The Art of Waiting on God
I don’t hold a master’s degree in waiting on God, nor in patience. But I am praying that I’d be slowly molded into an artist of waiting on God. Biblical waiting means confident expectation, trusting that God will do what he has promised. That God knows best both what needs to happen and when it needs to happen. That God will be preparing us while we are waiting. That God works for the good who believe in him.
There are many examples in the Bible about what happens when we don’t trust God but precede God. Just think about Abraham! God promised him a son. But when nothing happened he took the matter into his own hands and got his wife’s maid pregnant (Genesis 16). He did not wait on God’s timing. Neither did Saul.
Saul stayed at Gilgal, and the troops followed him anxiously. He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel, but Samuel didn’t come to Gilgal, and his troops began to desert. So Saul ordered, “Bring me the entirely burned offering and the well-being sacrifices.” Then he offered the entirely burned offering. The very moment Saul finished offering up the entirely burned offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet him and welcome him. But Samuel said, “What have you done?”
“I saw that my troops were deserting,” Saul replied. “You hadn’t arrived by the appointed time, and the Philistines were gathering at Michmash. I thought, The Philistines are about to march against me at Gilgal and I haven’t yet sought the LORD’s favor. So I took control of myself and offered the entirely burned offering.”
“How stupid of you to have broken the commands the LORD your God gave you!” Samuel told Saul. “The LORD would have established your rule over Israel forever, but now your rule won’t last. The LORD will search for a man of his own choosing, and the LORD will commission him as leader over God’s people, because you didn’t keep the LORD’s command.” (1 Sam. 13:7-14, CEB, emphasis added)
Saul’s seemingly rational and reasonable action demonstrates disobedience to God. Saul reacted out of fear of the Philistines, not out of fear of God. Saul did not wait for God, he took charge. Waiting for God requires strength and spiritual maturity.
We are not to lean on our own understanding. We are not to birth things prematurely. We are to trust God and his timing. He knows best. We are to let God take charge of our lives. We are to trust God to take care of us according to his grace and not according to our fear.
Waiting on God is a way of life.
Waiting on God is knowing God is God and we are not God.
Waiting on God is about surrendering our will to God day by day.
Waiting on God is trusting God for pouring out grace also tomorrow.
Waiting on God is seeking him with our whole hearts.
Waiting on God is being changed into his likeness.
Waiting on God is becoming whom God created us to be.
Gracious God,
Thank you that you are God and we are not.
Thank you for taking holistically care of us.
Thank you that you know what’s best.
Forgive us for (re)taking charge or our lives.
We surrender to your guidance.
Don’t let us ruin your plans for us.
May nothing but your will happen.
Enable us to wait on you
and trust you completely.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Q4U: Does waiting on God come to you easily? What does help you to not spring ahead of God?
Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you confidently wait on God!
Giving thanks today for
#181 God’s patience with us
#182 God’s sovereignty
#183 rest we find in God when we trust
#184 that we are not supposed to take charge of our lives
#185 sweetness of surrendering to God
#186 God treating us according to his grace, not our fear
#187 peace that comes when we let go and let God
#188 God’s beautiful plans for each of our lives
#189 God’s abundant love for us
#190 God’s gentle refining of our souls
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23 thoughts on “The Art of Waiting on God”
Aah, waiting. The blessed peace, or the unbearable anxiety! I believe the difference is made by our level of trust. It is easier to wait patiently when we remember how God has always faithfully led us in the past. Our patience and faith in Him are also strengthened by spending plenty of time in His Word, memorizing the precious promises recorded for us there. Waiting is not always easy, but it is always worth it!
Your example of Saul really hits home. It is not always ignoring God’s plan that is the problem. Going about things in our own way and time is just as bad of a problem. May He grant us discernment–and patience. 🙂
Amen! Thanks for sharing your wisdom on waiting, Sheila! Waiting is not
easy but it is indeed worth it! God knows best even when we don’t
understand it. And, yes, we learn by doing…so we learn to trust by
trusting and to wait by waiting. God will bless our obedience! Abundant
blessings to you, sis!
So true. On-the-job training at its finest! 🙂
Blessings to you, too.
Amen! Thanks for sharing your wisdom on waiting, Sheila! Waiting is not easy but it is indeed worth it! God knows best even when we don’t understand it. And, yes, we learn by doing…so we learn to trust by trusting and to wait by waiting. God will bless our obedience! Abundant blessings to you, sis!
