Waiting
If I’m being honest, I had a hard time wanting to write this or even finish it today. This month I am going to write about the season of waiting. Waiting is hard, even if you are generally a patient person, and patience is a fruit of the spirit which makes it even harder. The Bible tells us to be patient, it’s not easy to be patient. A Biblical waiting season is an active and purposeful period of trusting God, cultivating patience, and deepening one's faith.
Here are some characteristics of what a Biblical waiting season can look like:
Active and hopeful: Waiting is an active verb in the Bible, implying hopeful expectation and awareness, not inaction.
A time for trust and patience: Waiting seasons are used by God to refine character and foster trust in His timing and plans. It is a process of learning patience, especially when circumstances are unclear.
An opportunity for spiritual growth: God uses waiting to deepen faith and draw believers closer to Him through prayer, meditation, and studying His Word. It is a time to focus on God's character and promises, even when answers are not immediate.
A period of preparation: Waiting is often a time of preparation, shaping believers for what lies ahead. It is seen as a time of growth rather than punishment.
An act of faith: Waiting requires faith—the belief that God is present and working even when things are not happening as quickly as desired. It is an opportunity to rest in the assurance of faith and be attentive to God's work.
Throughout the Bible there are many examples of waiting. Abraham waited many years for his promised son, Jacob, and to marry his beloved wife, Rachel. Joseph endured years of imprisonment and servitude to fulfill a bigger purpose God had for him. The Israelites were enslaved for 400 years and in the desert for 40 years after being freed.
Here are some scriptures we can look to for encouragement when we are in a Biblical waiting period:
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
-Isaiah 40:31
This verse promises that those who wait for the Lord will find new strength, enabling them to soar like eagles, run without weariness, and walk without fainting.
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
-Psalm 27:14
This verse urges believers to be strong and take courage while waiting for the Lord, trusting in His perfect timing and presence.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
-Proverbs 3:5-6
This verse instructs believers to trust in the Lord with all their heart, not leaning on their own understanding, and to acknowledge Him in all their ways so He can direct their paths.
Here are some themes of wasting seasons:
Trust and Faith: Many verses call for trusting God's plan and not relying on one's own understanding.
Patience and Strength: Believers are encouraged to be patient and wait for God's perfect timing, finding renewed strength to endure trials.
God’s Sovereignty: The verses emphasize that God is in control, and His timing is always perfect, even if it differs from human expectations.
Hope and Deliverance: The promise of salvation and the fulfillment of God's promises are central to verses encouraging those in a waiting season.
Prayer
Lord, I pray that you help us wait on You and trust You in whatever plan You have for us.
Amen.
There’s a song out there that’s very popular called Wait on You by Maverick City. It's a good reminder that if we wait on the Lord, He will renew our strength. I recommend it if you haven’t heard it or heard it in a while.