Waiting on God
Summer 2024
In the last issue, we considered how to know the call of God for your life. I hope you have prayed and sought wise counsel about that subject already. It’s not too early to start thinking about your future. One danger I have often seen is that young people can get anxious, discontented, and impatient with their current circumstances when they believe the Lord has shown them what they are supposed to do next. The pervasive “instant gratification” attitude of our culture doesn't help. Young people often can’t wait to move on to the next thing even when they are not yet ready for it. The Bible gives us many examples of men and women who needed to wait for the Lord to answer something He had already promised. Waiting on the Lord might be one of the hardest things a Christian is called to do, but the results are perhaps the most rewarding.
Examples of Waiting on God
We read these familiar examples in the Scriptures, but often don’t stop to think about the details. For instance, God promised Abraham a son, but from the time the promise was given until Isaac was born was a period of 25 years— of waiting. Abraham waited 13 years before he took matters into his own hands and sinned by bearing a son through Hagar. God promised that Abraham’s descendants would dwell in the Promised Land of Canaan. It was 430 years until that promise came to pass. Moses waited on the Lord for 40 years before he returned to Egypt to deliver the Hebrews from bondage. David was anointed to be the king when he was between 13 and 15 years old, but he did not sit on the throne until he was 30. David waited on the Lord for over 15 years before he saw God’s promise realized. An example of a much shorter time of waiting is the Lord’s promise in Acts 1:8 that the Apostles would “receive power” and the Holy Spirit would come upon them to be witnesses for Christ. It was only 10 days later when that promise was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost.
The point of these examples is that waiting on the Lord is not a new thing, and you are not the first Christian that has ever had to do it. We tend to be so impatient and short-sighted in our own lives, but we can see in the Scriptures the devastation of not waiting on the Lord. Abraham’s sin of trying to force God’s promise through Hagar resulted in consequences that still wreak havoc to this day. Turn on the news and you will hear all about the continued fighting between the descendants of Ishmael and the descendants of Isaac. The simple fact is that God’s will in God’s time is always best. Waiting on God’s timing is always worth it.
How to Wait on God
Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” Maybe the Lord has already shown you what you should do next. Perhaps you are convinced about the vocation the Lord has called you to or you are already convinced that you know the person you will marry. On the other hand, maybe your situation is that the Lord has not shown you any of these things with any clarity, so you find yourself simply waiting for an answer. What should you do? How should you wait?
First, you should wait contentedly. Paul told Timothy that “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6). James tells us that “the trying of your faith worketh patience” (James 1:3). Waiting on the Lord can be a real test of faith. The Lord calls us to be content with the circumstances and responsibilities He has given us. In His own time, He will lead you to the next step.
Second, you should wait joyfully. You can act contented in the sense that you have simply resigned yourself to the facts of your situation, but are not happy about it. If that’s the case, you will be resentful, angry, and bitter. The Lord calls on you to give thanks and be joyful in every situation.
Third, you should wait prayerfully. While you wait, pray. Pray for the Lord to give you a contented and joyful heart. Pray for the Lord to continue to grow you and teach you the things you need to learn from His word while you wait. Pray for the Lord to make His timing clear to you and to the authority He has placed over you. Pray for your parents and leaders that they would have greater wisdom to help lead you in the right way.
Also, you should wait expectantly. If you are truly content, joyful, and prayerful, then you can expect that the Lord will bring to pass the thing He has promised. The Lord is not playing games with you. He is not carrying you along only to drop you at the end. He is not trying to trick you. He is faithful and will do what He has said. If He has revealed His will to you through His Word, through your spiritual leaders, and circumstances of providence, then He will bring it to pass.
You will never be disappointed if you wait for the Lord’s perfect timing. The Scriptures are full of examples of those who rushed ahead to their own disappointment and destruction. Don’t be impatient and discontented. Trust God to show you His will and bring it to pass in His perfect time.
Rev. D. Bowman - Youth Pages