Waiting for anything is one of the things I least enjoy doing. No matter where I go, if I must wait, I become annoyed. If my appointment is at 11 am I want to be seen at 11 am. Better yet if I am early come out and get me before my appointment time. I prefer to be seen seconds after I arrive or at least within 2-3 minutes. Sadly, I can barely wait more than 5 minutes for an appointment before I begin to become anxious. If I anticipate that there might be a wait time, I always bring a book or a game to distract me. I am by no means a great Christian because of this and the many other sins I own. There are multiple Bible stories about waiting on the Lord. I have read them all.
Hence, it is why these stories in the Bible about waiting on the Lord and having patience resonate with me so much. It requires a great deal of effort on my part to remain reasonable when I must wait a minute after the start of any appointment. However, I know that the Lord provides grace to me just like He provided for Abraham.
Abraham Waited Somewhat
Abraham waited 25 years for God’s promises of a child and creating a nation. However, this did not prevent Abraham from taking matters into his own hands. Abraham and Sarah decided to father a child with Hagar, Sarah’s servant. Even though God told him that Sarah would bear him a son. Nevertheless, God’s plan still prevailed, and the nation of Israel was born through his son Isaac.
These are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s servant, bore to Abraham. Genesis 25:12 ESV
The sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael. 1 Chronicles 1:28 ESV
However, when Abraham was called to sacrifice his son Isaac as a test. It was his patience and faith in the Lord that allowed him to wait on the Lord to provide a lamb. He was obedient when he was told to sacrifice Isaac. All the while hoping and waiting for God to provide a way out. Abraham was not disappointed. God was faithful to provide a lamb because Abraham obeyed and believed in God’s promises. The Lord provided a lamb, and His promises were fulfilled.
He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” Genesis 22:2 ESV
Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. Genesis 22:8 ESV
And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. Genesis 22:13 ESV
We must always be serving while we are waiting on the Lord. Abraham provides a great example of patient endurance. However, sometimes waiting can be for a certain event. Joseph had to wait on God’s plans that came to him in a dream.
Biblical Waiting By Joseph
Joseph waited 13+ years to be free from bondage and the many troubles that followed him until he obtained a position of power with Pharaoh.
He shared a dream with his brothers where they were bowing before him. His own brothers became so angry that they tried to kill him. However, this was not the right time for Joseph to die. Hence, he was sold into bondage by one of his brothers.
God had good things planned for the Israel nation which involved Joseph making a way for a nation to grow within another nation until God’s timing was complete. The dream of seven years of prosperity, followed by seven years of famine would be the event that brings the nation of Israel to Egypt. Out of this nation would be born the nation of God’s people.
Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. Genesis 41:46 ESV
And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. Genesis 45:7 ESV
So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Genesis 45:8 ESV
Sometimes some of the hardest things we can do is wait for the will of God. However, while we are waiting, we should be working for God, on ourselves, or helping others.
Jacob’s Bible Story On Waiting
Jacob worked for fourteen years so that he could marry Rachel. He was supposed to work only seven years. However, Laban tricked Jacob into marrying Leah first so he had to work an additional seven years to secure the hand in marriage of Rachel. Jacob worked those seven additional years as if they were just a few days. The love that he had for Rachel was worth waiting any amount of time. Even though Jacob was tricked into working an additional seven years to receive the love of his life, he knew it was worth it. Anything worth having is worth waiting for. Hence, the house of Jacob was established out of Biblical waiting.
Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” Genesis 29:18 ESV
But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went into her. Genesis 29:23 ESV
Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.” Genesis 29:27 ESV
Jacob had hope for the life waiting for him at the end of his servitude. Job found hope in waiting for God’s presence for answers.
Job Waited For God
The Book of Job is one of my favorites. It is filled with the hope of righteousness that only God can provide. Job knew the Lord was a God of justice during the time of losing his children, his wealth, and his standing in the community. He was going to wait on the Lord to answer his questions. What had he done? Why was this happening to him? Job was willing to wait for however long it would take to hear from God. Even when his closest friends came to sit with him in his misery but soon grew tired of supporting him. In their minds, Job must have sinned and was deserving of his circumstance. Job just wanted to plead his case to God, and these men just wanted to tell Job that he must accept his plight because it was his fault.
the young men saw me and withdrew, and the aged rose and stood; Job 29:8 ESV
You have turned cruel to me; with the might of your hand you persecute me. Job 30:21 ESV
If you have any words, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you. Job 33:32 ESV
For according to the work of a man he will repay him, and according to his ways he will make it befall him. Job 34:11 ESV
God Restores Job
However, in the end, God’s love for Job restored him. In all of Job’s affliction, he never forsakes God’s word. However, Job had no right to question the Kingdom of God. Going even so far as to question why he was ever born if the Lord was going to turn on him. As for his friends, they were so wrong about Job and sinning. Therefore, God commanded Job to pray for them that they may be forgiven.
