need to learn some things from him, find out some things from him, go to bed next morning, get my time with the Lord and then jump in an Uber 5 minute Uber.

It's just like I'm checking uh Uber and checking Lift. Lift was only $563. So I'm going with Lift. It was only like a a mile three, but asked the Lord, hey, have something significant happen all day long. And so Uber driver shows up. And I'm like, man, I got 5 minutes.

And powerful time with him, you know, this big African-American guy. By the time he's getting my luggage out of the car, he's like crying and hugging me. Like three times he came back to hug me. like and just praying over him and boom, that was awesome. And then did these six uh you know podcast series that I we had to hurry up through cuz I wanted to get an hour before I go to the airport to meet with these nuns and see their convent and you know and then they were going to drop me off you know to uh my flight and everything.

Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. And the the nun asked me, she's like, "So, you just experienced all of this in Brazil?" And I'm like, "Gosh, that was a long time ago." Um, and she asked like, "How do you forget uh the wording she used, but basically what's your rhythm to process all that God did in Brazil?" and thank him for it and really sit in it.

And I was like, uh, nothing, you know, like I proc like I don't I something I'm bad at. I don't I'm always thinking about the next thing and I'm processing what I'm going to say or or praying for what's about to happen, but I don't sit and think and reflect on something that happened.

And so again, it's just this whole I'm just realizing like the enemy is really getting us on this. um we are not waiters and that is that's a bad thing biblically and you know even in Spanish the word wait is the same as the word hope you know it's like I hope and I wait it's it's but it's like uh yeah I guess in Chinese too no it's not it's just Spanish I guess they're superior Um, but uh it's it's and I know it's in other languages too.

It's just it's you know it's okay, you know, I'm hoping that this is you speak Spanish, right? You look like you should. Okay. >> It's in my blood, >> you know. So, so it's like I'm waiting for the bus or, you know, or I hope so is the same word.

It's like you're hoping for the bus, you're waiting for the bus. Like it's it's it's this expectation. Um, it's going to happen. The bus is coming. I'm just waiting for it. And the reward is coming. I'm just waiting for it. It's the same idea. And >> what's the word? >> Uh, espro >> or I wait or I hope.

Um, uh, and I I I don't know. It's it's just I I want us to just look at our lives and and think through are we are we giving into some of the enemy's plans and expectations. Um cuz again that is one of the things that I felt like God showed me on that airplane heading to Brazil is if I try to do everything know everything I'm supposed to know get back to everyone I need to get back to and in a timely fashion everything else then I'm not going to hear his voice.

You can't have it all. You just can't have it all. you it's you can't know it all, get back to everyone quickly and schedule your time, boom, boom, boom, boom, and still be someone that can wait in the presence of God and stay in that silence until your mind is clear, until he ministers to you, until he shows you his holiness and his love and what he has to speak to you. you just can't meet everyone's expectations and still enjoy that time with the Lord.

And um I last thing is uh you know this last Saturday I was with uh Al Cortez and um and Rob Zabala. We're just talking about stuff and Taquan showed up and he wants to be a police officer and uh then you've got Jared who's heading off in the military and um and I was sharing about how uh Al is so unique, so unique in a lot of ways.

But um plug your ear Sean, but he he really is like my best friend. Um, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry. I know, I know, I know, I know, I know. Um, there's something so special to him because his walk with the Lord is fascinating to me. um his sensitivity to the things of God as a police officer, even as a a captain now.

Um like officers just I've seen them change uh and and there's like a you know this I I believe some of it is demonic. why so many of them are suicidal and you know Dal was wrestling with that. Obviously my my friend from early early on Jean took his own life and um and I was explaining to Dal like every time you go to a crime scene and there's all these dead bodies like there's something demonic behind that and there's something that attaches to you and unless you're strong enough and um it's interesting because uh where Jared is going um we're talking about it at our gathering And Dali, I don't know if you guys have met her, she's one of worship leader, amazing worship leader, great girl.

But she's like, "Yeah, my brother went to that same exact same boot camp and now he works there." And she says, "It's dark. It's like," she goes, "It made it darker when my brother was there um because he, you know, someone committed suicide the second week." and just these this darkness darkness darkness in these places and it's very rare to find the person that comes out of that and unscathed by it um at a deeper walk and and that's what I see in Al.

It's like, "Wow, this guy is God." And you know, we're talking about that and I'm like, "What what did you He's like, "It's just grace." Goes, "I don't know. It's just grace." Cuz I He goes, "You know me, I'm not anything special. It's just the grace of God."

And I thought, "Wow, I say that about police officers, but I can almost I feel like I can say the same thing about pastors." Um, how many pastors do I meet where I'm like, "Wow, that guy is so sensitive to the things of God and so like enjoying his presence and walking in this deep intimacy fellowship with Jesus."

