Yachal.
I’m not a good waiter. I’ve been learning this recently. I don’t mean to say, I’m not a good waiter in that I can’t remember eight different people’s orders or balance five hot plates of food on one arm – though I have a hunch that I should probably steer away from that line of work to preserve the health and sanity of the general public. No.
I mean,
I’m not a good wait-er.
Earlier this year I wrote a post about waiting for something (that post, incidentally, can be found here); this time, I want to talk about waiting through something; more specifically – waiting through hardship.
A couple weeks ago, I was talking to my friend Jessica about a trial that my family is currently going through. It would take a long time and many words to explain it all, so I won’t go into too many details; I will say, however, that it’s a financial struggle, and it’s been going on for a long time. I told Jess that a few weeks ago I was prayer-journaling about the above. I explained to God that I felt like my family and I were just suspended. I didn’t feel like anything was changing, whether better or worse. I was just in a place of stasis - waiting.
While I was journaling about the above, a verse from Job came to mind. Let me begin by saying that the struggle my family is experiencing is nothing compared to Job’s. But then, I don’t know many people whose struggles are. Job, I believe it can be argued, lost virtually everything a man can lose, save for his life (and his wife, but as she kept telling him to “curse God and die,” I don’t really think her presence was that great of a comfort to him). Job lost his possessions, his children, and his health. And through it all, he never cursed or denied God. Quite the opposite, actually; for, in the midst of his great pain and suffering, Job declared: “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him…” (Job 13:15, NIV).
It was this verse that came to mind that night. I wrote it down in my journal, and re-read it to myself. And then, because I believe that even the smallest of words can hold many connotations, I decided to see what the Hebrew word for “hope” was in that passage. I pulled out my handy-dandy English-to-Hebrew/Greek Study Bible, and discovered that the word I was looking for is yachal.
Strong’s definition of “yachal” is as follows:
“He replied, ‘You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?’ In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.” - Job 2:10, (NIV)
From here on out, I’m going to try to be a better hoper. A better wait-er. I have no delusions of one day being a Job. But, I can be a better Sarah. In fact, I’ve already started to notice a change. Now, during my particularly impatient, “God, can we please hurry this up a little?” moments, I remember that hope requires a lot of waiting and trusting. I remember Job.
And from my lips tumbles “yachal” - in all its phlegmy, Hebrew goodness.
…And I am comforted.
Don't give up. Don't lose hope.
Without wax,
Sarah
I mean,
I’m not a good wait-er.
Earlier this year I wrote a post about waiting for something (that post, incidentally, can be found here); this time, I want to talk about waiting through something; more specifically – waiting through hardship.
A couple weeks ago, I was talking to my friend Jessica about a trial that my family is currently going through. It would take a long time and many words to explain it all, so I won’t go into too many details; I will say, however, that it’s a financial struggle, and it’s been going on for a long time. I told Jess that a few weeks ago I was prayer-journaling about the above. I explained to God that I felt like my family and I were just suspended. I didn’t feel like anything was changing, whether better or worse. I was just in a place of stasis - waiting.
While I was journaling about the above, a verse from Job came to mind. Let me begin by saying that the struggle my family is experiencing is nothing compared to Job’s. But then, I don’t know many people whose struggles are. Job, I believe it can be argued, lost virtually everything a man can lose, save for his life (and his wife, but as she kept telling him to “curse God and die,” I don’t really think her presence was that great of a comfort to him). Job lost his possessions, his children, and his health. And through it all, he never cursed or denied God. Quite the opposite, actually; for, in the midst of his great pain and suffering, Job declared: “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him…” (Job 13:15, NIV).
It was this verse that came to mind that night. I wrote it down in my journal, and re-read it to myself. And then, because I believe that even the smallest of words can hold many connotations, I decided to see what the Hebrew word for “hope” was in that passage. I pulled out my handy-dandy English-to-Hebrew/Greek Study Bible, and discovered that the word I was looking for is yachal.
Strong’s definition of “yachal” is as follows:
3176. יָחַל, yachal; a primitive root; to wait; by implication to be patient, hope;---(cause to, have, make to) hope, be pained, stay, tarry, trust, wait.In reading the information above, I was struck by two things. 1) At least in the case of yachal, hope often requires a (long) wait and 2) Job must have been the best wait-er of all time. Here I sit in good health, with a roof over my head, surrounded by family, surrounded by the Body - more family - and I’m sick of waiting through this single struggle? Job is my hero. I find it equal parts comforting, convicting, and humbling to realize how patiently he must have waited through his trial(s). But more than anything else, Job has inspired me to rethink my attitude when faced with hardship.
“He replied, ‘You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?’ In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.” - Job 2:10, (NIV)
From here on out, I’m going to try to be a better hoper. A better wait-er. I have no delusions of one day being a Job. But, I can be a better Sarah. In fact, I’ve already started to notice a change. Now, during my particularly impatient, “God, can we please hurry this up a little?” moments, I remember that hope requires a lot of waiting and trusting. I remember Job.
And from my lips tumbles “yachal” - in all its phlegmy, Hebrew goodness.
…And I am comforted.
Don't give up. Don't lose hope.
Without wax,
Sarah
- For more info on “yachal,” check out: http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H3176&t=KJV#
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