The Bible talks a lot about life and about how the time in our lives should be spent and shared. God has revealed to us through His word that His timing is always perfect. Ecclesiastes 3:11 speaks on this, "Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time." This chapter is known for its statements declaring a time for everything, a time for this... a time for that. What this tells us is God allows time for all seasons of life, exactly when they need to happen.
Knowing this truth and living this truth often don't go hand in hand. As Christians, we are often aware that we should trust in God's timing early on in our relationship with Him, but for us to live it can come later as we mature in our faith. This is probably because we start to write more scripture upon our hearts, growing our understanding of the magnitude of unconditional love that we receive from the Lord, and then responding in obedience to reciprocate that love. Part of showing our love to Christ and being obedient to His will for us is to wait on Him, trusting in His perfect timing.
But... What does it mean to wait on the Lord? It means that no matter the season or circumstance we hold faith, believing that God will keep His promises. We pray for His guidance, and we become still in His presence, having patience to hear His response. It's acting in a way that's Godly, rather than doing what pleases the flesh.
God wants us to wait on Him not to deprive us of satisfaction, but rather to give us peace as we wait for Him to prepare something greater. As we wait, we can have confidence that God's plan is always better and that He will keep His promises. Roman 8:28 communicates this, "all things work for the Good of those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
Waiting on the Lord is something that we all struggle with. Whether we lack patience, want instant gratification, or simply don't understand why God has planned it this way, we can trust in His sovereignty. Proverbs 3:5-6 is a reminder to "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Heart Check: Spend some time in God's presence and in prayer asking yourself these questions. If you find that you're feeling convicted and need to adjust your heart posture on any of these questions, give that to God in prayer asking for His help to transform you.
Are you actively waiting on the Lord? Are you trusting Him with every area of your life, giving your joys and burdens to Him in prayer? Is God in all seasons of your life, or just the hard ones? Do you take daily time to be still in His presence (reading your Bible, praying, and worshipping the Lord)? Do act in a way that aligns with what scripture says, or are you satisfying your fleshly desires?
Memory Verse: "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31).