So, the first month of a brand-new year is coming to a close. Are you still feeling excited about the future, or are you exhausted from everything that took place in 2020? You have planned, prepared, and maybe even prayed as you embark on a New Year. But now comes the hard part, waiting.
I fully admit that I hate waiting with a passion! Waiting on the phone to fill a prescription. Waiting for a call back from a friend or family member. So, hard waiting on my book to be published. Definitely, the waiting for this virus to go away!
With that in mind, the past year changed my view of waiting with all the sheltering in place. I appreciate the first responders, essential workers, grocery shoppers, food delivery drivers, and the like. What they are willing to do in the midst of a pandemic is greatly appreciated.
How Long, God?
However, when I began seeking a word from God for the New Year, I was initially disappointed with the word God gave me. Patience? What was God trying to do to me? As a matter of fact, I continued to pray and talk with Him constantly. He continued to impress on me that “patience” was the word for me in 2021.
In fact, God gave me a quote about patience from the acclaimed pastor, author, and bible teacher, Dr. David Jeremiah. The quote resonated with me so much that I plan to use it repeatedly in my post on this blog and my social media posts throughout the year. Maybe I’ll put it on one of my branded shirts. Who Knows?
I shared the quote in my most a couple of weeks ago as I offered up Seven things to put into practice for a Purposeful and Prosperous New Year.
But for right now, here is the quote; “PATIENCE is doing what YOU SHOULD DO while WAITING for GOD to do what ONLY HE CAN DO.” When I read that quote, I tell you what I nearly jumped out of my seat with joy! I said, “Okay, God, I hear You!” As a result of this message from God, I’m embracing waiting on Him. I am so excited to do the things in my control as I seek to be even more consistent this year on my blog and my podcast episodes.
It will be fascinating during my periods of waiting on God to see what He intends to do in my life this year! So, what about you? Are you willing to wait on God after all your plans, preparations, and goals have been set? Do you trust completely the One who has welcomed you into His family as one of His children?
I want to share with you several verses from God’s Word about waiting on Him. I pray that you will take your time reading and meditate on what God is saying to you and me.
Waiting Takes Courage
Courage is fascinating for me personally. I used to believe that to be courageous; you could not be afraid. However, I’ve come to realize that living with courage means pressing forward despite your fears.
Fearlessness. Fortitude. Bravery. Tenacity. Backbone. These are some excellent definitions of courage. It takes determined courage to wait on God. Can you imagine being asked to step in for the patriarch who led Israel to the cusp of the Promised Land? That is exactly what God had charged Joshua to do.
Because of Moses’ death, the Israelites needed someone to lead them into the land “flowing with milk and honey” that God has promised.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9.
One important thing to remember while you are waiting on God is that you are NEVER alone! If you take time to seek His wisdom and guidance, He will respond to you in HIS TIMING. God doesn’t want you to live fearfully while waiting on Him.
Waiting Requires Faith
Writing and talking about faith is probably one of my favorite things to do in my ministry. In an interview earlier this week, I shared, I shared that the faith chapter in my latest book on God’s purposes in our pain may actually be the longest.
There are so many treasures of scripture encouraging us to trust God in every circumstance, and that includes seasons of waiting. I mentioned earlier how I abhor waiting, but the following seven scripture passages give me tremendous hope! I pray they do the same for you. Meditate on these beautiful pearls of scripture.
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is in the Lord. He is like a tree planted by the water, that sends roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green. Jeremiah 17:7-8.
When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. Psalm 56:3.
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act. Psalm 37:5.
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3.
I believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord. Psalms 27:13-14.
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 straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6.
But they that wait upon 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. Isaiah 40:31.
I cannot think of anything that would not get you more excited than to soar like an eagle in this New Year and beyond! Please notice how essential it is for us to seek the Lord, meditate on Him, and draw closer to Him during our seasons of waiting.
Waiting Demands Determination
We must live with determination when we are forced to wait on God. I’m not talking about some motivational speaker, mumbo jumbo. I’m suggesting that we live with perseverance that is bathed in purposeful prayer, rooted in some exquisite faith in Christ, and peacefully giving everything to God without anxiety. This kind of determined attitude allows us to focus on what we should be doing and trusting God to blow our minds!
The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. Lam. 3:25-26.
Trust in the LORD, and do good… delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will act. Psalms 37:3-5.
Waiting Builds Strength
Discipline. Endurance. These are also two things that develop in our lives during periods of waiting. The discipline needed to follow through on the things we should do. The endurance to stay committed to doing God’s will despite the outside opinions and suggestions from the “peanut gallery.”
I’m talking about the person who begins a sentence with, “If I were you…” well, they are not you. God has spoken to you about this year. God has created you “for such a time as this.” That person may be well-intentioned, but this is between you and God.
