Importance of waiting patiently upon the Lord

Waiting is hard. Waiting for that job, for the promotion, for the transfer, for the pay rise, for a friendship, for marriage, for a relocation to a new place, for a new house, waiting for a child, waiting for healing and restoration; there are many things we desire and in the process, most times, we have to wait.

What makes it hard is our thinking that there is no assurance that what we are waiting for will come to pass. Many give up in the process. When the wait is too long, we become impatient. We want things and situations to work out fast. We want them to work out in our favor. Yet, most times, that is not so. At times, we get what we desire quickly, at times we wait long, and yet still, at times it does not come to pass in our lifetime.

The first question we need to ask ourselves is about what we are waiting for. Is it in accordance with the will of God? What is our motive in asking? Are we asking for something out of selfish reasons? Have we made what we are waiting for our idol –  something we tell ourselves we must get? What will we use it for? Will getting what we want alter our relationship with God? Will we become proud? Will we remember to give God the glory? What if we have to wait for long – will we become frustrated, will we become angry at God or at other people? Yet still, what if we do not get it, will we be content?

God wants to bless us, but most of the time what we ask for is not in accordance with His will or we ask for it with the wrong motives. God looks at the heart.

But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7.

God looks at why we are asking. Why do we want what we are asking for?

You crave what you do not have. You kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask. And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures. James 4:2-3.

We need to look inward and make sure that we are right with God. Our hearts need to be at the right place. We need to seek God about our desires because not everything is good for us. We may ask for something that will destroy us. At times God says no because we ask with the wrong motives or what we are asking for may lead to our downfall.

Our desires should not become our idols. There is nothing that we should desire more than God. God should be first in our lives. We should align our will with His will according to the word of God by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Teach me Your way, O Lord; i will walk in Your Truth: unite my heart to fear Your name. Psalms 86:11.

We need to purify our ways and go back to God. If we are deep in sin, it is hard to hear God’s voice. God will not bless sin. Sin does separate us from God.

If i regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear. Psalm 66:18.

We draw near to God and He draws near to us. He directs us in the right path. We usually do not deserve what we ask for, yet God still provides for the honor of His name.

Nevertheless He saved them for the sake of His name, that He might make His power known. Psalms 106:8.

We do not get because of our works, it is by the mercies and grace of God. God is unchanging, He does not go back on His Word. He fulfills His promises in accordance to His Word.

What does waiting involve? Does it mean we seat and do nothing? No. On the contrary, we get to work but do not impose our will on situations or on people. We continue serving God. Waiting is a condition of the heart whereby we stay still and wait for God to work and intervene. We do not move until He says move. We tell Him our hearts desires and surrender to His will.

Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14.

Waiting requires great faith. We have to believe all things will work out for our good when God is involved.

Waiting does not involve compromising or going against God’s Word; people may tell us we have to do something in order to get something. We do not sell our soul to the enemy. Anything that goes contrary to God’s Word is not from God; that is the trick of the enemy.

When we are in fear or get impatient during waiting, the enemy finds an open door. The enemy presents a counterfeit; he tells us to do something and we will receive what we need. We should never forget the truth; the enemy does not care about us; he wants what he wants and leaves people for destruction; he is cunning and presents to us ‘near truths’ and if we are not near God it is very easy to fall.

Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. ‘All this i will give to You’ he said, ‘if You will fall down and worship me. Matthew 4:8-9.

The devil approached Jesus in the wilderness; he knew it was a vulnerable moment for Jesus. However, Jesus knew who He was and defeated the enemy with the Word. In the same way the enemy attacks during our moments of waiting; he knows we may be vulnerable to deception and he strikes. Therefore, we need to know what God says lest we fall. During waiting we strengthen ourselves with prayer and the Word of God; that helps us remain steady. We die to the flesh and seek God’s will. God sustains us and reveals Himself to us.

We do not grow weary of doing good, we do not grow bitter, the joy of the Lord becomes our strength.

The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh he will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest, if we not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith. Galatians 6:8-10.

The enemy has no power in our lives if we do not let him in; he cannot touch our bodies or belonging unless God allows it for our greater good and God’s glory. The enemy touched Job’s body and belonging, but he could not touch Job’s life. God knew Job’s relationship with Him; Job never cursed God. At the end, Job received double blessings, his health was restored, and the name of God was glorified. We fear only God.

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28.

Our life belongs to God.

In waiting we rejoice. We do not go along like those who are defeated but we walk in life as victors. We go sowing good seeds, doing good. We build up treasures in heaven. We know the truth; God works all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. We learn to be content regardless of our circumstances.

Rejoice in the Lord always, and again i say rejoice. Philippians 4:4.

We make our requests known to God with thanksgiving in our hearts.

Blessings.

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