This devotional series has been about the depth of God’s heart on the issue of waiting. Our carnal nature does not like to wait, and our decadent culture has given us every reason not to have to wait. Furthermore, our expectations and goals in life continue to push us into action and activity, and others will encourage those activities as well. Waiting does not make sense to our carnal nature. It looks as if it is a position of weakness. If we have the power, money or resources to make something happen then why shouldn’t we do it!? Culturally, it seems irresponsible not to do something if you have the power to do it. However, spiritually speaking, waiting is one of the key ways in making spiritual progress and experiencing the breakthrough that the Lord has for us.
Below you find a summary of the last five devotionals about waiting on God, and I also share briefly about Jesus waiting on God.
Wait Patiently (H2342): to dance, to twist, writhe, to whirl, whirl about, bear, bring forth, to wait anxiously, to be born.
1. In part I of this devotional series, the scripture showed us that there is a wait that is not an easy wait. This kind of wait becomes harder over time and the need for an answer gets bigger with time. Abraham had to wait for Isaac and his waiting became more difficult as both he and his wife grew older. God is fully capable of fulfilling His promises regardless of how long we have waited.
Wait (H6960): to wait, look for, hope, expect, linger, to collect, bind together, to twist, to bind.
2. In part II of this devotional series, I shared that waiting causes us to be hungry and thirsty. It can either make us hungry and thirsty for the answer or it will take us to deeper places with God and will lead us to be hungry and thirsty for more of God. God has promised that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be filled.
Wait (H1748): in silence, silently
3. In part III of this series, the scripture led us to a waiting that is coupled with receiving God’s perfect love. God’s love gives us the courage to wait patiently. We are confident that the Lord is working out everything in His timing. There is no fear in waiting, and there is no anxiety or worry about missing out on something by waiting.
Wait (H8104): to keep, guard, observe, give heed, have charge of, keep watch and ward, protect, save life, to hedge about.
4. In part IV of this devotional series, the scripture taught us that waiting allows us to be guarded from making choices that we will regret later. When God has not given us peace about doing something, the best thing to do is to wait. We trust that God is working something out far better than what we can do in our natural strength.
Wait (H7663): to inspect, examine, wait, hope, wait upon, examined, to hope (for)
5. In part V of this devotional series, the Psalmist examined God’s power in Creation. In waiting, we need to remind ourselves of God’s ability for creating everything and putting it all together. He also has the power to bring about any change that He desires. Waiting also examines our hearts and purifies our love for God.
For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. 2Corinthians 13:4
Ultimately, Jesus is our example of waiting. While He was God’s son, He waited about 30 years before He began His ministry. During Jesus’ ministry, some followed Him and others rejected Him, but He steadfastly continued to preach the truth clothed in grace. When He was falsely accused, persecuted, and hung on the cross, He remained silent. He looked as if He was weak, but He patiently waited for God to accomplish His work through Him. “For the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2). He was the lamb led to the slaughter, but He rose as the Lion of Judah bringing freedom to those who seek Him with all their hearts. If He had not waited on God, the work of salvation would not have been accomplished, but His patience and obedience through the struggle brought us all the resurrection power that lives inside of us! Praise the Lord!