I love this quote from one of my favorite pastors and bible teachers ever. He is a man of tremendous wisdom and a kind heart. He has been teaching the bible for several decades.
It is easy to listen to the loud voices in the world instead of the still small voice of the Holy Spirit. Hang in with God no matter what! Wait until you hear from Him. Walking in His will is the best place you can be! ” Dr. Charles F. Stanley.
“No matter what.” Now, that is determination, my friend.
Waiting is Not Wasted Time
There are so many verses that I could share with you about the benefits of waiting on God. But my prayer is that you are beginning to see the benefits and blessings available to you and me resulting from seasons of waiting.
We both know that regardless of how well we plan things or feel we have prepared, there will come a moment or several moments where we are waiting on God. Remember, we can and should be doing things not to make our seasons of waiting wasted time. Be encouraged, friend. God has not forgotten about you.
In Christ,
Horace Williams Jr is the oldest son of a pastor who went to be with Jesus in 2020. He is an award-winning author and amateur chef who loves Jesus Christ. His passion for Christ inspires readers to draw nearer to the God who loves them.
I am so thankful for this post. Thank you brother.
I am studying Psalm 27. There I read also about waiting
Thank you, Aritha. I’m glad you enjoyed this post. That is a blessing to me. I hope to help, encourage, and offer hope to those who read my writing. May God bless you as you seek Him. Psalm 27 is a tremendous passage about waiting on the Lord. One of my mother’s favorites.
Your enthusiasm for patience is contagious, Horace. I got very down yesterday about this whole pandemic thing. But I need to continue being patient, waiting on God for his part, and being obedient about doing my part. “Waiting is not wasted time.” So true!
Add me to the Psalm 27 fan club too. 🙂 It’s one of my very favorite psalms. It’s brought me a lot of hope and courage in keeping the Lord as my strength.
I’m glad my enthusiasm is rubbing off, Lisa! I have to give God all the credit. He continues to encourage me while showing himself faithful. I am excited to not “waste time” because the days are few. . He is coming to get his children soon. Oh, what a glorious day that will be! In the interim, let us honor Him with how we live each day. Be well, sister, be encouraged, and God bless you.
Thank you, Horace!
You are very welcome, dear sister. It is always a blessing to hear from you, Lisa!
So glad you linked up your post at the One Word linkup today, Horace. Your words are always encouraging and faith-lifting.
Horace, these words are perfect for sharing with my dear friend who lost her husband last week. She has
several major decisions to make and I have been counseling her to take her time, right now she needs to grieve for her beloved husband.
For you, I want to share this little chorus I learned years ago but haven’t taken it to heart until a few years recently.
” You must wait, wait, wait on the Lord.
You must wait, wait, wait on the Lord;
And learn your lessons well,
in His timing He will tell us,
Where to go, What to do,
What to say.” Unknown.
The other thing I thought of when you stated how much you hate to wait; the scripture says, “tribulation worketh
patience”. So if we are wanting to learn patience, we need to be aware that there very well may be some tribulation. Our
current situation in our country
might be called that by some.
I am so glad I found your
Page and your book.
Dr. Jeremiah and Charles Stanley have always been two of my favorites. Such wisdom.
Thank you, Lydia for responding to my post. I’m glad you enjoyed it and I pray your friend is encouraged by it as well. Yes, I have a feeling there will be some tribulation involved in improving my patience. Thankfully, I will not be on my own. God will be there in step with me every step of the way. Please come back and visit again. Thank you for the chorus too!
Thank you, Horace for this encouraging post! I found your thoughts on Patience takes courage especially helpful. We know patience takes faith, but realizing it takes courage, is uplifting. That speaks to me as I often take things back into my own hands, and we all know how that ends! Waiting on God is indeed worth the wait, for His ways are perfect and waiting on Him allows us to see His amazing ways at work in our lives.
Yes, courage is an important muscle that needs developing in the Christian walk. So many times throughout scripture, we are instructed to have the courage to trust God. So glad this post was helpful for you, Donna. Always encouraging to hear from you. Be well. God bless.
Hey Horace,
Thank you for your perspectives on waiting. In waiting seasons, we are prone to be distracted, and staying in the Word and the presence of God is essential. I was in a waiting season, or I guess you can call it a healing season, but because I was captivated by the Lord, it didn’t seem like it was years had passed. When I emerged from that season, it was like a rebirth. Those things that only God can do are truly marvelous in our eyes and indescribable to our inner being. I’m still counting the blessings. Thank you
Amen, Lilyan! The Things God does in our lives are truly amazing. It is even more of a blessing when we realize what He is doing in our lives. I am glad to read that you came out of your season of waiting/healing, feeling reborn. May God continue to bless you as you seek Him.