Lessons Learned by Waiting

 I don't know many people who enjoy waiting. We are impatient people. We are used to instant gratification. This works in a world of instant coffee, streaming services, and smart phones. It does not work so well in the spiritual world where God often makes His children wait. There are lessons that can best be learned by waiting. 

For one, we learn of our absolute dependence upon God. We are fooled from time to time thinking we are in control of our circumstances. All of this can change without warning in health issues, mechanical breakdowns, downturns in the economy, and natural disasters. We are not in control of any of those things. When we have to wait on God, we must come humbly and admit our total dependence upon Him. We pray and are forced to wait on God to answer. Like a child depending on a parent for food, shelter, and clothing we must depend on God. 

We learn endurance when God forces us to wait on Him. The farmer learns to endure during the harsh summer before gathering the harvest. The student must endure through grueling study sessions to complete the assignment asking for endurance to push through fatigue. The pastor must endure Sunday after Sunday to deliver God's word trusting Him with the results. The athlete must endure extreme workouts preparing his or her body for competition. The soldier must endure challenging circumstances to complete the mission. So must Christians learn to endure by waiting on God through prayer in the midst of trials and tribulations.

Another lesson we can learn by waiting, is not to settle for less than God's best. There are temptations to settle all around us. To settle for a second rate spouse, job, open door, or to even take matters into our own hands. God's way is best and His plans are best. Just ask Joseph in the Old Testament who was sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely accused and imprisoned by a wicked woman. God was at work all the time. God worked His best plan. God took Joseph from prison to the palace in one day in His providential plan. Abraham learned this lesson on waiting for God's best. He settled by listening to the foolish plan of his wife originating in the flesh to marry her maid servant to have a child through her. Ishmael was not God's best. Isaac was God's best and Abraham waited on him for twenty-five years. 

God uses waiting periods to refine us. Moses was a murderer as a young man. Forty years of waiting watching sheep refined Moses into a great leader for the nation of Israel. God works in the waiting periods. We must learn to embrace these periods of waiting. David waited to become king as an insane Saul chased him down like a fugitive to kill him. David waited and God prepared him to be a great king during that waiting period. Waiting on God is not wasted time. He is always working. God is never late. He is always right on time. You may have to wait a little longer, but at the proper time God will accomplish His purpose. Don't wait impatiently. Learn to wait in faith and expectantly.