It goes without saying that people do not like to wait. We want everything asap and grow impatient when there is a waiting period. As Christians, we all go through waiting periods in our lives. We wait on GOD to answer a prayer or to give us a sign that proves that He’s listening. What we fail to understand is that there is a blessing in waiting.
I know what it feels like to wait. To wake up each day, and hope that today will be the day. Days turn into weeks, weeks in months, and months into years, but I’m still waiting. It becomes a struggle to get out of bed, to be happy in the small things of life, to remain grateful for what you have already- the joy you once felt seems to have evaporated into thin air. It becomes easy to look at the next person, to see what they have. You know how hard you’ve been working, but someone else seems to gain success with less effort. You have been praying for a spouse, but someone younger than you has just got married and they are beginning the life that you had always hoped for. Someone else just had a baby, a baby that you’ve been praying for, for years. It doesn’t seem fair, does it? Why would the LORD give them, and not to you? Aren’t you good enough? Doesn’t He love you as well? These questions circle in our minds like vultures circling over a potential meal. Your negative thoughts wait for you to lose your joy and replace it with despair, envy, anger, depression and hopelessness. What can we do when we find ourselves in this position?
Psalm 37: 7-8 gives us great advice that we should all take to heart: Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret- it only causes harm. Do you see how beautiful these verses are? GOD has a word for every situation in our lives, including waiting!
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him
King David knew what it was like to face opposition, to wait for GOD to bring an answer to His prayer. He was human, just like us, so it must have been hard for him a well. However, he learnt the ‘secret’ of waiting: resting in the LORD. Do you know what it means to rest? In the Merriam-Webster dictionary, it means freedom from activity or labour (there are other definitions as well, but they do not fit the context of the Psalm). We do not need to do something while we wait just to feel as though you’re not wasting your time. We do not need to stress because what we have prayed for has not come to pass. GOD has heard our prayers, so we just need to relax and rest in Him. We also need to wait patiently for Him. So often we rush into things, and when they go wrong, we cry out to GOD as if He is the one to blame. Rushing into a job because it’s what we think is right, rushing into a marriage because everyone else is married, rushing into college and doing whatever course you fancy because you’re too impatient to let GOD guide you. No, just be patient and wait.
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way
We have all done this. We look at a person who isn’t even living their life right, and we see them succeed. The guy who cheated his way through college and now has a successful job, the lady in church who flashed money and now is in a leadership position- we all know of scenarios where things like this and more have happened, and we’ve all been angry about it. Our biggest question is WHY? Why, LORD? But, we cannot think like this because it doesn’t do us any good. We see those people, but we do not have to be moved by the supposed unfairness of it all. GOD sees you, and that’s all that matters. Do not fret, it only causes harm. How much clearer do we need this to be?
There is one last verse that I did not include, but it gives us what to do when we wait: Trust in the LORD and do good (Psalm 37:3). If there is one who deserves our trust, it is GOD. He never lets us down, and He is always faithful. He does exactly what His Word says. Just trust Him to do the right thing for you. It doesn’t mean that you’ll get what you want, but you will receive peace while you wait. GOD knows exactly what we need, and when we need it. When we grow impatient during our waiting period, we lose sight of Him and suffer for it. So, what should you do while you wait? Do good. See to the needs of others, put yourself out there and make yourself available to those in need. You may not get your prayer answered in the way that you expected, but you will be content with what you have, no matter how much or little it is.
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It is a blessing to me whenever someone gets something out of what I have written- thank you. Remain blessed.
It is a blessing to me whenever someone gets something out of what I have written- thank you. Remain blessed.
It’s funny, I just wrote on the topic of waiting and instant gratification yesterday on my Priestwife wordpress blog. Reading your post now is like an affirmation from God- “Please just trust me and be patient!” Thank you for sharing this post.
It’s funny, I just wrote on the topic of waiting and instant gratification yesterday on my Priestwife wordpress blog. Reading your post now is like an affirmation from God- “Please just trust me and be patient!” Thank you for sharing this post.