The Blessing of Waiting on the Lord!

Wait on the Lord
Be of good courage
And He shall strengthen your heart
Wait I say on the Lord!  (Psalms 27:14)

We live in an age where so many things are obtainable immediately.  We order online and receive the item the next day. We have cars instead of horse and cart air travel instead of ships that relied only on sails.  We are conditioned to expect so much so quickly.  

The theme of waiting is referred to in the Bible at least 116 times.  A very necessary part of our Christian walk involves waiting on God and fully trusting Him especially when things may look bleak. Let’s look at some examples of people in that we raed of in the Bible who didn’t wait and others who did:

The following people didn’t wait on the Lord – and they didn’t receive the blessing.  
 
Aaron:  Exodus 32:1
He did not wait obediently for Moses to descend Mount Horeb with dire consequences for the whole community.
 
King Saul: 1 Samuel 13:8-14
If Saul had waited just one more hour Samuel would have arrived to offer the sacrifice. It was sinful for Saul to offer the sacrifice and he well knew it. Through his disobedience Saul lost his enduring dynasty.
 
Last day scoffers: 2 Peter 3:3-4
They will say “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?” 
As with Christ’s first advent so His second coming has been clearly promised in scripture. The scoffers count themselves out of the wonderful joy we have in the anticipation of Christ’s return.

The Bible narratives show that waiting is not without a struggle and in some cases matters were taken into people’s own hands.  However each of them was ultimately able to see God’s faithfulness to His promises. Here are some examples of those who waited and were rewarded:

Abraham and Sarah:
They waited 25 years for their promised son and heir and it was through this line that Christ would eventually come.
 
Joseph: 
He waited 13 years in prison for God’s promise to him to begin to be fulfilled. And fulfilled it was!!!
 
Moses:
He waited 40 years in the ‘back side of the desert’ until God spoke to him from the burning bush then another 40 years to take Israel to their promised land.
 
David: 
He waited 15 years from being anointed to becoming king.  Through many hard trials and difficulties God’s promise to him was fulfilled. 

I waited patiently for the Lord 
    he turned to me and heard my cry.
 He lifted me out of the slimy pit
    out of the mud and mire
he set my feet on a rock
    and gave me a firm place to stand.
 He put a new song in my mouth
    a hymn of praise to our God.
​(Psalm 40)

​If you are in a season of waiting for God for His promise of deliverance through difficult circumstances take courage from the countless lives who faithfully waited for His time.  Wait and you will not be disappointed.  

But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength 
they shall mount up with wings like eagles 
they shall run and not be weary 
they shall walk and not faint. (​Isaiah 40:29-31)

Peter Hodson.