How are you at waiting? Isaiah 64:4 says, “God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.” Let’s face it, waiting is not fun! Each day you wake up hoping for some tidbit of good news, but it doesn’t come or you receive a negative report, and you see longer delays ahead. It can be very frustrating to say the least. No wonder Proverbs 13:12 tells us, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” The longer you wait to see your desire fulfilled, the more discouraged your heart grows. That is, of course, unless your hope and trust are centered exclusively on Christ.
One of the most difficult lessons that you will learn is to wait on God. However, it is crucial that you understand how truly important waiting on Him is.
Here’s the life principle I want to share with you today. “God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.”
If you want God’s very best for your life, you must trust Him to provide it “in His time.” His knowledge of you and your situation are absolutely perfect – and so is His timing. He is going to make sure that you are completely prepared for the blessings that He has for you. Therefore, make sure to keep your eyes on Him.
A little history lesson. Isaiah ministered to Judah from 740 B.C. to 681 B.C., and he prophesied about the Babylonian captivity which would begin a century later in 597 B.C. The Babylonians would also destroy the temple in Jerusalem (Isa. 63:18) in 586 B.C. In Isaiah 63:7-64:12, the prophet thanks God for His mercy in delivering the people of Judah from the Babylonian captivity.
It is true that God was preparing His judgment for the kingdom of Judah, but He was also arranging the deliverance of the people who remained obedient to Him. Their only hope was to “wait” on God to rescue them from their captors. Thankfully, it was a sure hope, and God was faithful to bring them back to Jerusalem when the time was right and their hearts had turned back to Him ( read the books of Ezra & Nehemiah). As God promises in Isaiah 49:23, “You will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in me will not be disappointed.”
Do you ever feel that your situation is “hidden from the LORD?” What does God do for you as you wait? When you wait for the Lord, you should look forward to what He will do with joyful expectation and confident hope, because He is providing His very best for you. God understands how difficult the delays are for you. God also gives you His promises if you will commit yourself to waiting for Him.
During your season of waiting, you may feel somewhat lost, discouraged, and unmotivated. You may also feel as if God has forgotten you. He has not! God is always at work, and at this very moment He is engineering your situation to provide His very best for you, I promise. In fact, He is lining up your circumstances in a way that is better than you could ever imagine (read Ephesians 3:20-21), and you are going to be completely blessed when you see what He has done for you.
However, you must be patient until His plan comes together in His perfect timing. Don’t run ahead of God! The delays may be very challenging for you, but they are growing your faith in Him. After all, “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). Therefore, look to Him, strengthen yourself in His Word and love, and remain confident that He is working on your behalf.
Of course, you may be wondering, “What does God want me to do during this waiting time? Am I just supposed to sit around and do absolutely nothing?” Absolutely NOT! Waiting on God simply means that you continue in your present position until He gives you further instruction. As long as you are obeying Him, you will continue on the correct path.
Psalm 62:5-6, 8 say, “My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved… Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.”
So, how will you live out today’s principle this week?
Here are some other principles to remember:
- When we wait, we discover God’s will in the area that most concerns us (Isaiah 30:18).
- When we wait, we receive supernatural physical energy and strength (Psalm 27:13-14).
- When we wait, we win battles (Psalm 59:9-10).
- When we wait, we see the fulfillment of our faith (Psalm 33:20-21).
- When we wait, we see God working on our behalf (Psalm 40:1-3).
May God bless you as you “wait” on Him today.