What are you waiting for?

We wait for so many things, from waiting for the checker to finish with the person in front of us, to waiting for a solution that will take away our pain. (Man, I really had trouble not listing all the things for which we wait.) The minor things can cause us some irritation, but they are short-lived and we can move past them without much effort. When it comes to issues of pain, provision, or threat, we want our answers now. We wonder why God won’t intervene. What is taking Him so long?

The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

2 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭9‬ ‭AMP

First, let me acknowledge that this scripture is about Jesus’ second coming, but what we can glean here is His character. The Lord/God is not slow or unable to act. He is patient. Waiting for something. In this verse it is our repentance, but that is not the only thing He waits for.

But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] Will gain new strength and renew their power; They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun]; They will run and not become weary, They will walk and not grow tired.

Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭31‬ ‭AMP

Here, He waits for us to turn our attention to Him. When we are in the midst of a trial, when we are waiting for an answer, if we become one of “those who wait for the Lord,” in our waiting He will help us to stay strong.

Joy can be elusive in waiting for our answers to come so why does James tell us to count it all joy?

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

James‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭4 ‭NKJV

It is because God is doing a perfect work in us. He has a plan in mind. He has an end game—our perfect faith. Look at the verse that follows this one.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

James‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV

There are still decisions we have to make as we wait for our answers. Our waiting is not a time for wallowing or stagnation. It is a time of gaining new strength, of soaring, of growing in faith, and of discovering God’s ministrations.

The time before the answer comes, can be compared to the time before the harvest. The farmer prepares the soil, plants the seeds, waters, weeds, and protects the growing crops. All of his labor is directed toward a bountiful return. Each step prepares for the next, and each step is necessary and awe-inspiring. I pray as you wait, that you can peak into the Father’s field and witness the measure of care He works on your behalf, knowing it is a labor of love.

Grace & Peace,

Sandy

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