The Test Of Waiting

Waiting on God’s timing isn’t easy. It exercises muscles that we rarely use. I have my own timeline and my own will that sometimes are not on the same page as God. I’m ready for things to happen my way right now. God wants us to wait for things to happen His way when He has everything lined up. I’ve learned that waiting on His will and timing builds strength, reliance and stability. We grow stronger when we stretch our patience muscle. I forget that patience is a Fruit of the Spirit. Though it feels like it’s wearing thin, it gets stronger each time we wait on God. While that muscle stretches, it also is building our reliance on Him. When we wait on His timing, our resources may run out. Also when we do things His way, our lives and future are more stable.

Elijah was one of the greatest prophets in the Bible. In 1 Kings 17, he was running from Jezebel after his victory over the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. God sent him to a brook to wait and told him to drink from the brook and that ravens would bring him food. While waiting, the brook dried up. Then the Lord sent him to a village where a widow would feed him. In each instance he waited for God’s timing and on God’s provision. Even though he was where he was supposed to be near the brook, that provision dried up. He didn’t panic. He sought the Lord who directed him to his next place of provision. When he showed up to the village, the widow was making her last meal. I’m sure she was wondering where the next one was going to come from. Because she obeyed, she, her son and Elijah were provided for.

Psalm 33:20 says, “We wait [expectantly] for the Lord; He is our help and our shield” (AMP). When we wait on the Lord’s will and timing, we can feel exposed, yet He is our shield in the waiting. He is also our help in our time of need. We can either try things our way in our timing , which can affect so many parts of our life, or we can wait for His provision and timing. I have to remind myself in those moments that God is my provider and not myself. When we take timing and provision away from Him because of fear, we place ourselves on the throne of our life. There are always consequences to that, while there are blessings He gives us for our obedience. Can you obey and keep Him on the throne of your life when things aren’t easy or happening according to your schedule? That’s the test of waiting.

Photo by Luke Ellis-Craven on Unsplash