The word wait is defined as "1. stay where one is or delay action until a particular time or until something else happens. 2. used to indicate that one is eagerly impatient to do something or for something to happen."
I am not a good "waiter". When I am ready for something, I am ready. Because of this particular flaw in my character (one of many), God has used waiting as a way to force me to rely on Him. I don't like waiting but I've spent most of my life doing it. I have a wonderful husband who has no concept of time--so I spend a lot of time waiting for him. Waiting for him to get home, waiting for him to be ready to go, waiting for him to make a decision. And there is only small comfort in knowing that other women feel my pain! I don't like to be late. But I have a precious friend who also has no concept of time. So I spend time waiting on her when we have plans. (I finally learned just to tell her 30 minutes earlier than necessary--so now most of you know who this is as does she! ) I don't like waiting when I have doctor's appointments or if someone has set a time to see me and then they are late. I can forgive it and get over it--usually--but I don't like it. I already hear some of you saying, preach it sista!! (I have learned to always have a book or magazine handy, especially when waiting somewhere other than home.)
Perhaps the hardest thing for me to admit is that I don't particularly like waiting for God's timing. Do I know that is the right thing to do? Of course I do. I am familiar with all the Bible verses that tell us to wait. Psalms 27:14 - Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. Isaiah 40:31 - But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint. Psalms 62:5 - My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation [is] from him. In the Psalms over and over David talks about waiting. And I know that is what we are to do. And as I've gotten older and matured in my faith, I realize more and more the importance of waiting. Mainly because every time I got ahead of God's timing I failed. Nothing went the way it was supposed to go. Nobody did what I had planned for them to do. And, thankfully, God refrained from saying "I told you so" but I wouldn't be surprised if He shook His head and asked "Will she EVER learn?"
We discuss waiting on God in Sunday School. We sing songs about waiting for Him to give us His answer. So finally, I decided to follow the advice in Isaiah 8:17 - And I will wait upon the LORD... and I will look for him. While I kept praying, while I asked my prayer warriors to pray with me, while I read and studied my Bible, I was waiting. And I stopped worrying. I just kept telling myself that God was in control. He would meet my needs. He would take care of everything. I felt lighter. I felt more content. I even have become a "waiting" encourager. Helping others to see the peace of just giving it over to God and trusting Him.
Finally, God must have felt like I had reached a point where He could answer one of my biggest requests without it changing me. So He showed up and He showed out. Very soon this scripture filled my heart---Psalms 40:1 - I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
Hallelujah! You just have to shout there! I sent texts to those who had been praying so diligently with me and just said Praise the Lord. Oh how my heart is singing. Oh how thankful I am that I let go. That I gave it all to Him.
So if this is where you are, just trust. And wait. And when God's time is right you will agree with the Psalmist: Psalms 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
