Waiting patiently has never been one of my strengths. When I take an even closer look at the above verse, it becomes even more unappealing. Meanings for "wait patiently" are fear, tremble, travail, be in anguish, be pained, writhing, suffering torture, and to be distressed. Consequently, waiting patiently doesn't seem like something that I would like to do.
Nevertheless, God tells us to do so, because He wants us to know Him better. Psalm 46:10 says "Be still, and know that I am God". When we know more about God and His nature, we then get a deeper understanding that although we may face distressing circumstances they are no match for our Mighty Loving Father, who will be exalted among the nations and the earth (Ps. 46:10). For this reason, David tells us "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes." Psalm 37:7
David understood waiting for God's promise while suffering. It took 13 years from Saul's anointing him for this young shepherd to become king. He was on the run like a fugitive, slept in caves and experienced loss and other horrific situations. There are times when David felt like losing hope as he cried out, "Sustain me according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed." Psalm 119:115, yet he knew, "No one whose hope is in you (the Lord) will ever be put to shame". Psalm 25:3
The Lord also waits on us. Gideon asked the Lord not to leave before he brought back his offering to set before Him. And the Lord said, "I will wait until you return." Judges 6:18
Can you imagine? My All-Powerful God will wait on me. Hey, if He waited on Gideon, He will wait on me. His purpose for waiting on Gideon was not only that He was expecting an offering, but that Gideon desired to know that it was really God speaking to Him so he could do His will.
God wants to reveal Himself to me, but it seems that most times I only draw closer to Him when I am in anguish. During periods of prosperity, I tend to forget Him. However, in my difficult situations I seek God out for answers.
God is love and 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 describes God as it characterizes love. The NKJV begins with love suffers long. Breaking it down, this means if God is love and love suffers long, then God suffers long as He waits on me to be aligned with His will for my life.
When you love someone you never want to hurt them and you want to move heaven and earth to make them happy. So if I love God, I will do the same, even if I have to suffer long and endure all things even if they cause me to writhe in misery.
The good news is that God has purpose for this travail. There are other meanings for "wait patiently" such as to dance, to be brought forth and to be born. Hallelujah!!! God tells us to wait with expectation because something is being born within us. Like a mother we labor in pain, giving birth to our expected promise. Then, God would have turned our "mourning into dancing" Psalm 30:11
David experienced this.
1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 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.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD. Psalm 40:1-3
Your wait is not in vain,
No matter how much the pain.
God knows the plans
So, put your life in His hands,
That long seemingly unbearable wait,
Is actually your way to an open gate
Don't give up, keep the faith
It may look like God is late
But, just you wait...the reward is surely great!!!
--- Me
Your Wait
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