What does it mean to wait on the Lord? What is it like for you to wait on the Lord? For myself, I’d often describe it as stressful, hard, long, and frustrating.
However, there's starting to be a shift in my perspective. If you’ve never read the story of Joseph (son of Jacob) I suggest you go read it now. And if you’ve read it before I suggest you read it again, and this time take notes.
Did you notice how Joseph never questioned God or doubted him? Or how there’s not a single chapter where Joseph curses God for his suffering?
He endured and persevered and trusted.
And in the end, God showed himself to be faithful (as usual) and restored Joseph and used him to save many lives.
How many of us can say we’ve responded like Joseph in our waiting seasons?
And I mean before Jesus had to give us the stern talking to (Lol!)
I’ll be the first to say I have yet to reach this level of faith.
I look over the years, and although I know I’ve grown in Him; I still find myself in some waiting seasons frustrated, anxious, and impatient.
Is it the control freak in me or is it simply a fear of the unknown?
I think for some of us, we find the waiting to be so daunting because we don't know what we’re waiting for.
What is he going to say, yes, no, or not yet? What is He doing? Why is He doing it? What's taking him so long? Why would he allow this to happen? The list of questions goes on and on.
We concern ourselves with details that have already been ironed out. Details that we’ve already been told are going to work out for our good and His glory.
You know! The same details that are a part of the plans He said were meant not to harm us but to give us a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)
Do you see where I’m going with this?
Let’s pray for each other!
Jesus,
Thank you for everything you've done, everything you're doing, everything you will do.
Please forgive us of our sins and help us to forgive those who have sinned against us.
Next time we find ourselves in a waiting season, please give us the strength to endure, persevere, and trust our days to you.
Help us not to meet you with impatience and frustration, but with praying and trusting hearts.
Help us to remember that you are the Faithful, All-Knowing, Everlasting, Sovereign God, and you love us. You chose us, and you delight in us, nothing you do is to harm us.
Help us to understand with our hearts that it is ok to weep from the pain of the waiting but to remember that joy comes in the morning.
Help us to entrust our lives to you and to follow your lead and to choose your will over our own.
In Jesus name, we pray, Amen.