those who wait on the Lord
and what we discover during the wait
*this post is all about waiting on God.
i’m not where i thought i’d be. i’m not even close. ten-year-old me would have told you that by the time she was 30, she’d have her dream job, be financially stable, be a homeowner, a wife, and a mother. if she could have fast-forwarded to the future, she would have been disappointed. and to be honest, i have days when i am too. it’s easy to look around and see everyone living out the dreams you had for your life. friends, coworkers, family members, and strangers all seem to “have made it.” i’ve asked these questions way too many times: “what am i doing wrong?” “Lord, am i being punished for my past mistakes?” “have you forgotten about me?” i would search through scripture, trying to figure out how people got blessed. wishing i could learn the exact words they prayed and the specific actions they took. but there is no play-by-play book to life. sometimes we have to wait.
“all Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. it corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” 2 timothy 3:16-17 nlt
i think about joseph. he had God-given dreams that he would rule over his family and his people (genesis 37:5-9). he experienced betrayal and unjust treatment. he waited thirteen years. i think about the bleeding woman. she dreamed of being healed. she was disappointed and rejected. she waited twelve years (luke 8:43-48). i think about anna. she was given a promise and waited expectantly. she was familiar with heartache and loss. she waited for decades (luke 2:36-38).
“my thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “and my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. for just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” isaiah 55:8-9 nlt
none of these people waited because of a lack of effort. it had nothing to do with past mistakes. their wait wasn’t prolonged because of abandonment. God is the narrator of our stories. he is the author and perfecter of our faith. his thoughts and ways are faultless. there is always a reason for the wait and there are times in our lives where God brings us into seasons that we never expected to experience. although we don’t get to decide where God brings us, we can determine what we do while we’re there.
“cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” psalm 46:10 nasb
the unknown is a frustrating place to live. it’s disheartening when we don’t understand the reason for our particular season. but during these times, God is teaching us how to wait—and wait well. i am learning to be patient and persevere with persistent trust. i am learning how to seek him first. and let me tell you, this is not my strong suit. waiting is painful. it’s challenging to trust when the outcome you desire isn’t guaranteed. it’s uncomfortable to hope when everything around you seems hopeless. but waiting on God is a choice. allowing him to teach and transform us is an act of obedience. persevering through deferred hope gives birth to spiritual maturity. difficult situations can provide us with revelations. they can redirect our focus. what the Lord reveals to us during that time is more important than knowing the reason behind what’s happening.
“trust in the Lord and do good. then you will live safely in the land and prosper. take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.” psalm 37:3-4 nlt
what i had to learn was that God wasn’t enough for me. i was seeking his hand instead of his face. i felt entitled to more and focused on my will instead of his. i wouldn’t have rejoiced if nothing ever changed. i wouldn’t have been content unless the blessings were tangible. i needed him to come through for me. but that was the problem, i needed something from him instead of just him. even though he has not promised me specific outcomes, i know everything he does is for my eternal good. i can trust that he has never left me, nor will he. i can believe that he will provide for me. i can be confident in his faithfulness.
i am learning how to let him put his desires for my life on my heart. i am learning how to surrender everything to him. i am learning to focus on him instead of my circumstances. i am learning to seek him with pure intentions. i am learning to delight in him, and i am learning that he too delights in me. and he has placed his desires on my heart, and that is more of him—more of his will (lamentations 3:25).
God preordains our seasons of waiting for specific purposes—our eternal good and his glory. he will choose whoever, whenever. the life of joseph reveals his saving grace. his blessing was a blessing to an entire nation. the life of the bleeding woman shows his healing power. her blessing was a blessing to all who watched. the life of anna conveys his redeeming love. her blessing was a blessing to all who heard. there will be a day when we thank God for our challenging seasons. there will be a day when we thank him for our seemingly unanswered prayers. and there will be a day when we praise him for the blessing of waiting.
HELPFUL BOOKS
the artisan soul: crafting your life into a work of art by erwin raphael mcmanus
grace calls by robin weidner
*this post is all about waiting on the Lord.
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