Will you tarry for me?

Tarry ye here, and watch with me. Matthew 26:38 

There are 1314 instances of the word tarry in the Bible, which means to wait, to sit, to dwell or abide. In the key verse, Jesus asks his disciples to stay tarry and pray with Him in the garden of Gethsemane before His crucifixion.

Tarrying here means to stay awake and to pray, and it is also a spiritual activity, it means to wait on God. Waiting is difficult for humans, as we are constantly doing, rather than “waiting”. However, the Bible constantly instructs us to wait on the Lord, and one of its benefits is renewing our strength. (Isaiah 40:31)

How can waiting strengthen us? Tarrying does not mean idleness, but rather a feverish focus on the Lord in prayer.  The process of tarrying before God involves quieting our hearts and seeking the Lord's heart.  Abiding in the Lord requires deep trust and prayerfulness. We can strengthen our faith by "Tarrying" because we trust God is at work and that His timing is always right, even if we do not understand it.

“For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come,It will not tarry. “

Habakkuk 2:3 sums up beautifully that whether it's God's promises, a word of prophecy, or a breakthrough, they'll happen in due time. God ensures that although it seems as if the promise is delayed, it will come at the right time, so wait for it!  

Therefore, those who wait on the Lord do not lose heart in prayer and trusting him. Be patient with God, because He promises that those who wait on Him will not be ashamed.

Blessing prayer: We commit our way to you and wait on you. As we wait, strengthen our faith and trust, and keep us fervent in our prayers so we are able to stay with you and watch. In Jesus’ name, Amen