It Starts Small

Those who wait upon the Lord, He acts upon their behalf.

Waiting for anything can be a great trial of our faith. It can cause us to loose our temper and our good sense. Just climb in the car and take a trip to the local supermarket. I see more crazy examples of this than I care to admit. People are in such a hurry to get to where they want they easily get offended by another and what makes it worse, they’re in a wrecking ball that can do some serious damage to others when tempers flare.

The Word of God insists we learn some of God’s greatest lessons while waiting. Let’s be honest with each other, waiting rooms are hard classrooms. You know what used to irritate me more than anything? Not just being on time to an appointment, but early all to have it start late. Why? Pride. I was focused on myself and the need for me to be center of attention. I was pompous. Our problem with waiting is that we are waiting and trying to do so for ourselves instead of waiting on the Lord.

God promises vast rewards to those who wait for Him!

When we wait, God reveals His will

“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬ ‭CSB‬‬

As we wait, God reveals His will to us and works all things together for our good and His glory. When we understand His will and desire for our lives and all areas of our life, we wait for the next steps. We endure because, even if we can not see it, He is working all things out for our goodness. When we know the desire of God’s heart, our heart desires what he desires and he does not delay in giving us the desires of our heart.

When we wait we receive supernatural strength and energy

“He gives strength to the faint and strengthens the powerless. Youths may become faint and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not faint.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭29‬-‭31‬ ‭CSB‬‬

As God deepens our relationship with Him through times of waiting, He will increase our energy, faith, endurance and strength. You can not wait and endure on your own power. That is where we fail most. We give up waiting because our strength can not hold up to what we need. Only through God can we receive the strength and endurance to keep waiting upon Him.

When we wait, we are victorious in battles

“Don’t say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the Lord, and he will rescue you.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭20‬:‭22‬ ‭CSB‬‬

When we do things our way, in our own time, we will end up defeated. When we wait on God and obey His command, He ensures our victory! Eve in times of waiting we are still walking with Him. There’s a battle going on and Satan will try to bring temptation and lure you off the path. When we wait, our eyes are steadily on Him, and no weapon formed will prosper because He fights for us and never loses.

When we wait, we see the fulfillment of our faith

“Kings will be your guardians and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow down to you with their faces to the ground and lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who put their hope in me will not be put to shame.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭49‬:‭23‬ ‭CSB‬‬

There are going to be people in our lives that encourage us to forge ahead. They encourage you to make your own path, to move your own way, your own timing, and do what you want to do, but God says to ignore them. Only God can bring us help and will never let us down. Do not trust the ways of the world and worldly people. Be discerning to those who call themselves brothers and sisters. If God has told you to wait, wait upon Him and do not be persuaded to move by anyone but Him.

When we wait, we witness Him working

“From ancient times no one has heard, no one has listened to, no eye has seen any God except you who acts on behalf of the one who waits for him.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭64‬:‭4‬ ‭CSB‬‬

When we wait on the Lord, he is actively working. Every single day, every moment of the day, we have a Mediator working on our behalf. Eve if things seem to be going wrong, He’s making sure that everything works out to His purpose. This is why listening is so important.

When we look at our circumstances from a wounded heart, we see it from the emotional of a wounded heart. When we see circumstances from a heart made whole, we see from God’s perspective and our faith grows from trusting in Him in all things. Waiting is difficult, but know it is not wasted time.

God will give us instructions while waiting to keep us in step with His will. He prepares us for the answering of our prayer and uses this time for sifting our motives and strengthening our faith. God uses long pauses in our lives to bless us if we let Him.