I want to offer encouragement if you are in the season of waiting. Waiting could be tough especially if we want things to be done immediately. It’s tougher if there’s no clear reason of the delay. Nevertheless, waiting is usually one of God’s usual ways to prepare us for the work that He intends us to do. Usually, a significant period of waiting is what happens before God gives us the significant work He has in mind for us.
Take for example the biblical characters in the succeeding paragraphs.
Before David became king, he waited thirteen long years living as a fugitive because he was being haunted by Saul. The significant work God has given him to do is for David to lead the nation of Israel for forty years.
Elijah also waited at the brook called Cherith. This was his waiting room back then. It wasn’t also easy because the brook dried up and he was forced to move to Zarepath. In those years, Elijah simply waited. There was no significant accomplishments and there no souls were ministered. The work that was given to Elijah after this season of waiting was to confront the evil empire of Ahab and Jezebel by God’s power.
Most of us are familiar with the story of the prince of Egypt: Moses. Before he was tasked to deliver the Israelites out of their slavery of Egypt into Canaan, he waited forty years to become the leader of the Hebrews. For forty years, Moses tended sheep on the plains of Midian. He waited in the shadows and remained in obscurity as a shepherd. He didn’t encounter the burning bush until he was eighty years old. We might seem to remember all the astounding miracles that God did through Moses but we have forgotten that he waited extended years.
Before Joseph became the Prime Minister of Egypt and to sustain the nation together in its years of deadly drought, He was sold as a slave by his own brothers. He was bought like a piece of property by Potiphar and served as his houseboy. He was seduced by Potiphar’s wife. Joseph wisely avoided and ran but still the wife accused him of rape. He ended up in prison for over two more years.
For what? For waiting.
The usual principle regarding waiting as found in the bible as said by Charles Swindoll is that: exceptional work is preceded by extended waiting. I really like what James Stalker said about waiting, to quote:
“Waiting is a common instrument of providential discipline for those to whom exceptional work has been appointed.”
It is in this period of waiting that God molds our character and aligns aspects of our lives in accordance to His will for us to be a suitable vessel for the task that He has in store for us. It is in this period when God prunes us for us to bear more fruit so that the messenger sending the message wouldn’t invalidate the message. It would be counterproductive if our lives would contradict the message of the work that God wants us to do. He cares about our godliness and character and not just getting the work done. Waiting makes us more patient, allows us to reflect bad decisions, lets us reflect of the lessons that God are teaching us, and gives us lots of insights and realizations about where we could improve. It is when God teaches us the most important lessons in life. It is when we contemplate, pray and commune with God and deepen our relationship with Him. It is where He crushes all self-dependence so that we would depend in God’s grace alone. It is when we hone our skills and gifts to its potential in humility and grace so that when that time comes for God to give us the limelight, we glorify God instead of ourselves. It is in this time when we bask ourselves with the love of God because of the way He delays what is good for our good and withholds the good for the best.
There are lots of verses in the bible that talks about waiting but I will just use this one verse. Kindly read slowly and meditate.
Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
Take heart. Be of good courage. Wait in the Lord. God is preparing you for greater things!
By grace alone 