HOW TO HANDLE WAITING.

“But they who wait for 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 (ESV)

What is it about waiting that drives so many of us crazy?

We’ve grown accustomed to microwave meals, Netflix on demand, instant messages, and fast food restaurants. It’s all about instant gratification. Just think about it….

  • When you get on an elevator, do you press the button repeatedly, as if that will make it move faster?

  • When surfing the web, do you refresh your browser constantly, thinking it will load a webpage faster?

  • When driving, do you push the speed limit, even if just a little… or slide through that very yellow light… hoping you arrive at your destination just a little bit sooner?

While society praises speed and instant gratification, God loves patience. Paul describes it as a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). James says our patience will be rewarded, because God is coming (James 5:8).

How are we called to handle waiting?

First, we need to trust that God controls all time and space. According to the Apostle Peter, “A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day” (2 Peter 3:8 NLT). If God could make all of creation in six days, surely He can help you when you need it most.

When God doesn’t do what we want as quickly as we want, we need to trust that He has a reason. For example, when Jesus didn’t visit Lazarus while he was sick, it wasn’t because Jesus was too busy. Jesus had a greater plan than just healing Lazarus. He waited so He could raise Lazarus from the grave! How much more amazing is that?

So, when you’re stuck in a situation where you’re forced to wait — think COVID — consider this:

Perhaps God has given you this time to pray for others. Maybe He has given you this time to reach out to someone. Maybe He has a divine plan you know nothing about.

Don’t be afraid to take these waiting opportunities to grow closer to God, and rely on Him to give you patience.

 

THINK ABOUT IT…

  • What does this devotional reveal to me about God?

  • What does this devotional reveal to me about myself?

  • Based on this, what changes do I need to make?

  • What is my prayer for today?

Click here to find answers to find more encouragement and resources.