I wrote an article about prayer a few months ago When should I pray? that explained about God’s response to our prayers could be “yes,” “no,” or “wait.” In this article, I explored the response “Wait.” We might have prayed about something and still not have God’s answers or clear direction on the next steps. Maybe God’s answer to those prayer requests could be to “wait.” We live in a time where everything is instant, starting from instant oatmeal to fast food places to instant everything. Waiting can be challenging, and we might even feel like we are wasting our time by “waiting.”
The online dictionary definition for “wait” says, “Stay where one is or delay action until a particular time.” I’m a very result-oriented person, so waiting is something I don’t like. I want everything to happen instantly and want immediate answers to all life problems.
There could be several reasons why God might want us to wait.
According to Isaiah 40:31, “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (English Standard Version).
a) Maybe God knows that we are not ready for what’s next, so this waiting period prepares us for what’s ahead.
b) Maybe God wants to work in our hearts to be willing to say “no” to something we want badly that may not be from God.
c) Maybe God wants to work on our character before saying ‘yes’ so we don’t become prideful once we receive and give glory only to God.
d) Sometimes, it could just be God’s protection so He can clear the path we need to take.
As I’m going through some waiting period in my life, I’m learning what to do and what not to do while we wait for God.
Some of the things not to do while we are waiting are:
a) Not to figure things out on our own when God has asked us to wait. If we try to get ahead of God, there is a possibility that we might take actions that may not be from God and might regret later. According to Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight” (New American Standard Bible).
b) Grow bitter toward God. Some prayers might be very personal to us, and we can become upset with God for not doing something about a situation. God loves us and has a purpose for our lives, so we can trust He is working it out for our good, even though it might not seem that way. According to Romans 8:28-29, “28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters” (New American Standard Bible). One of the speakers, “Megan Fate Marshman,” explained this verse very differently than how I usually interpret it. Megan lost her husband a few years ago and was questioning how she can believe that God is working everything for her good. Megan said we all miss reading verse 29, which states that God is conforming us to the image of God, and that’s why everything is working out for our good.
Waiting doesn’t mean we sit and not do anything either. While we wait, we can continue to do all the responsibilities God has placed us with. It could be serving in church or being fully present for our family or at our job. We need to make sure that every step we take is in tune with what God wants us to do. I love the song “While I’m Waiting” from the Fireproof movie.
“While I’m waiting, I will serve You
While I’m waiting, I will worship
While I’m waiting, I will not faint
I’ll be running the race even while I wait
I will move ahead bold and confident
I’ll be taking every step in obedience, yeah.”
– Capitol CMG Publishing
Waiting can be difficult, but God knows the bigger picture, and He is in control of our lives, so we can be hopeful while we wait.
According to Isaiah 30:8, “Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him” (English Standard Version).
