23 May When God Says Wait

“When God Says Wait” was a sermon I heard back in 2008 at Gateway Church in Southlake. I recently remembered it and found my old journal with the notes from the sermon. I can’t believe how long it has been, yet I remember so much of  it. Here are some of my notes on waiting:

1. There is always a purpose behind waiting. Gods’ timetable is much different than ours. Waiting teaches us to let God do His work and not let us prematurely try to force His timetable on us. In the Old testament we are instructed 43 different times to wait. Isaiah 40:29-31 – He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint

2. There are always lessons to be learned in waiting. God does something through us and with us during times of waiting. 4 Lessons are:

• Waiting on God requires absolute trust. You never really know what it is to wait until you learn to trust God. It’s only when we put ourself out on the limb and in a place of vulnerability that we learn the lesson of trusting God. Once we let go of everything we put our confidence in (money, jobs, kids) and give it to Him, He shows us His paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 -Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

• What God does in us is always more important than what we are waiting for. If we are willing to trust on God’s best, nothing else will look good. Often times we only want God’s blessing, but aren’t willing to wait on His timing. Sometimes there are lessons to learn and we have to wait because we aren’t ready for what it is God wants to bless us with.

• Waiting humbles us and makes our attitude the same of Jesus. Waiting on God reminds us that we are not in charge and it’s not about us. Difficult times of waiting humbles us in the presence of God. Philippians 2:5-8. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross!

• Waiting on God changes us. What we want isn’t as important as what God wants to do in us. We want Him to change our circumstances while He wants to change us. Waiting gives us God’s perspective on the situation. James 1:2-4 – Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

3. There is always a blessing when He brings you through it. God told Abraham when he was 75 years old that he would have a son and Abraham had to wait 24 years. Genesis 21:1-2 -Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him.

We are so thankful for this waiting period and everything God has taught us and will continue to teach us. We are praying and hoping it won’t be a 24 year wait! Although no matter how long it is, we have no doubt we will look back and see God’s hand in it all.