What are you waiting for?
All of us are waiting for something. The use of the family bathroom. The results of a medical test. The birth of a baby. The coming job offer. The return of Christ. Maybe thousands of other things, depending on the day and time and circumstances.
Waiting (usually) sucks, to put it bluntly.
In a world where we can go from frozen to cooked in 5 minutes, move from East Coast to West in less than six hours, and send a “letter” electronically in less than one second, waiting for God to move can feel exasperating.
Why is God taking so long to bring my loved one to salvation?
Why is God taking so long to stop these evil people from doing such evil deeds?
Why is God taking so long to send Jesus back to earth and take us to him?
Even when we can say that we trust God, it can be hard to live out that trust in the midst of real-world experiences. But we have a real-world God who knows what it’s like to live in real-world life and time. That’s probably why the writer of Isaiah 40:25-31 could speak for God in this way:
The Holy One asks:
“Can you find anyone or anything to compare to me?
Where is the one equal to me?”Lift up your eyes to the sky and see for yourself.
Who do you think created the cosmos?
He lit every shining star and formed every glowing galaxy,
and stationed them all where they belong.
He has numbered, counted, and given everyone a name.
They shine because of God’s incredible power
and awesome might; not one fails to appear!Why, then, O Jacob’s tribes, would you ever complain?
And my chosen Israel, why would you say,
“Yahweh isn’t paying attention to my situation.
He has lost all interest in what happens to me.”Don’t you know? Haven’t you been listening?
Yahweh is the one and only everlasting God,
the Creator of all you can see and imagine!
He never gets weary or worn out.
His intelligence is unlimited;
he is never puzzled over what to do!He empowers the feeble
and infuses the powerless with increasing strength.Even young people faint and get exhausted;
athletic ones may stumble and fall.But those who wait for Yahweh’s grace
will experience divine strength.
They will rise up on soaring wings and fly like eagles,
run their race without growing weary,
and walk through life without giving up. (TPT)
Go back and substitute your name in where Isaiah says “Jacob’s tribes” or “Israel.” Whatever vision you have – whatever question you are awaiting an answer – whatever revelation you are searching for – God has the answer. It may seem like God is lingering and not giving you what you are waiting for. But the One who created the universe and everything in it, the Everlasting God who never wearies or puzzles over what to do, has an answer. This Truth will give us refreshment when we are tired and stumbling through life.
Who are you waiting with?
Everlasting God,
Thank you for being our unequal, incomparable, and amazing Creator God who loves each of us so much you would send Jesus to die for our sins. Thank you for the gift of grace you offer to us and for Holy Spirit who lives within us when we become believers. Thank you for the fruits of the spirit which Holy Spirit gives us. We pray today that you would strengthen our ability to be patient. Help us delight in you and give you the right to direct our lives, knowing that your plans and purposes are perfect and you are our righteousness and justice. Help us stay strong as we pray for unsaved loved ones, for deliverance from evil, for the breaking of the power of the wicked, for the return of Christ, and for all the “everyday” events and issues we have. Help us to patiently wait under the covering of your divine Grace so we will run and not grow weary and we will persevere when life is hard. Protect us from discouragement and uphold your righteous children, we pray in Jesus’s name. Amen.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV)
Find your delight and true pleasure in Yahweh,
and he will give you what you desire the most.
Give God the right to direct your life,
and as you trust him along the way,
you’ll find he pulled it off perfectly!
He will appear as your righteousness,
as sure as the dawning of a new day.
He will manifest as your justice,
as sure and strong as the noonday sun.
Quiet your heart in his presence
and wait patiently for Yahweh.
And don’t think for a moment that the wicked, in their prosperity,
are better off than you.
Stay away from anger and revenge.
Keep envy far from you, for it only leads you into lies.
For one day the wicked will be destroyed,
but those who trust in the Lord
will inherit the land. (Psalm 37:4-9 TPT)
“[F]or the power of the wicked will be broken,
but the Lord upholds the righteous.” (Psalm 37:17 NIV)
“Wait on You” (excerpt)
“I know You’ve ordered every step
Yeah, You are the Author
But there’s no predicting what is next
But You hold the future
And all the questions, they come second
To the one I know is true, yeah
You’ve always been true
“So, I’m gonna wait on You, yeah
I’m gonna wait on You
I’ve tasted Your goodness
Trust in Your promise
I’m gonna wait on You, yeah, yeah
I’m gonna wait on You (Jesus)
I’ve tasted Your goodness
I’ll trust in Your promise
I’m gonna wait on You”
Songwriters: Christopher Joel Brown / Steven Furtick / Chandler David Moore / Michael Brandon Lake / Tiffany Hammer / Dante Lamar Bowe
Wait On You lyrics © Worshiptogether.com Songs, Sixsteps Music, Said And Done Music, Thankyou Music Ltd., Be Essential Songs, Bethel Music Publishing, Bethel Worship Publishing, Maverick City Publishing, Maverick City Publishing Worldwide, Brandon Lake Music, Dante Bowe Music