Waiting feels like being set aside while nothing happens. You think you are ready to rock the world with good ideas and zealous action, but God pulls in the reigns and decides to work on your heart. Although hope deferred does make the heart sick, when desire is finally realized, it is life at its best. I am also quite certain, in the end, you would not exchange these precious soul searching times for anything else. God is more interested in your character and your relationship with Him than he is about the credentials and gifting you own. Do not grow weary, my friends, this seeming inaction is accomplishing much.
Waiting on the Lord’s Timing
Waiting creates humility and dependence on God
Ready, set…40 years later…go! Just look at the life timeline of Moses. At 40 he kills an Egyptian for beating a Hebrew slave. I am sure this seemed like a good time to start a career as the deliverer, but instead he is forced to flee for fear of his life. The next 40 years he wanders as a fugitive taking care of sheep. Time for a life change? Not quite yet, at least not in the way you’d expect. Finally at the age of 80 God powerfully confronted him in the burning bush and revealed his purpose. At 80! My first inclination is to wonder why God didn’t pull Moses into the game while he was still young, vital and had a sense of destiny about him. Although I am sure he felt defeated at times, the waiting was not a waste. Through his circumstances he was humbled, learned patience, and experienced a host of other character shaping lessons. God was doing something that was more important than what seemed obvious, God was investing his heart.
Waiting works patience
“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience” (James 1:3). Can you imagine how exciting it was for Abraham to hear God tell him that he would be the father of a great nation, that his name would be great, and that all other nations would be blessed or cursed depending upon how they treated his descendants? (Genesis 12: 1-3). But here’s the thing, a lot of time passes before the promise is realized. As the years pass by, Abraham grows old and his wife Sarah is past childbearing years. Abraham takes matters into his own hands and does the only reasonable thing to do, have a child with his wife’s handmaiden. The decision caused a few problems in his life, but he learned valuable lessons. Abraham finally waited with patience, and he received what God had promised. (Hebrews 6:15). The show is now on the road.
Waiting reveals our heart
Though he waited through difficult circumstances, Joseph remained faithful. His calling began with a dream, but was soon followed by a series of set-backs and disappointments. He was betrayed by family, sold into slavery, falsely accused, sentenced to prison and waited years before the promise of God would be put into action. Any one of us might have given up. But it is a loyal person who stays true no matter what the circumstances—even when nothing seems to be happening. It is interesting to note that the opposite of loyalty isn’t merely passive disloyalty, but it’s active treachery. Treachery is defined as a betrayal of trust, deceptive action or nature. You’ve been entrusted with the promises of God and the constant challenge of your faith will be required. If things don’t go your way and in the manner and timing of your expectations, are you going to walk away? Will you spew deception and lies about God and the His promises? Or are you going to continually confirm your loyalty by walking in faith, no matter what?
A heart after God requires waiting
“I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord. More than those who watch for the morning— Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.” (Psalm 130:5-6). Charles Spurgeon said of this passage: “I wait upon him in service, and for him in faith.” King David knew the meaning of waiting. He waited for personal fulfillment of promises in his lifetime, and he continued to wait to his last breath for his own complete sanctification.
The waiting is the hardest part
Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. The process of waiting on God creates humility, works patience, and exposes our true intentions. Do not lose heart, remain firm in what you know to be true. For in the waiting and perseverance, a faith is being built that will move mountains.