Thank you for creating your blog. It is always a bit sticky when knowing what will be correct to do, when the desire to create is of the proper thing and not for our ego self. I See this is hear for a purpose of God’s Will..and is a beautiful thing. Thank you very much…what is there without patience? Trust – Patience = anxiety; Faith – Patience = nothing. Faith without works is dead is not complete when taken out of context. Must understand what Works is…my works or God’s works for one thing?..Secondly, Works of the spirit through Acceptance (Receiving) of God’s Loving Grace results in works of the Spirit, which vary vastly. This is what has come to me, only because I have heard that first statement and thought it sounded very Old Testament…I do not feel I have to Prove my Faith to God, He already knows. Likewise, I must not be afraid to perform works of good fellowship (doubt in myself) when feeling called to do so. Which to me, is Your Blog. Thank you.
Thank you for your kind words, Stephen. Also very interesting thoughts! Thanks for sharing! May God continue to bless you and keep you close!
“Waiting for God requires strength and spiritual maturity. ”
I remember years ago when I first became a Christian- I was on fire and thought I knew so much! Looking back I can laugh at myself and my spiritual immaturity.
I’d like to say that today I am a “mature” Christian, but I know I am a work in progress. I am more mature than I was, but I have a LONG ways to go. Like Saul I can get impatient and try to take things in my own hands. At least now I am aware I tend to do this, so I now am better at stopping, praying and waiting. Better, but not perfect.
YES! “We are better, but not perfect.” We are indeed works in process but what a privilege it is to be God’s WIP! Thank you for your comment, TC! Empowering Blessings!
God is never late. Have faith in God and wait.
YES! Blessings to you, sis! And thanks for chiming in!
Thank you for posting this today. I read a sermon Charles Spurgeon gave on the sin of unbelief and it dealt extensively with ‘not trusting his promises’……the children of Israel wandering in the desert, Moses and Aaron not getting to see the promise land and probably the most horrific example was the destruction of Jerusalem. Your post just highlights it even more. Makes me want to memorize all those multitudes of promises! Have a wonderful day, dear sister! Counting my blessings along with you…….
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Rebecca! We do need to remember God’s promises and base our life on them not on our fears. Special blessings to you, sis!
I love how you always add a “Q4U” at the end of each post! Anyway, no…waiting seems to go against my nature. However, God has been teaching me how to wait through many different experiences. Through each, I have learned to trust Him more and more…and my faith is increasing every day. So, the waiting is not so bad when I remember that He is shaping me and continuing to grow me during that time. Praise God! The last line on your “waiting on God” list popped out to me as I just wrote about that in my prayer blog. Have you ever stopped by that one? (not my “regular” blog) Anyway, my most recent prayer on it is for God to continue to shape and mold me into the woman He created me to be. This happens during the waiting. Blessings! Joan
(P.S. Prayer blog address: http://thebeautyinhisgripprayer.blogspot.com/)
Thank you, Joan, for sharing your wise words here. I agree with you. Waiting is hard but the more we practice it (= let God work on us), the easier it becomes. I will visit your prayer blog for sure. Also, did you know there is a prayer blog hop at Flowing Faith during the weekends? God bless you, sis!
Oh! I didn’t know that! I’ll have to check back! Thanks for letting me know!
Hello, I would like to win a copy of the CEB. Ive never had a copy before.
Great to hear from you, Joe. God bless you!
“Waiting on God is being changed into his likeness.” — thank you for reminding me of this truth!
Thank you, Lyli! May God continue to bless you and keep you!
Wow, patience. What is our patience today, tomorrow, this year, the next 5 years, in comparison to Eternity…less than a mustard seed….Also Know …always redefining Faith and Love, the Magnificent Element of Creation on the Periodic Table which expands outward through the branches and leaves of the Tree of Life…as the roots digger deeper and deeper into the flowing waters of the peaceful stream of Holy Spirit. The 23rd Psalm is a great piece of Meditative Work..word for word..thought by thought…LOVE your blog..keep the flow coming in. Praise the Magnificence of His Work, not mine, be done.
Thank you, Stephen, for sharing your thoughts with us. Waiting on God is about trusting him without understanding everything. And, yeah, our perspective is not God’s perspective. When we remember that it is easier to be patient and wait on God. BLESSINGS!
Waiting on God reminds me that I am not in control of my life but I’ve surrendered my life so he cane use it to mold me like ChrisI and change the lives of others for their best!
Yes, indeed! Thanks, John, for sharing your thoughts. Abundant blessings to you!