Waiting on God

Hello everyone. Hope everyone is doing well.

Today I would like to talk about patience and waiting on God. I think it’s human nature to be a little impatient. We have a tendency to want immediate results. If we order food at a restaurant, we want our food as quick as possible. If it seems like they’re taking too long, we start to look around and get a little squirmy. If we’re at the grocery store, we automatically look for the shortest checkout line so we can hurry up and get through the line, and out of the store. I don’t know of anyone that enjoys waiting in line, no matter where you are.

I believe we have that same issue when it comes to praying and asking God for certain things. When we pray, we like instant results. If our prayer isn’t answered right away, we start to wonder what the problem is. Lord, I asked you to heal my body. Why am I still sick? Lord, I said I need a new car. Where is my car? Lord, I poured my heart out to You and told you about my financial needs. Where is my financial blessing? Lord, I’ve been praying for a spouse or children. Why haven’t You answered my prayer yet? Lord, have you forgotten about me?

When our prayers aren’t answered immediately, we start to become weary and worried that God isn’t going to answer our prayer. We may even start to wonder if we’re doing something to hinder our prayers. The worst thing we can do, is to think that God doesn’t care. Just because He doesn’t answer immediately, doesn’t mean He isn’t going to answer our prayers.

I think about when children ask you for something. Oftentimes, our answers are “Not right now.” Just like clockwork, they will keep coming back every so often asking for the same thing over and over again making sure we haven’t forgotten what they asked for. We as parents sometimes get a little frustrated, but isn’t it wonderful that God doesn’t like us!

There’s a saying that says, “Delayed Does Not Mean Denied”. This little saying is so true. We have to learn how to be patient and praise Him while we wait. He already knows what we are in need of. I believe God wants to know if we are still able and willing to give Him praise while we are going through our trials and tribulations. Or are our praises contingent upon His blessings? Are we only willing to give Him praise when things are going well in our lives? Will we only praise God whenever He answers our prayers instantly and in the way we want Him to? If we can praise God during the difficult times, it shows our sincerity of love for Him. If we can praise and thank God for hearing and answering prayer before the prayer is answered, that shows our trust in God. Even though it may not have come to pass yet, we still must believe and look for God to answer our prayers. It doesn’t mean that He will answer the way we may think He should, but our prayers will be answered according to His perfect will.

Whenever we begin to experience fear and doubt, that’s an indication that we aren’t trusting and believing God. Numbers 23:19 says:

"God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent; hath He said, and shall He not do it? Or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?"

God is faithful. He will hear and answer prayer, but we must be patient and wait on Him.

I think about my husband whenever he shares the story about how we got married. The Lord had shown him that I was going to be his wife, but He hadn’t shown me yet. I was happy and content being single. I was saved at the age of 12, and I was just happy serving the Lord. So, we developed a good friendship, but then when things we turning a little more serious, I had to hit the pause button. I wasn’t sure that I was supposed to get married, because I had already predetermined that I was going to stay single. My husband had to wait for the Lord to show me that he was truly meant to be my husband. Believe me, that didn’t happen overnight! He had to wait a couple of years for me to hear from God. It wasn’t easy, but yet he patiently waited for God to show me the same thing He had shown him. Just think if my husband had given up… Our lives would be completely different.

Romans 12:12 says:

"Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer."

No, waiting isn’t fun but if we can just learn to wait on God joyfully. It may sound impossible, or even silly, but God wants us to keep rejoicing. The battle may not be over yet, but we still have the victory!

A few more encouraging scriptures for you are:

"But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it." Romans 8:25 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28 "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Psalm 37:4 "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him." Psalm 37:7 "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

These are just a few scriptures that can help keep us encouraged while we wait on God.

Don’t give up. Keep waiting patiently on God, and rejoice in advance knowing and believing that God is going to answer your prayer. Starting saying, “God I thank You for healing my body… God I thank you for fixing this situation in my life…I thank You for providing for me…I thank you for delivering me”! Whatever your need is, whatever prayer it is that you have petitioned before the Lord, believe He’s going to answer that prayer and wait patiently on Him.

"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." Psalm 27:14

Keep praying, keep waiting, be patient, and be encouraged.

God bless!