Waiting on God

We live in a hurry-up society today. We want instant gratification in all areas of life, and are often impatient over any constraints on our time or desires. Waiting is not always pleasant. More often than not, it is only a minor inconvenience. Other times, however, it involves a major issue in our lives that we feel requires immediate attention, perhaps a matter of life and death.

God often uses "waiting" as a means of building our faith and making us stronger. When we pray to Him and He doesn't answer right away, it's not because He didn't hear or doesn't care. Did you know that while we wait, God works? That's right! He is working behind the scenes in the spiritual realm, moving events, circumstances, people and situations to bring about a favorable end to our need. Now, we need to understand that the answer may not be what we think it ought to be, but we can always be assured that it will be what is best for us. God always has our best interest at heart. He is a loving Father who delights in His children and wants us to have an abundant, joyful life.

Sometimes our need requires immediate attention, as was the case with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednedo, who were thrown into a fiery furnace (Daniel 3:21-25). What was their crime? They refused to bow down to a pagan idol.  What was the outcome? One like the Son of God appeared with them in the flames and saved them from death. Their faith and obedience to God delivered them from death and also resulted in a pagan king acknowledging the power of God.

Daniel 3:28, Nebuchadnezzar spake and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and have yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

Daniel, likewise, required immediate deliverance from a den of hungry lions. (Daniel 6:16). Daniel's crime? Praying to his God three times a day despite a decree by the king that no God or man was to be petitioned for 30 days, save the king himself. What was the outcome?

Daniel 6:19-22, Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. And when he came near unto the den to Daniel, he cried with a lamentable voice; the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?  Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me; forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

As was the case with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, what was meant to bring death brought deliverance and glory to God. Listen to the words of the king.

Daniel 6:26, I make a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, And his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed; and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

Are you going through what seems to be a fiery grave? Is Satan roaming about in your life, like a roaring, hungry lion? Are you begging God for His help?

Take heart!

1Peter 4:12-13 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial among you, which cometh upon you to prove you, as though a strange thing happened unto you: but insomuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory also ye may rejoice with exceeding joy.

1Peter 1:6-7 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, ye have been put to grief in manifold trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold that perisheth though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

We may not like it, but God's answer is not always instantaneous. There is often a great purpose built into waiting. God uses it to prove our faith, to build character in us. God is actively working while we wait (patiently, expectantly). He, like a master potter, is busy working on the inside of us as well as on our circumstances, to bring about the best possible outcome.

Don't lose your breakthrough by giving up on God when you don't see an immediate answer. Stay steadfast in your faith and wait for God's season of blessing in your life. Never give up! Go to the Word and take hold of the many promises of God that speak of the blessings He has in store for you if you will remain faithful in your hope.

One of my favorites is Isaiah 40:31, But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.