Is there anyone who likes to wait? I think most people would probably answer, “Not that much…”
Remember when you were young and long journeys seemed to take forever? “Daddy, are we there yet?” It would be repeated over and over again. What about birthdays and Christmas? It seemed like a very long time until the big day arrived.
As you get older, weeks, months, and years fly by. This may be the only time you can enjoy every moment without having to worry about waiting.
Then there’s the long wait. An unpleasant and unhappy season. Whether it’s illness, financial difficulties, or life doesn’t go as planned, there will be trials and tribulations…
The Bible is full of stories about seasons of waiting that lasted a very long time. However, there is a common thread of behavior that connects the characters. Instead of waiting, they “did the next right thing” and moved forward without getting lazy or paralyzed.
Look at some of these stories and learn from the characters how to turn your longing for God’s glory into action.
fast and pray
“She never left the temple, worshiping day and night, fasting and praying. Luke 2:37
The prophetess Anna was the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher. Anna was married for seven years and then lived as a widow until she was 84 years old. She was a pious woman who spent her life fasting, praying, and worshiping at the temple. When Mary and Joseph took the baby Jesus to the temple, she recognized him as the Messiah, then praised God and shared the news of salvation with many people.
For 84 years, Anna waited for the Savior through fasting and prayer. Yet she never left the temple and never stopped praying. She could have given up. Anna might have thought I must be wrong. Messiah will not come. However, she did not give up and continued to pray. Anna is considered an example of faithful waiting, prayer, and dedication, and her patience in old age was rewarded, after which she bore witness and shared God’s story of salvation…praising the Savior.
We have all experienced, and may continue to experience, the answers to our long-awaited prayers. Sometimes it’s easy to think, “That’s not going to happen, that’s not going to happen,” and give up.
meant to be. “But how sincere were our initial prayers if we give up so easily? The Lord is not working based on our timeline. He is working behind the scenes. The timing of the answer is up to God’s sovereign will and His perfect timing, but that doesn’t mean we should stop praying about it. It’s not about taste. The Lord wants to hear from us. Not only does our prayer show that we trust God and His timing, but it shows that we believe in the goodness of His will and the perfect way He will answer. The next right thing to do is to keep praying.
If what you are looking forward to is not a matter of prayer, but some other general thing, then prayer is definitely the right thing for you to do first. Seek the Lord as you wait. Tell me what God wants you to do. In this way, you are not sitting around doing nothing, but are taking action through prayer. This very act alone is powerful. Because it invites God into your waiting and brings peace and patience to the season.
If you are in a season of illness, sadness, loneliness, or depression, God may want you to spend more time in His Word, drawing closer to Him, and remembering His promises and faithfulness.
If you replace your waiting time with fasting, prayer, and spending time in God’s Word, you will no longer wallow in wait because you will be in the Lord’s presence.
work with diligence and excellence
“The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man…Genesis 39:2
The story of Joseph highlights the long wait through slavery and unjust imprisonment that ultimately leads to victory, exoneration, and the fulfillment of God’s purpose. But Joseph showed true faithfulness during these trials by working diligently and with excellence, even in captivity.
Joseph, a slave in Egypt, was so successful that Potiphar gave him control of his entire family. He took charge of the house, the fields, and all of Potiphar’s property. Even after being unjustly imprisoned, Joseph found favor with the prison warden. He was in charge of all other prisoners and responsible for everything that happened in the prison. While in prison, he used his spiritual gifts to help others by interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker. After his release from prison, Joseph spent seven productive years building infrastructure, managing large grain warehouses, and overseeing agricultural policies to prepare Egypt for the coming famine.
Joseph’s life shows that delay is not denial. God allows us time to wait for character growth before He can influence us and fulfill the desires of our hearts.
Whether you are waiting for a certain job, waiting for a promotion, waiting for your business to take off, waiting for getting married someday, becoming a mother, what are you waiting for, it is the desire of your heart. “Rejoice in the Lord, and he will give you your desires.”
Psalm 37:4. How can we please the Lord? By doing the next right thing. That means not allowing yourself the thoughts, “I’ll never amount to anything,” or “I’m never going to meet and marry the right man.” Instead, we work on ourselves. We present the best version of ourselves wherever God places us. Even when you are alone at home, you work diligently and efficiently, cleaning the house and taking care of yourself. Or you may be working in a low-level job, but pass yourself off as someone who has a high-level job. “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” Proverbs 16:3
No matter what you are waiting for, the Lord can mold and build your character by turning that waiting into hard work and good work. Think of the waiting period as a time to do the work that needs to be done so that the Lord will bless the desires of your heart.
hope against hope
And he, who was not weak in faith, when he was about a hundred years old, did not consider that his body was dead, nor did he consider that Sarah’s womb was dead. He did not falter from God’s promises through unbelief. But his faith was strong and he gave glory to God. And I was completely convinced and able to do what he had promised. Romans 4:19-21
The story of Abraham illustrates God’s amazing promise to make Abraham a great nation, give his descendants the land of Canaan, and bless all the families of the earth through his lineage. This family line was promised to begin in old age through the birth of their first child, Isaac. Abraham was 75 years old when he received this promise, and he waited 25 years for his son to be born.
While waiting, Abraham held out hope against hope. Rather than weaken through unbelief, Abraham grew stronger in faith, glorifying God and remaining fully confident that God would do what He had promised.
Abraham lived a long life until the promised son was born. Still, he continued to hope that the Lord would do as He said.
Friends and family have heard me say, “I have high expectations and end up being disappointed.” The difference is that I look to people and their plans. What happens to the saying, “People will disappoint you, but God will never disappoint you?”
When we put our hope in the Lord, He will not disappoint us. Especially as I quoted earlier, the first two right things we do when we are at the beginning of a season of waiting are to seek the Lord in prayer and then seek the Lord in His Word. The more time we spend overall in God’s Word, even before we endure the wait, the more God’s Word will penetrate our hearts and the more our desires will align with God’s will. Because we get to know God better.
When we hope against hope, like Abraham, our faith is steadfast, which makes the season of waiting easier. Putting your hope in the Lord is an action that brings great benefits. No matter how many years pass, we can hold on to hope that the Lord will bring the long-awaited resolution in a way that far exceeds our expectations. “Now to Him who far more abundantly accomplishes whatever we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” Ephesians 3:20
Finally, I can testify that I prayed for seven years for my son and daughter-in-law to conceive a child naturally, even though doctors said it was physically impossible. I prayed that the Lord would glorify Himself by showing me what He could do. Not only did they conceive and give birth to my grandson, but last year my daughter-in-law gave birth to my granddaughter. Medically, they shouldn’t have had at least one child, let alone two. I never gave up hope of what God would do. And God has blessed us all abundantly.
You will be blessed when you turn waiting into hope.
Dear Heavenly Father, Lord, thank you for waiting for the seasons that will grow us and ultimately bless us. Help us to turn our waiting into action to bring you glory.
What is the most difficult thing that awaits you?
What’s the next right thing you can do during the season of waiting?
Photo credit: Getty Images/Inside Creative House
Karen Dell Tattoo is a blogger, author, women’s ministry leader, pastor’s wife, mother, and grandmother who is passionate about God’s Word. Her blog, “Growing Together in Grace and Knowledge,” and her books, “Choosing to Trust God: Breaking the Habit of Worry,” “A 30-Day Devotional,” and “Choosing to Trust God Companion Journal,” reveal her heart offering biblical insights to inspire women to grow in, through, and overcome hardship. Karen and her husband live in Rhode Island and enjoy walking in the woods, petting owls, and spending time with their grandchildren.
