“And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 3: 5
It’s difficult to wait on our Lord, because we expect instant answers, don’t we?
Doubting Him causes us much needless worry. Withholding the much needed and long awaited response sometimes seems cruel and heartless. Impatient and frustrated, we wonder why He isn’t acting to solve our troubles. Doubt leads to confusion and questions. Did we do something wrong that caused Him to withhold His answer? Did we miss His answer or misunderstand Him? Maybe what we asked was too trivial for Him to bother with.
What do you do when you get tired of waiting?
Most of us look for an alternative, forgetting that without the Lord’s guidance, our plans often end up disastrously. Instead of fretting, we need to use our wait time wisely. Isaiah reminds us that waiting is beneficial:
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength…” Isaiah 40:31a
Waiting gives us time to make sure our request is in His will. It is a time we can use to prepare ourselves for what is ahead. Waiting always draws our attention to the Lord. With a sharper focus, we have greater discernment and a desire to hear and understand Him. Make your heart ready for the Lord by confessing and repenting of sin.
Be strengthened by focusing on the Lord.
Focus on Him through prayer, meditation, worship, and fasting. Shut out the pull of the world’s wisdom and influence by reading the Bible for His wisdom and exhortations to righteousness. Worship Him through words of praise and sing spiritual songs to lift your spirits.
Meditate on His promises.
*He is faithful to make intercession to God the Father for us.
“…It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Romans 8:34
*Nothing can separate us from His love.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” Romans 8:35
*Our Lord never leaves us or forsakes us.
“…for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5
*Our Lord uses our times of waiting for His purposes.
Waiting is His way of preparing us for what’s ahead through physical rest and a spiritual time of replenishment in His Word and in His presence through prayer. We can’t see the future, but He does and He knows what we need to be ready.
Waiting is sometimes His way of slowing us down. Our day to day lives are so busy that we forsake Him. We forget all about Him until we get ourselves into trouble. Be in an attitude of expectancy. He wants to spend time with us, building and growing our relationship with Him.
Waiting is often used as a means of redirecting us. While we wait, we need to assess where we are and what we are doing. Prayer can reveal a new direction that He has for us. Waiting breaks bad habits and patterns of behavior that He finds displeasing. Waiting can also be a time where He is protecting us from something.
Conclusion…
Our strength isn’t sufficient to carry us through our trials, but His strength is. Strength to cope and overcome troubles and trials comes from trusting Him. Let us not forget to build our strength by waiting on Him. While waiting, let us be strengthened by reading our Bible, fasting and praying, and taking physical rest.
Jesus hasn’t left us in the lurch. His silence is not an indicator of departure from us. His love is faithful and true, and ever present.
When we seek Him with our whole heart and mind, He will be found. As you wait upon Him, your course of action will be made clear.
