Surviving The Wait (ESV)

No one likes to have to wait for anything. Today’s society is connected by a 24-hr global network of instant, constant, and persistent communication. We don’t like to wait in line, wait in traffic, wait for marriage, and we certainly don’t have the time to wait on God. Why should we wait? It would be nice if we put a seed in the ground and a second later tomatoes would grow. Maybe it would be nice if we birthed our children and then they walked out of the delivery room to apply for a job. But this is not the case. Waiting builds character. Waiting nurtures relationships. Hannah (1Samuel 1:2) was a woman in the Bible who prayed earnestly for a son. Finally after years of crying out to God, Samuel was born. Samuel grew to be a great prophet. If God had instantly given Hannah what she desired, she would not have become the praying woman that raised such a great man. Waiting on God works, even though waiting on God is hard. How can we wait? When what we desire does not come speedily, we wait prayerfully and with expectancy. Waiting is the time to prepare for what you desire. A child desires a car as a preteen. While he waits for a car, he learns how to drive, how to drive safely, what vehicle may be best, etc. Even though God has the power and desires your happiness, He holds back some blessings for a time for our own good. What is God waiting for? God is waiting on us to be ready. The Bible is full of many promises but he wants you to be ready for them. When we go against God to do things our own way, we move further away from God’s desire for us. Then God must fix our brokenness and then we must still prepare for the promise. It’s so much better to wait on God. Dear God, Thank you for waiting on me. Help me to patiently wait on you. Amen WHAT IF GOD WAS WAITING ON YOU? It’s easy to point the finger at God because He is taking too long, but God is waiting patiently for us: Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. Isaiah 30:18 While we wait, it is important to come closer to God and make His words part of our lives: If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15:7 God wants to give you your heart’s desire: Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32 In actuality, every thing we need is found in not seeking God’s hand, but seeking His heart: But seek first the kingdom of God and his right- eousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33 BE BLESSED!!