Waiting

Waiting:

“Wait.” Few words are less welcome in a fast food, instant access world.

But few experiences have as much potential to change us for the better. As Paul Tripp writes; “Waiting is not about what you get at the end of the wait; it’s about what you become as you wait.”

God stands ready to use the waiting times in our lives to change us.

If you find yourself in a season of waiting, here are five prayers to give to God.

1. Strengthen me to wait patiently.

“We have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may … walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, … being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.” Colossians 1:9-11

Almost every aspect of modern life trains us in the art of impatience. So when God tells us to wait far longer than we expected for marriage, children, a job, or some other dream, how do we avoid becoming like Israel in the wilderness who grumbled and “spoke against God” (Numbers 21:4-5) ?

We need God to strengthen us with patience. Patience is not the weakness of people who have no power to get what they want. Patience is the power to press on through difficulties, and discouragements. Patience is the strength of Joseph, who spent the best years of his life in a dungeon, and came out saying, “God meant it for good.” (Genesis 50:20).

 

2. Awaken me to today.

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”>Psalm 118:24[/bible]

Waiting can pressure us to live in two places at once. Our bodies are in the here and now, but our hearts left long ago, packed up their bags, and pitched their tent in the fantasy land of a future life. We go through the motions, but forget to look for what God is doing today.

 

We need God to awaken us to today. Today, God’s mercies came up with the sunrise (Lam 3:22-23). Today, the heavens sing of his beauty (Psalm 19:1). Today, we have a cross to pick up (Luke 9:23). And people to listen to, serve, and forgive (Col. 3:12-13). Today, we have good works to walk in (Eph. 2:10).

As someone once said, it’s called ‘the present’ because it’s God’s gift to us.

 

3. Keep me from foolish shortcuts.

“In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” Isaiah 30:15

Our world is full of foolish shortcuts — opportunities to leave the narrow way that leads to life for a path that seems easier.

The bible is full of the cautionary tales of people who decided they were done waiting. Abraham got tired of waiting for a son (Gen.16). Israel got tired of waiting for Moses to come down the mountain. (Ex.3). King Saul got tired of waiting for Samuel. (1 Sam.13).

 

We have our own shortcuts: Compromising our integrity to get what we want. Looking for a silver bullet to becoming like Jesus rather than training in prayer, service and sacrifice. Daydreaming about a different life instead of thanking God for the one we have. Our salvation is in returning and rest, not speed and compromise. Our strength is in quietness and trust, not daydreams and fantasies.

 

4. Make me want the future you have for me.

You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

 

We need God to help us want the future he has for us — the future he has written. Seasons of waiting train us to relinquish our role as the author of our own story and take up our role as a character in God’s story.

 

We are priests, and priests present God to others. As Christians, we know what our role is in God’s story: declare his praises (1 Peter 2:9). Sometimes, we do that from a place plenty, highlighting God’s provision and care. At other times, we do it from a place of waiting and need, but our lives and words demonstrate to the world that Jesus is enough.

 

5. Remind me of what I’m really waiting for.

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a saviour from there, The Lord Jesus Christ.”Phil.3:20

In this world, we always wait for something: a spouse, a job, a child, a prodigal, release from depression, financial freedom. But for Christians, hints of something even greater lie beneath every one of these good gifts. We are waiting for something better than this world can give.

 

We are waiting for a new perfect world, (2 Peter 3:13). We are waiting for a new body, finally delivered from death and decay (Rom. 8:23). We are waiting for a new power, when sin will lose its last hold on us (Gal. 5:5). But most of all, we are waiting for our King, Jesus Christ (1 Thess. 1:10). We need God to remind us of what we’re really waiting for.

– Phil.

 
Photo by Alex on Unsplash.