Learning to Wait

God promises immeasurable blessings to those who willingly wait upon Him.  Isaiah 64:4 captures this divine guarantee.  “For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him!”  If we rest in God’s unquestionable goodness and faithfulness, His mysterious and majestic methods of resolving situations amaze us.

Waiting is a very difficult.  Actually, we hate to wait.  Delays tempt us to explore alternative plans (A, B, C, D, etc.).  As we doubt original plans, we even doubt God.  We take our wills back determining we are better able to handle situation than God is.  Anxiety and anger usually and significantly undermine us when we wait.

Yet, God often requires waiting on Him.  He does so for any number of reasons.  First, He teaches us to rely genuinely upon Him.  He desires we experience His enduring faithfulness even in bleak predicaments.  Interestingly, desperation and darkness often create scenarios for God’s best work.  Fear forces the only reliable choose, which is holding unequivocally to God’s promises.  When things work out, we know God alone graciously intervenes.  Nevertheless, in accordance with Hebrews 11:1-6, God necessitates periods of waiting to demonstrate His love and grace.

Second, God makes us wait to refine our character.  Elsewhere, Isaiah uses images of a refiner and gold.  To burn away dross and impurities within gold, a refiner must put it in a fiercely burning furnace.  Removing dross is neither quick nor simple.  The refiner leaves the gold in the furnace for a while.  Similarly, God makes us wait on Him in the furnace of our afflictions to remove the character defects and sin. 

Third, God orchestrates period of waiting to strengthen our faith in Him.  During the exilic period, Israel has a fundamental choice.  They could become the world’s greatest cynics.  Justifiably, they could determine God lies and reneges on His covenant with Abraham.  Israel could yield to faithlessness and hopelessness.  Instead, they remain steadfast in their trust in the Lord.  Jeremiah in the “Letter to the Exiles” reassures them God’s future plans for them will exceed their former glory.  Yet, they must wait and cultivate greater belief and trust in Almighty God.

Parenthetically, belief and trust are two sides of the same coin.  On one side, there is unwavering faith in God’s abilities and promises. One unconditionally accepts truths about God’s past deeds; and develops assurance He will act equally in the future.  On the other side, there is willingness to act upon one’s faith.  Practically speaking, exercising faith in rising each morning and taking the next right step.  We trust God when we demonstrate our willingness to act upon His direction.

Bear in mind God can hit a moving target.  As we wait, we do not sit idle.  In Hebrew, waiting includes activity.  To reiterate, we should not incessantly and needlessly explore substitute plans for God’s will.  That is not waiting; it is disobedience and rebellion.  Rather, we continually take the next right step: returning phone calls, sending out resumes, going on interviews, strengthening latent talents, and remaining faithful in daily tasks.  God promotes persons who are faithful above people who are more talented.

When we feel vengeful, that is a particular time in which to wait on the Lord.  “Vengeance is mine says the Lord.”  God certainly repays persons who have harmed us.  Consequently, we leave their punishment to Him.  Admittedly, it is most tempting to try and orchestrate their pain and suffering.  We want them to feel the exact amount of pain that we feel.  Nonetheless, Isaiah assures us Almighty God works on behalf of people who wait on Him.