“Patiently Waiting”
Written by a Mentor with BESIDE
Scripture tells us to wait patiently on God. Patience, wait.. in today’s world? That’s probably why in Psalm 27:14, God had to inform us twice to wait patiently for the Lord; yes, wait patiently for the Lord. As believers we say wait on God a lot. But what does that really mean- waiting on God?
Recently, I applied for 2 jobs. The first job I applied for in June. I waited until November to hear that my application was not considered. I have been waiting now for 3 weeks to hear the outcome or the next step for the second job. It would be 12 weeks later before I learned I did not get the job.
We often hear the words “please wait,” or “can you hold please?” We wait in lines. We wait in appointments. Recently, a friend of mine was searching for a particular item to purchase. When she finally found it online, she could hardly wait to place the order. However, when she found out that shipping would be 14 to 21 days, she decided that was too long to wait. She did not place the order.
We get upset if the wait for our food in a restaurant is too long. Sometimes we have to cancel and reschedule appointments only to have to wait days or weeks for the rescheduled appointment.
Why have we become a society that can’t wait? We want instant gratification. We’ve become a society where kindness is in short supply. Do you ever hear the words, “I’m sorry you had to wait?” Sadly, those are words we seldom hear anymore. Why is it no one wants to say “I’m sorry?” Scripture teaches us to wait. 2 Peter 3:14 says, “dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in His sight.”
I know that the women that we walk beside are often waiting. They’re waiting for love, waiting for someone to treat them with respect, waiting for housing, for a job, waiting on getting proper health care and medication. Often in their wait, there is rejection and abandonment and disappointment and worry. So the wait becomes such a challenge that they stop waiting and start living in ways that might not be pleasing to our loving Father. Waiting causes worry that turns to fear that turns to anxiety that turns to self doubt that turns into “I’m not good enough so I’ll just stop waiting and give up.” Waiting is a hard lesson. God knew the wait would be a challenge. So, He has provided us scriptures to teach us, to give us hope, and to encourage us as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope” (Romans 15:4).
I recently read that Philippians 4 is one of the most popular Bible verse searched online. God tells us to be anxious for nothing. How do we do that? God’s word tells us how; He tells us to focus on what is true, right, lovely, and worthy of praise. We have choices. We have to control our thoughts. We can focus on the negative and the self-doubt and quit or we can focus on God’s word, the truth, and wait on Him to bless us with His great plan. God’s timing is not our timing. His plan will always be the greater plan. Sometimes the plan may mean to wait. Psalms 59:9, “I will wait for you to rescue me, O God you are my strength.” God came that we may have abundant life. I encourage you to engage in His word. You will be blessed. Hebrews 9:27 tells us He is coming again and will bring salvation to all who eagerly wait on Him. Rejoice in the wait!
Philippians 4:4-9