Wait With Joy
A little while ago I had a conversation with my mother about a situation I’d been praying for. I thought, hmm, this has been going on for a while. When is God going to answer me?
When I brought the subject up with my mother, she told me something simple that has greatly impacted my faith. In passing, and without malice, my mom calmly said; ‘Who do you think you are? God doesn’t have to lie to you.’
My situation and impatience with God is not a solely unique story only experienced by myself. Almost every Christian, whether new or mature, has grown a little fidgety in that waiting period during a time of trial or even a time of stillness. I think every Believer can relate to me when I say that I felt a little alone in my prayer life. You know that empty feeling?—where it’s almost like you have to convince yourself that God is listening?
We all know He’s there, and we know that He cares about our prayers and requests. But sometimes it feels like God doesn’t answer as quickly as we’d like Him too. Especially when we’re seeking to cash in on a promise He’s made to us.
Think about Abraham and the promise God made to give him a son. He grew impatient and brought an entirely new human being into the world because he couldn’t quite hold on. Some of us may not have brought another person into the world, but I do believe we, as faithful Christians, can identify—if only somewhat—with Abraham and his actions.
The problem isn’t that God takes too long, it’s that we don’t always understand that making a promise today doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get that promise tomorrow.
Going back to my mother’s statement, the point of all this is to say that God loves us all and sometimes He gives us a heads up to let us know He’s going to give us something in the future. The key point is that it’s in the future. Doesn’t mean today, tomorrow, or even ten years from now. But that shouldn’t impact our faith or make us faint of heart.
Why not?
Because, no offense, but we’re not important enough for God to lie to. When God makes a promise, it’s not to impress anyone or to show off. It’s to establish trust with you. Trust that God will honor His word and that you will honor Him. Trust that, no matter how long it takes, you will keep believing in Him, and trust that you won’t stray from the path of righteousness as you wait for your promise to be fulfilled.
I have a few scriptures that I think work perfectly for this article.
Psalms 46:10 KJV “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Galatians 6:9 KJV “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
Isaiah 55:10-11 KJV “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”
All three of these scriptures are perfect for meditation during that struggling waiting period. When you’re waiting, be still but don’t be unproductive. Take joy in your stillness and know that God’s got this. Don’t grow weary as you wait, just know that everything happens at a set time and yours will be coming soon. Most importantly, remember that God doesn’t lie. He doesn’t have to, especially not to people He created.
So when you’re waiting on your promise, wait patiently and wait with joy.
As always, God bless.