Waiting for things was common in the Bible days. Sometimes it took days or weeks to get to a destination. Often it took a while for a letter to arrive. It could take months or years for a building to be erected. The people of old were used to waiting. Not today, though. We live in an instant society. Mail can be received in a matter of seconds, traveling across the country can be accomplished in just a few hours, and meals can be prepared in just minutes. With that said, we often get impatient when things don’t happen quickly, even, and especially, when we’re waiting for God to move.
Let me remind you that God is on His own timetable. He does not operate the way we operate. Perhaps that’s why He tells us again and again in Scripture to be patient. Biblical patience is the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset. Biblical patience is knowing that God will do what He said and then waiting for Him to do it… He’s sovereign and has a plan for everything… and a perfect timing. Being patient means that I will keep my eyes focused on His promise… I will keep trusting, believing, and hoping. I won’t give up. I will not stop praying for a prodigal to return, for a situation to change, for an answer to prayer, and for a movement of God.
Satan loves when we get impatient. He doesn’t waste any time whispering lies into our ears… You’ve been waiting a long time, so is God really going to answer? If God said that, why hasn’t He come through yet? Look at so-and-so… God answered their prayer, but He hasn’t answered yours. Believing these lies can take us down a dark hole of unbelief, frustration, and anger. Impatience can lead us to try and manipulate the situation (like Sarah), lose confidence in God’s Word, or raise our fist at God. Listening to Satan’s lies can rob us of joy today.
There are two things about patience we must know… 1) patience is cultivated. It doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a fruit of the Spirit. Patience grows out of daily Bible study, prayer, and reliance on the Holy Spirit. And 2) patience makes us strong. Patience and waiting are synonymous with each other. Isaiah writes in Isaiah 40:31: “But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles.”
I believe the longer we have to wait, the more glorious the answer will be. Let’s trust in God’s timing, trust in His sovereignty, and trust that He is working even if we can’t see it. Bring to Him today all your uncertainty, doubts, unbelief, frustration, and discouragement. Ask Him to help you be patient in the waiting.