In The Waiting…

Sometimes the answer to a prayer is wait.  I don’t know about you, but I don’t particularly like that answer.  Because really, who actually likes to wait?  And sometimes, the waiting is for an extended period of time.

I’ll tell on myself here.  Quite a few years ago, I felt like God said yes to a prayer.  And in my humanness (and maybe immaturity), I just knew it was happening “right now.”  Well, it didn’t and I began complaining to God about making me wait so long.  Most of my prayer time definitely included letting God know exactly how I felt about the delay.  Then I got mad and quit talking to God on a consistent basis.  I mean, really, how dare He make me wait this long!  – Let me insert an eye roll right here – How dare I, right?  Who did I think I was?

Three years ago, during one of the 21 Days of Prayer Focus Services, I felt God say “wait.”  Yes, wait … to the same prayer!  I thought to myself, “Wait! Again? Are you serious?”  Immediately I heard God say, “What have you been doing in the waiting?”

Whoa!!! Talk about a wake up call!  What had I been doing in the waiting?  I’ll tell you; I was complaining and sulking.  That’s what I’d been doing!

Yes, God asked me to wait. Why? I don’t know. But all I could give Him was an attitude.

“What have you been doing in the waiting?” This phrase has been floating around my head and heart over the past three years.

Now, I can’t say I’ve quit all the complaining,  **smile**  I’m still a work in progress.  But my attitude during my prayer time has definitely changed. My waiting has not ended. But I know I need to be doing something IN my waiting time.  I need to worship, work, read, pray (with the right attitude), and whatever else God asks of me, while I wait.

For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord.  Jeremiah 29:11a

This is one of my favorite verses in Scripture.  I go back to it again and again.  I don’t have to have life all planned out.  I just need to trust God because He has a plan for my life.

Has God told you to “wait”?

I don’t know what it is you are waiting for, but it just might be that God has something for you to learn during this waiting period. God has a plan for you. And waiting just may be part of that plan. Trust in His plan for your life.  But also, trust His process.

·      Learn to worship God even when you don’t understand His timing.

·      Pray (don’t complain).

·      Serve Him however and wherever He leads.

 

Maybe maturity needs to take place; maybe you need to experience certain circumstances to be better equipped.  Maybe there is a lesson (or two or three) you need to learn. Is there a book you need to read? A class you need to take? Someone you need to talk to? Or, it could be a job you need to start, or maybe one you need to quit.  You just might need to give up something good, so you can receive God’s best.

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.  Jeremiah 33:3

Call out to God and ask Him to show you what it is you need to be doing, or what it is you need to learn during your season of waiting. 

Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you.  James 4:8

God will not leave you during this waiting season. 

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.  Psalm 27:13-14

God knows what He is doing and He knows exactly what we need when we need it. Trust Him to bring the answer in His time.

Let’s learn to wait well.

What are you doing in the waiting?