Waiting on the Lord
In our economy of get-it-now and instantaneous results, waiting on anything seems foreign. We want it and we want it now but waiting on the Lord may be our sweetest option.
Sitting. Being Still.
Giving God control and trust can be the furthest from our minds.
Can you think of a time that God had you rest in Him and wait?
Did it change your perspective?
Why doesn’t God always give us instant gratification? An instant answer. Maybe a memo or a text. Send me a private message on social media. Here is my request or the plea of my heart. And Boom! Answer! No waiting.
Sweetest Time
I know my times of wait have been the sweetest.
Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. Psalm 33:20 (NASB)
In those times, I can trust and rely on God like I can with no one else. I love how this verse doesn’t say my heart or my mind are waiting. Although, they need to, as well. It says, my soul.
Deep down to the core of my being, I am finding rest, hope, help, and a place where I am guarded.
For our heart rejoices in Him, Because we trust in His holy name. Let Your lovingkindness, O LORD, be upon us, According as we have hoped in You. Psalm 33:21-22 (NASB)
FOR this waiting lends to rejoicing because we are waiting and trusting in Him.
Our trust in a God who can take action gives us hope. Just because we are being still doesn’t mean God is not moving in our situation. We just may not be seeing it.
Waiting gives us time and a reason to rejoice in His Holy name. It allows time for God’s lovingkindness to rest upon us.
Instant Gratification
Maybe, it’s just me but when I get instant gratification, I move on. I am quickly over any sort of time of reflection or gratitude.
My middle son has to have something when we go to the store. Any little thing. I mean he gets in a cringe if he can’t have some. thing. And then when he has it he is off to the next thing.
Sometimes, we give in so we can have this very real conversation about getting instant gratification with stuff. We point out that it is not all that satisfying. It quickly leaves us feeling empty and wanting something else.
We can be the very same way with answers from God. “Thanks, God, I got the memo, next request.”
No time for processing and certainly no time for rejoicing.
Waiting on the Lord
Often times, when I think of waiting on the Lord, I am reminded of the people from the old testament.
Abraham was told he would be the father of a great nation and then he waited. And waited. Then took action into his own hands. That didn’t work out, at all. Then at the ripe age of 99 his wife became pregnant with their promised child.
Noah was told to build a safe haven for his family. God prepared him for a mighty flood. Build this great big boat. Keep two of every kind of animal and your family and build it this big by this big. And this big must have at some point felt insane. The 100 years of building the ark must have felt like a very long wait.
David, the anointed King of Israel had to wait for just the right time to take his place on the throne. Anoited and then invited to dine at the table and play his harp for the reigning begruntled king. And eventually, the years of running and hiding in caves and being chased by the this king’s army must have been such. a. long. wait.
Yet David sings God praises.
I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word, I put my hope. Psalm 130:5
Hope in more than our situation
Sometimes, we put our hope in our situation. I hope my situation improves or I hope my illness goes away. I hope my children return home. My marriage is falling apart and there is no hope for it. My job is well… Enough said.
Our hope often lies in the correction of what feels like a wrong situation instead of in a God who can change our situation. Share on XYou may have heard me tell this story before, if not you can read more details here.
When I was in my 21st week of pregnancy, the doctors discovered I was having twins. But in the same moment, they also discovered there were no heartbeats.
I wanted them to be taken right away. It was so confused, bewildered and had the feeling of, I have no other way of saying this than a walking coffin. I know it sounds terrible but it was all so much overwhelm at once.
The doctor said I would need to come back to the hospital right away in the morning and they would take them.
But on our way home, they called me back. They said because of being this far along with twins and having a previous C-section, I would have to go to a different hospital at the end of the week. I had to wait one week.
In that time, I had my sweetest moments with Jesus. He restored my soul. He was my shield and my comforter. A rock on which my weak knees could stand. I was able to reflect, pray, and receive my hope from His word.
I was able to dream about those sweet babies that were temporarily laid rest inside their momma’s womb. And give them a name. A name which He already knew.
Fervent Prayer
I prayed fervently for God to change my situation. Afterall, He is a mountain mover and He certainly could move this one. The results could have been wrong. The machine could have been malfunctioning. Or He can do a miracle. I know He can bring the dead to life.
Bring the dead to life He did. I had become dry bones that needed a revival. He was a God that changed my situation. He was the God that moved mountains. But in my waiting, I began to trust in His Word that I poured over.
I began to put my faith in God and not the situation. I promised Him no matter what happened, I would trust and love Him. That waiting has brought me to a place of praise. I praise God for those moments of wait and sweetness in His care.
My fervent prayer didn’t bring my babies back but it did bring me back. Back to where the Lord could use me for His glory and His purposes. So, I trust in Him down to the very core of my soul.
In Time of Waiting
My perspective has changed. Instead of feeling like my situation needs to change, I need to get a proper perspective on who holds the answers to my situation and seek His Word and His Face.
In my time of waiting, I have learned to lean on God for my sweetest moments with Him. The times when I am not trying to be in control or have a quick turn-around, but truly rest in Him. Share on XI would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:13-14 (NASB)
Be strong in whatever your situation. Let your heart take courage believing that you will see the LORD’s Goodness.
Personal Reflections:
- Have you had a period of waiting on your situation? Do you feel like you need a new perspective?
- Pray and meditate on the goodness of the Lord. Write down 10 things that you have to praise Him for.
