WAITING

Today's world ...

No one wants to be patient. No one wants to wait for anything. They want it right now - that instant gratification. P. J. Tucker

Many consider 'waiting' exasperating, yet God calls us to exercise patience. It demonstrates trust in the Lord's sovereign care and protects us from running ahead of His divine will. 

Scripture reveals the 'what' and 'why' of waiting ... 

Waiting on the Lord: 

He is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. That revelation alone should cause us to surrender our future to Him ... The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. (Lamentations 3:25)

He will act in His time, to our benefit ... None who wait for You shall be put to shame. (Psalm 25:3)

Faith demands it ... Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord. (Psalm 27:14)

Waiting on God’s Justice:

We are never to exact reprisal ... Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for God’s wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay'. (Romans 12:19)

Seditious contrivances don't go unnoticed ... Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. (Psalm 37:7)

He is 'El Roi' (God Who sees us) ... We wait for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For in Him our heart rejoices, because we trust in His holy name. (Psalm 33:20–21)

Waiting on Answered Prayer:

When we pray, God always hears but often requires time to pass before responding ... I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord, and He inclined to me and heard my cry. (Psalm 40:1)

We trust that He knows the longing of our heart ... But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. (Romans 8:25)

Patience pays dividends ... We glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character, and character, hope. (Romans 5:3-4)

Waiting on the Return of Jesus:

Prophesy says that He is at the door, so ... be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. (James 5:8)

True believers can't help but ... groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. (Romans 8:23)

Our responsibility in the meantime ... Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. (Jude 1:21)

Spurgeon - Wait at God's door with prayer, at His foot with humility, at His table with service, and at His window with expectancy. 

Trust God's timeline ... He orchestrates everything perfectly.