And it requires that grace and and maybe it's worse with pastors because there's an assumption that that's happening. >> Um, of course they have this time. Uh, that's what they do. And it's interesting though when I talk to the priest and I talk to him about Sister Bethany, he just quickly stops me.

And he goes, "Hey, I just want to make sure and clarify something you might not know. She's not a normal nun. I don't want you to think that all nuns are like Sister Bethany." I'm like, "Oh, okay. That's good to know." Cuz I'm like, "Dang, these are the most amazing people."

He goes, "No, she is amazing." You know, and and so it's it's it's kind of that that same thing. and not to say the woman, but he's just saying you need to understand there is a special grace on that woman. >> And I go, okay. So, I don't know.

I don't know what that means for all of us. I think it's just being aware just of your own life, >> being aware of our culture, being aware that maybe I even thought, oh, all of these college students in this room because this is FCA and they are standing up to this culture in their school and coming here to worship God, which is awesome.

But I just assume at least half of them would have some or or a fourth of them would have some regular rhythm of quiet and enjoy the presence of God. And to me, that's my center. That's my foundation. That's my bread and butter. If I lose that, I lose everything.

And maybe I've been operating under this assumption that that more people have that time and have been disciplined in that than I I realize. You know, like there's a lot, however you say it, there's a lot fewer than I realize. And I think I've been ignorant to that.

Um, and somehow we've got to train this generation, the next generation of leaders to learn how to wait in silence, humility, and enjoy the presence of God and the peace of God. And so, yeah, that's it. >> That's really good. Let me ask you a follow question. >> Yeah. >> If you have if you're in in front of, you know, a hundred like modern, you know, busy pastors and you were to ask them, "How many of you guys, >> you know, like wake up in the morning to uh pray, be in the word, not because you're, you know, prepping a sermon or a Bible study, not because you're attending, you know, like the morning prayer meeting and not because your church has a we are church reading plan that you got to like be like well I'm the dad better >> but just like with your own like hunger desire waiting uh how many of you guys every day uh wake up in the morning and and kind of like have this time with the Lord in a room full of hundred pastors how many would be Yes, absolutely.

That's me. What What percentage would you say? >> Um, I would be surprised if it's over 10%. >> Really? >> Yeah. >> Really? >> I would be very surprised it was over 10%. I think that's why that beloved message is so important that I have to remind my message.

Now you got to get back to that. They don't I think what and and it was a great night last night. I feel like they're I don't know if imagination's the right word, but like I don't think they really ever thought that something awesome could happen during that time with the Lord. there wasn't a expectation of well if God is a God of grace and an understanding that if um you know like John 14 like the spirit of truth is in me he is with you know when he says he's with you and he will be in you and then a few verses later and in verse 23 when he says you know if anyone loves me he will obey my command hands and the father and I will come to him and make our home with him.

And I said, "Look, you've got father, son, holy spirit, according to the word of God, this God of grace, and he is in that room with you, merciful, eager for you to like like he's wanting to bless you. He's knocking on the door. He's the pursuer." And because I did ask I go, "Hey, how much would you pay tonight if God spoke to you?

How many would pay a hundred bucks?" And you know, Stanford kids, so it's, you know, they dropped a h 100red bucks on the way there. And,000 bucks, 10,000 just about every hand still came up. And I get it. It's Stanford. It's they come from money. But still, the idea is I do want to hear from the Lord.

But I don't expect to >> in my time with him. >> I don't really expect a I could receive this. I could. And so I talked about that about what God can do in your soul. What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived.

And I don't think I don't know. I don't know that for a lot of my life I thought that way but there was no thought of the spirit pouring out the love of God into my heart. Um and so I think there was that I think so for a lot of pastors you're right it it is keep up.

Let me check off on this box so I can tell the congregation, hey, I did the reading plan also. Um, and studying for sermons. But I I'd be really surprised if more than 10% had that expectation and excitement of I cannot wait. Wait. kind of like Lisa's grandma used to, you know, she would tell Lisa as a little girl, she see that corner of the bed.

That's where I meet with Jesus every morning. And when I pass that corner throughout the day, I just go, "Oh, God, I can't wait till tomorrow morning." And I just tell him, you know, and just this sweet old lady and this expectation. And then as she was in the old folks home, she would just tell Lisa and I like every night I go to bed, I go, "Tonight, will tonight be it, God, that I get to see you?"

You know, like this, "I can't wait to see your face." >> Just like, "I can't wait till tomorrow morning." Um, now, how many pastors ever feel that? you know, or even have the thought of that. Um, versus every day having that ant like like I I don't know.

I don't want to be judgy, but I just It's It's not judgy. It's sad. >> Like, are we missing out on what we're created for? Like, just to be reminded that this what we're created for. We're created in his image um to walk with him. That's why he made us in his image so that we could fellowship with him and so he could walk amongst us and and for us to be eagerly awaiting the morning to be with him um is a sign of how eagerly we're waiting for eternity when God makes his dwelling with man again.

Um, it all goes together.