Recently I spent most of an afternoon waiting in a doctor’s office. I’ve never met anyone who enjoys waiting, but some people wait more patiently than others. I enjoy people watching, so I spent a good bit of my time observing how others responded to the delay. One man checked his watch every few minutes and each time let out a loud sigh. Another paced the waiting room talking at a fevered pitch on his cell phone. An elderly woman dozed in her chair.
It’s one thing to experience a mild inconvenience of a long wait in a doctor’s office. But how do we respond when we are forced to wait and the stakes are high? Maybe you’ve been praying about a situation that needs God’s intervention. Perhaps you’re waiting on desperately needed financial provision, a prodigal child to come home, a marriage that is on life support, medical results, the desire to be married, a pregnancy that isn’t happening, or guidance about a job change.
How should we pass the time when we are waiting on God? Maybe you’ve been waiting so long you are growing impatient or doubt God will come through at all. Here are three things to keep in mind as you wait.
Waiting Is To Be Expected
Although none of us enjoy it, most of us will experience seasons of waiting. The Bible shares a long history of God’s people waiting for God to act. Here are just a few:
- Noah waited out the flood.
- Abraham waited for an heir.
- Joseph waited in prison.
- Hannah waited to become a mother.
- David waited to take the throne.
- Daniel waited in exile.
- Paul waited in prison.
There’s a biblical precedent of God’s people waiting for Him to intervene. We aren’t the first, and we won’t be the last. As you wait, be encouraged that waiting isn’t outside the norm.
Obey God While You Wait
David wrote, “Wait for the LORD and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land” (Psalm 37:14, emphasis mine). When things aren’t moving as quickly as we would like, it’s tempting to take matters into our own hands. Abraham and Sarah grew impatient waiting for the heir God had promised, so Abraham had a child with Sarah’s maidservant, Hagar (Genesis 16). The results were devastating. As we wait on God, it’s important that we trust His timing.
Enjoy God As You Wait
David spent years waiting on God before he became king of Israel. As David waited, he relied on God for daily provision, protection from his enemies, and to fulfill his promise that he would indeed become king. You might say David waited on God for one thing after the other. The same will be true for us.
As David waited, he enjoyed his relationship with God (Psalm 27:4). We will be wise to do the same. Accepting waiting as the norm, obeying God, and enjoying God as we wait will make seasons of waiting far more enjoyable.
David waited on God as much as anyone and he offered wise words on waiting, “Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD?” (Psalm 27:14).