- What is your sweetest moment of waiting and trusting on the Lord? Did you get refreshment for your weary soul?
- Have you surrendered your situation to God? Do you still feel like you are waiting for an answer? Are you willing to rest in whatever answer He gives you?
- Has our economy of time left you demanding quick and immediate results of God? Share on X
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What a beautiful, vulnerable post, Jaime. Thank you for sharing your heart here today.
Yes, Jaime! I think we all relate to this post in some way. Our culture lends itself to everything fast-paced and instant. But you are so right in that once we get it, we move on and never stop to savor the moment and appreciate the “thing.” This made me smile, almost laugh: “Why doesn’t God always give us instant gratification? An instant answer. Maybe a memo or a text. Send me a private message on social media. Here is my request or the plea of my heart. And Boom! Answer! No waiting.” 🙂 Blessings!
I have to say first that things are looking so lovely here, Jaime. Just beautiful!
But even more so, these words are perfect for this impatient follower who, in her heart of hearts, really wants a vending machine God who pops out answers whenever I insert my prayer-coin.
I am continually reminded that this would be a disaster, and that God’s timing is perfect. Thanks for adding your voice to that much-needed choir.
Waiting certainly does serve a purpose sometimes, doesn’t it? Although very challenging to do!
Great reminder for us today, Jaime!
I’m in that time of waiting right now and have been for many years. It seems I need constant reminders to let go. This is so timely. Waiting is such an exercise in trust!
Jaime, Thank you for sharing your beautiful story. It demonstrates what prayer does for us. I will be sharing this again. I am so sorry for your loss but so glad God gave you that time to wait. It was well spent. Yes, I am in a waiting period. I have been here for over 10 years. Progress has been made and little miracles along the way. I have learned to wait well for the most part but lately, have been frustrated with the pain in the waiting. I am going to revisit this in my time with God.
Jaime, loved this and all the wisdom found inside. Thank you! Sharing on Pinterest!
My husband and I are in a season of waiting on a heartfelt desire to come, Jaime. We thought we had an answer to our prayers recently when God shut the door on that particular request. So we are back to waiting, but like you I feel as if this has been a fruitful and dear time of prayer and surrender for me. I’ve also been ministered to by the song by Mercy Me, Even If. I don’t know if you’re familiar but it really is true. Even if God does not answer the way I want, I will trust Him in the wait. Thanks for encouraging me and reminding me that I am not alone. I’m also praying that your heart has healed since that painful loss in your life. I can’t even imagine!
Oh yes! It seems that this season has become a time of waiting for so many things in my life. But He is teaching me also, like you, through this time. There is such a sweet intimacy to be found in the waiting place, when I can bring myself before Him in honesty. Thank you so much for your beautiful words!
Thanks for the encouragement and sharing lessons learned during the wait. I’m waiting and moaning about it instead of praising Him. So this spoke to me. Thank you, friend.
I had read your story before and though I’m not usually at a loss for them, the words of comfort were not there for me to convey then. I am not one of those people who think God needs another angel or just gives and takes away, that doesn’t equate with His great love and the sacrifice of Jesus to me. Yet, He is all knowing, and He did spare you and teach you through your pain and grief, the sweetness of Christ that comes from knowing the man of sorrows. I do pray His peace over you. I pray for pregnant women, babies, and those who have lost them, all the time, I was even reluctant to share a miracle with some, of a two day old girl, but we are women of faith and knowing grief can still rejoice at others blessings. I am truly sorry for your loss, but so glad He brought you through with a powerful testimony or His love and mercy. May He bless your efforts to help others and keep you in His hand.
I thoroughly enjoyed your post. We do live in a world of instant everything and it makes it hard to truly trust God in the waiting. Funny, but I wrote a post on a similar subject this morning. It is one that has been on my mind, too. Thanks for hosting. Have a great weekend.
Waiting is such a hard journey especially when we are looking to get the answer right away. I love Psalm 27 the Psalmist reminds us to wait patiently upon the Lord
Nice post Jaime. I still searching this answer – Why doesn’t God always give us instant gratification? – but i did not got any reliable answer from my heart, that’s really sad.
Cynthia, so glad you are here. I have written and erased this response ten times. Looks like I need to write a post about this or have already started. 😉
Several things come right to mind. This is what it came down to. What I do know about God is He is sovereign, meaning He is in control of all things all the time. God’s planning is perfect. His timing is perfect. Instant gratification isn’t realistic. Instant gratification also leaves us momentarily grateful. Look at the story of the 10 lepers. It leaves no room for reliance on God, which is His will for us.
What are the best things you have received in this life? Things and moments you have waited for or things that you have gotten instantly? Instant gratification leaves us wanting the next best thing instead of being content in the now with what we have. All these things are things God wants us to learn to grow in our relationship with Him.
He is a good Father. Every good and perfect gift comes from above. He knows what is best. If instant gratification was best that is what He would give us. Contentment and reliance in a deeper relationship with Him is His will for our lives. That doesn’t seem to come with instant gratification.
Finally, we need to seek truth from God’s Word. Our heart and our feelings will not always give us what truth is. When we feel in our heart something that doesn’t line up with the truth of Scripture, we need to realign our hearts. To do that feed truth verses into your heart and mind. Thanks again for stopping by and sharing your heart here. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Blessings <3