And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.” Job 2:3 ESV
And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Job 42:10 ESV
Waiting can be very hard when it is the desire of your heart. I cannot imagine how hard it must be to want a child and to experience the inability to conceive. It breaks my heart as a mother.
Ladies In Biblical Waiting
Hanna, Peninnah, Rebecca, and Leah were bound in a marriage where one was loved by their husband and the other was not.
The women that were unloved or hated God open their wombs to allow them to bear children. Could it be that God allowed love to come from their children since there was no love from the husband? The ability to produce heirs for your husband in those times established your standing in society.
Therefore, the barren women became desperate to produce children to remove their shame. The love from their husbands was not enough. Therefore, they prayed for God’s power to fulfill the desires of their hearts.
However, God heard their cries and opened their wombs at the appointed time. This is one of the great examples of the goodness of the Lord. God hears our cries, remembers us, and will answer. Always.
He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 1 Samuel 1:2 ESV
But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. 1 Samuel 1:5 ESV
Indeed the Lord visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the Lord . 1 Samuel 2:21 ESV
So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years. Genesis 29:30 ESV
When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. Genesis 29:31 ESV
Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. Genesis 30:22 ESV
What if you are waiting for safety?
Psalm Of David
David composed numerous Bible verses regarding his circumstances. He waited patiently for the Lord to save him. David prayed about it throughout the Psalms. He wrote some of the most powerful prayers while he waited for the Lord to save him from his enemies. Saul hunted David relentlessly for years in his attempt to kill him. Therefore, David only had his faith in God to sustain him while his soul waited on the Heavenly Father. He meditated day and night on God’s word and had faith in God’s promises. These Psalms by King David are invaluable as they teach how to wait on the Lord in hope. His message has always encouraged us to keep our eyes on the Lord. To find courage in our time of trials and tribulations. Therefore, we should wait on the Lord with courage knowing He is doing what is good for us.
Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success! Psalm 118:25 ESV
O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before you. O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before you. Psalm 88:1 ESV
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; Psalm 130:5 ESV
The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. Psalm 145:15 ESV
Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to him.” 2 Samuel 10:12 ESV
God, Timing, And Waiting
God views waiting differently than we do. Because God exists outside of time. He does not exist at any point in time in any one place. He has always existed, and it was He that created the time to which we are bound. However, God is not bound by time. He is everywhere all at once.
Therefore, God sees time as a daily gift to us. This gift should be used to separate ourselves from an ever-increasing sinful world. God’s character shows us His great love for us in that while we were still sinners, He sent our Lord Jesus Christ to die on the cross so that we could have eternal life. However, while we are here on earth, we must make every effort to obtain spiritual discipline to guide us toward a Christ-like life. Since we do not know the day of the coming of the Lord, we should heed the word of God today. Confess your sins, repent, and you will be forgiven. Jesus will send the Holy Spirit to dwell in you. He will be a reminder of Christ Jesus and His teachings, He will help you, and guide you. This is from the Word of God.
I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin. Psalm 38:18 ESV
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 ESV
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 14:26 ESV
My daily Bible study teaches me I am learning to wait and grow in God’s steadfast love with the help of the Holy Spirit.
I Am Waiting And Growing
I rely heavily on the Holy Spirit to help me when I must wait. The Holy Spirit can hold back the annoyance that so quickly bubbles up whenever I must wait a long time. Whether it is waiting in a line at a grocery store or sitting in a doctor’s office waiting to be seen. I tend to view my time as most valuable and should be valued by others.
The Spirit reminds me to keep my focus on the Lord and His steadfast love for me. He guides my thoughts away from the flesh, such as pride, self-righteousness, and selfishness. He also encourages me to begin praying and centering my thoughts from myself to God. It allows me to listen to God and understand why I might have to wait for something.
Hence, the Holy Spirit reminds me that waiting might be because God wants to protect me, it could be the timing is all wrong, or it could be to grow me in my faith. God may want me to deal with something in my life I have been avoiding. Or it could be simply dealing with the act of waiting to develop patience. I try to look at every opportunity of waiting as an opportunity to grow in my faith and to be humbled. Therefore, I am trusting God’s will for me in this time and space. I am only here according to God’s plan to do works for his pleasure. Hence, I am grateful to be under God’s sovereign control and His love for me.
and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 2 Peter 1:6 NIV
for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13 ESV
Takeaways
Waiting teaches us so much more than time management. Like a farmer waits for their crops at the mercy of weather, pestilence, and animals that attempt to devour his crops. We too must wait on the Lord while weathering the storms and conditions of life. Waiting teaches the following:
- God has a plan for us.
- This plan is outside of our desires.
- This plan will require waiting from time to time.
- Waiting teaches us patience.
- Biblical waiting teaches us perseverance.
- God may be protecting us from something or someone.
- It is simply not the right time for us to have something.
- We are not ready for this circumstance or responsibility.
- Learning to trust God takes time.
- Waiting on the Lord will grow our relationship with Him.
- God will always provide an answer to our prayers.
- We are under God’s Sovereign control, and we are loved.