Wait for it... Wait for it!

America is know as the land of consumerism... We think we deserve instant gratification for whatever it is we think we need (material possessions, careers, relationships, our plans, etc). 'Wait' is not a very popular word. We HATE being told to wait. Our culture has rid many of the waiting periods we are told by God to uphold. In Biblical times, men and women saved themselves for their spouses; it didn't 'slide' if they did it beforehand.

Credit cards enable us to get what we want right when we want it - we don't need to work for something before we can get it. Everything in life has become about hurrying and getting what we want, and only later do we realize that getting these things STILL doesn't make us happy.


Psalm 40:1-3

I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.


'Waiting patiently' does not sound 'fun' to us, so we just don't do it. But if you notice, when we wait, God seems to come through for us. Trying to push things to happen (careers, relationships, ministries, etc) shows God that we aren't willing to wait for Him to do it in his way, and his timing.


Psalms 37:34

Wait for the Lord and keep His way. He will exalt you...



Luke 1:20

And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time."

Whether or not we realize it, things don't work out correctly when we don't wait on God.



Isaiah 40: 31

"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint"

Renewed strength, flying with wings as eagles, running without weariness or fainting... sounds good to me! Over and over again in scripture we see evidence of those who wait for God's promises and are rewarded for it:


David was annointed king by Samuel but had to wait 25 years before he could finally sit on his throne.

God told Abram to leave his father's house and follow him (Genesis 12:1-3), giving him six promises:


I will make a great nation from you

You will be blessed

You will be a blessing

I will make your name great

I will bless those who bless you

I will curse those who curse you

Abraham was nearly 100 years old before Isaac was born (25 years after being given the promise). (Abram did not think he would ever have children because he was so old.) He trusted in God's promise that his family would become a great nation, and God fulfilled this promise, in His timing.


Joseph was promised that his family would one day bow to him. This took about 20 years for this to be fulfilled. He had to be sold into slavery by him own family, thrown in jail, forgotten by those he helped, and tested before he could finally receive his promise. After his time of waiting, though, he was given power and leadership he could have never dreamed possible by his own terms.

There is a recurring theme here... those who have waited on God have been blessed by God.



Jeremiah 29: 11

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

God tells us He has plans for us which include a hope and a future, prosperity, and freedom from harm. That sounds pretty good to me. His plans are much better than any I could create on my own.



John 16:33

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Obviously, we cannot escape problems in our lives. It is the inevitable result of sin in the world. This is why we need to fully depend on God and trust in His promises.


Romans 8:25

But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. wait expectantly

God tells us to wait expectantly... This means we are to expect Him to do great things, but first we need to wait!

waiting developes perseverence that builds our character and enables us to become more humble in our walk with God and with others.

We can't expect to understand it all. Not knowing the future makes life exciting! There's really no point in knowing it all, because we still wouldn't know what to do with it.

Where are you going to be in 5 or 10 years?
What job will you have?
Who will you know?
Where will you live?
Only God knows! But He has good plans, so there's no need to worry!

Whatever is happening in your life, don't give up! Wait for promises! (Notice, I can't repeat enough that waiting leads to fulfillment of God's promises!)

Immerse yourself in the Bible and in prayer, memorize scripture that pertains to your situations and remind your self of God's promises.

We're in a metaphorical exile like moses. We need to continue walking until the time comes for us to reach our promised land.

We need to show God that we are willing to do His will, EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T KNOW IT! Tell God He's worth it no matter what the plan is. It's pointless to expect things from God when we don't seek Him, wait for his promises, and sacrifice for him. Then all you need to do is create space! DOn't be "too busy for God" or he will realize you aren't ready for Him to show Himself.


Ecclesiastes 3:1

To everything there is a season
And a time to every purpose under the heaven



Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.


It's easier than you think to turn your life around...

Study God's word,
Trust His faithfuless in those promises,
Wait on Him,
Receive more than you could have dreamed for yourself!




And remember, anything worth having is worth waiting for :)




(Thanks to http://nigeriaworld.com/feature/publication/awodele/080307.html)