Waiting is Hard
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When I've been writing about persevering - I'm reminded that one of the big things about persevering is "waiting." And waiting, and waiting. Oh my - waiting can be so hard. We pray, we expect answers, and often times all we get is waiting. Persevering involves lots of waiting. And sometimes (maybe even often times) that waiting goes on for a long time. There are so many things I've waited for. I think that's why it was so exciting to me to see some answers to prayer!!
Waiting is not a word we like to hear. We live in a world of "instant" everything!! Food, communication, service, shopping - you name it, it's instant. Waiting is not a popular word.
The Bible is full of waiting:
- Sarah waited 90 years for a child - even with the promise that she would be the "mother of nations."
- The children of Israel waiting 40 years in the desert before they entered the Promise Land.
- Jacob labored and waited 7 years for Rachel - only to be tricked and get her elder sister Leah for his bride.
- The paralytic waited 38 years by the pool of Bethesda for healing.
- Joseph waited for 13+ years in prison before becoming Pharaoh's number 2 man - which set him up for reuniting with his brothers. It was almost 22 years before he saw the fulfillment of the dream God had given him as a young boy.
- It was about 15 years after David was anointed to be king by Samuel before it actually happened.
Hannah waiting for a child. Ruth waiting with her mother-in-law. Moses in the desert before being called to lead the Israelites. Job suffering greatly until God restored his fortunes. The list goes on and on! Jesus himself waited 30 years before beginning his earthly ministry. Waiting actually seems like part of God's plan for many of His people. And the waiting always paid off!!
When I've prayed, and persevered, and waited - I have to remind myself that God's answers to prayer and the fulfillment of His purposes are often not instant. He uses the waiting to teach us and refine us. It's not a wasted time. We can trust and even rejoice in the waiting.
"Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" Psalm 27:14
"I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and He turned to me and heard my cry." Psalm 40:1 I love this verse because it reminds me that God hears my cries!!
"The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him." Lamentations 3:25
"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning." Psalm 130:5,6
"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 those who wait for Him." Isaiah 30:18
"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope." Psalm 130:5
"But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31
So very many verses about waiting. I think the Lord knew how hard waiting would be for us, so He put verse after verse about it to encourage us. On the other side of waiting there are miracles, answers to prayer, fulfillment of promises - but we have to wait!