Wait a minute...
You'll have to wait...
It won't happen overnight, but it will happen...
You just need to be patient...
These are all statements that I have used in life, and I know are very true, but when I am the one that has to wait, or work through a situation, or keep walking and not seeing results, it can get frustrating. I actually consider myself to be a fairly patient person, too... however, there are things in my life where the waiting is, and was, not as easy as it was when I first started waiting... LOL
(Pic from Google search)
I have some prayers I have been and still am praying to see answered that have been part of my prayer life for years. I have situations that I want to see breakthrough in, and I am doing all I know to do to get the breakthrough- including praying- and I am still waiting to see the breakthrough. And I know that I am not alone in the waiting process. I am not the only one that has ever prayed for something for years, or worked towards something for days, weeks, months, or even years. Sometimes it feels like things move as slow as the sand falling through an hour glass, right?!?!
Then, I think about Noah. He has worked and worked with his family to build an huge boat like the Lord asked him to do. The animals come and the family has loaded it with the supplies and they all go in it, the Lord closes the door and they wait. First off, Noah is 600 years old when he and his family go into the ark. But Genesis 7: 10 tells us that seven days after they entered the ark, it started raining... then, it rained for 40 days and nights! I can't imagine that, can you? I do like it when it rains, but 40 days and nights, is a long time. He and his family waited, for the rain to come. They waited for the rain to stop. Then they had to wait for the waters to recede, so they could leave the ark. During the time they were waiting what were they doing? Well, I am sure they were tending to the animals, and doing life on a very unique house boat/ship. Can you imagine how ready they felt to get off that boat, and yet unsure of what it would beg like when they did? EVERYTHING would be different. None of their friends and neighbors would be there anymore. Their neighborhood, their home (tent or dwelling) was gone, the familiar terrain would be different from the sheer force of the flood waters. They waited about a year to be able to exit the boat. Then they were starting things on earth all over again. In the waiting, God was working.
What about Hannah? The story is in 1 Samuel 1. Elkanah had two wives, Peninnah and Hannah. Peninnah had sons and daughters, and Hannah didn't have any... yet. She was the brunt of Peninnah's jokes and hurtful words, but Elkanah loved Hannah. Hannah's cry was to have a child. They would go to the tabernacle to sacrifice and worship, and Elkanah would give her a double portion. While I am sure she appreciated that, it didn't satisfy the deep longing. The hurt drove Hannah to pray... the deep ache in her cried out to the depth of God for an answer. She was desperate for an answer.
(Image from GoodSalt.com)
She waited, she prayed in the waiting, and it pressed her to promise that if the Lord would give her a child, she would give it back to Him all the days of his life. (1 Samuel 1:11) I recently heard a pastor that said Hannah wanted a child, He wanted a prophet, or something like that. After Hannah's waiting. After she had Samuel and gave him back to the Lord, as she promised; she had three more sons and two daughters (1 Samuel 2: 21)
In the waiting, in the breakthrough, there is growth and fruit.
David...
He was a youngster when Samuel came to his father's house to anoint the next king of Israel. He was the youngest of 8 and they didn't even call David to come when they knew the prophet was coming. David was a young man when this happened, not even 20 years old. He was anointed when Saul was still king, and had sons that would (under normal circumstances) be next in line to be king. So, this had to be kept quiet and David and his family had to wait to see how and when it would happen.
(Photo from Alamy.com)
In the waiting, David takes supplies to his brothers that were with the army. He hears Goliath and proceeds to be the one that takes that giant down, giving victory over the Philistines. He also ministers to Saul, by playing his hard- because Saul was tormented by an evil spirit. David becomes a soldier and fulfills by double what is required for the dowry for Saul's daughter as his wife. Then he has to live on the run and in hiding from Saul to avoid being killed. In all this, he is waiting... and in the waiting, there is worship.
In the waiting, there is learning.
In the waiting, love is growing.
What am I waiting for, you may ask.
I am waiting for loved ones to come to Him.
I am waiting to see loved ones healed by Him.
I am waiting to see promises He's given to come true.
I am reminded of the song "Do It Again" by Elevation Worship.
It says this:
"Walking around these walls
I thought by now they'd fall
But You have never failed me yet
Waiting for change to come
Knowing the battle's won
For you have never failed me yet
Your promise still stands
Great is your faithfulness, faithfulness
I'm still in your hands
This is my confidence
You've never failed me yet"
So, while I have promises, and while I have unanswered prayer requests, in the waiting...
- I will NOT doubt
- I will continue to pray & listen
- I will worship
- I will expect His promises to come
- I will remember His faithfulness (what he's done before He will do again)
Numbers 23:19 "God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?" (NLT)
I am reminded of the disciples as they waited as instructed for the promise Jesus gave. They were in an upper room, praying... waiting... and when the promise came, it came with a wind (refreshing), it came with fire (power) and it took them from where they were into the street so that others were ministered to... The answer brought more than they expected. I have heard some say that the "sound of the mighty rushing wind" was not just a sound, but that it actually rumbled. It was earth shaking.
In the waiting, I need to remember that just because I can't see it, doesn't mean that He isn't moving.
In the waiting, I need to remember that just because I don't feel anything, doesn't mean that things are not happening.
I am learning to trust, more deeply.
I am learning to abide more closely.
I am learning to listen.
I am learning to rest in the truth of what He said.
In the waiting I may feel discouraged, but that is not abnormal. In the Psalm 42: 5 AND 11, it says the same thing two times. The psalmist says, "Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again, my Savior and my God!" (NLT)
SO, in the waiting, when frustration and discouragement comes, I need to remind myself of the times God has answered my prayers. I need to remind myself of what He has done before, because He is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.
I will shake off the discouragement.
I will shake off the frustration.
I will speak truth and faith, and worship as I wait.
Father, thank you! Thank you for the promises I have received. Thank you for the promises I am waiting to see fulfilled. Thank you for all I am learning, and hearing, and seeing in the waiting. Forgive my impatience and my complaining, and help me to remember that You only want the best for me- that includes the timing on answers and fulfillment of promises.
I worship You and trust Your timing in fulfilling all that I am waiting to see come to pass. Help me to be content as I wait. Thank you for your help and Your promises yet to come. Thank you for the reminded that Faithful is not only your track record, it is WHO you ARE. In Your love and faithfulness I can know beyond any shadow of a doubt that You WILL keep the promises You have made.
