"Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!" Psalm 27:14
In my opinion, the ability to wait patiently has become a lost art. Just spend some time in an airport and within minutes you'll find someone who's experiencing a meltdown over having to wait for service from a busy airline customer rep.
In this digital age we live in, information is transmitted in seconds. Microwaves cook our frozen dinners in 5 minutes, as opposed to 40 minutes in a conventional oven. From fast food to a fast oil change, we want instant gratification. Waiting for anything is becoming nearly impossible for the average human.
So is it any wonder that when we ask something of God, we expect an immediate answer; and if we don't get an immediate response from Him, we assume He's not listening?
The truth is that God isn't on our time schedule. He lives in an eternal realm. ". . .one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2 Peter 3:8). This is important to remember as we place our requests before Him. If we don't, we may believe that God isn't listening to us.
And that leads me to another truth from God's word, Psalm 55:16-17: "As for me, I call to God and He hears my voice."
So, we pray with the knowledge that God hears us and that He will answer in His own time. His answer may be "yes", "no", or "wait". And it's that last reply that probably causes us the most consternation. We just don't like that answer.
Today in the Word has a short and helpful article in their online journal, Five Things The Bible Teaches About Times of Waiting. In it they give five ways to deal with waiting on God:
1.Embrace the stillness
2.Stand firm in your trust of Him.
3.Don't focus on the end result.
4.Realize we can't see the whole picture.
5.Take the time to grow.
If you are in God's waiting room and struggling with the wait, I encourage you to go to the link provided above and read the article. I know it will help you as you wait.
Today's music video I Will Wait For You (Psalm 130) sung by Shane and Shane is a beautiful song of trust in the Lord as we wait for Him.
I love you, I'm thinking of you, and I'm praying for you.
Please pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Your posts are always an encouragement!
ReplyDeleteDeanna Rabe
This is a very good reminder! I did read the article you linked, and it also puts the idea of waiting in perspective, as you have done. Our culture has made this so difficult, yet waiting does (or can) bring us closer to the Lord because we often come to Him more often when we are waiting and wondering why we are waiting! I often think He has answered me with "wait" so I keep coming back. Like drawing me closer... He's changing my focus. I've been praying for family members for years, still in the waiting. But I trust Him.
ReplyDelete''So, we pray with the knowledge that God hears us and that He will answer in His own time. His answer may be 'yes', 'no', or 'wait'.''
ReplyDeleteIf we are listening to Him, He will hear our prayers. But if we are not listening to Him, He will not listen to us. So in some cases, it may also be 'not until'. As such, it is important to recognize the difference between 'not yet' (wait) and 'not until'. Not yet depends on His timing, of course. Not until depends on us.
''If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.'' (Proverbs 28:9, ESV)
Disobedience to God hinders our prayers. So, yes, if we are not living in obedience to Christ then He will not listen to our prayers. Thus, we must examine ourselves to make sure we have no unconfessed sin that would block our prayers.
Delete"Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,
or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;
but your iniquities have made a separation
between you and your God,
and your sins have hidden his face from you
so that he does not hear." Isaiah 59:1-2 (ESV)
"Come and hear, all you who fear God,
and I will tell what he has done for my soul.
I cried to him with my mouth,
and high praise was on my tongue.
If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.
But truly God has listened;
he has attended to the voice of my prayer." Psalm 66:16-19 (ESV)
Today's devotional presupposes that the reader is in a relationship with Jesus, and living in obedience to Him.
Shalom
Thank you for this message today. We do live in such a fast paced world that no one wants to wait one second longer. It's completely contrary to what we're taught in the Bible. This world is moving faster and faster every day and just when you think it can't go any faster, something else is invented.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy
I needed this reminder today! I'm waiting on the Lord right now... waiting for my house sale to close so I can move! It was supposed to close on Dec. 29th, and I was ready.. so here I sit.. waiting, and listening, and trusting... I think my trust grows stronger the longer I have to wait! I'm trying not to do "what if's" as I wait, as that is looking at the end picture and I trust that it will be right for me. Your posts always seem to hit home with me! Hugs.. Marilyn
ReplyDelete