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When we first give our lives to Christ, it’s almost as if everything we pray about is answered in a Thanos snap (immediately). I was no stranger to this. During my infancy stage of salvation, I would ask God a question, and almost always by the end of the day, He would find a way to answer me.
I marveled at how often God was sure to remind me of how real His existence was. Those were some exciting times.
As time went on, the answers for many of my prayers began to feel fewer and further apart. At first, for reasons I did not understand, God was making me wait.
Waiting on God is not always easy. As a matter of fact, it is one of the hardest things you will ever do in your Christian journey. Many times, it can feel discouraging. Still, for several reasons, it is also one of the most rewarding experiences.
The Weight Of The Wait
Let’s admit it. We are used to living in the fast lane. Uber is at your front door in minutes. Netflix allows us to watch what we want whenever we want. Don’t even get me started on how convenient and quick social media has made it to communicate with people from across the world.
Waiting has become something we are not accustomed to. As a result, waiting on anything for an extended period of time can feel uncomfortable and downright heavy at times. More specifically, the process of waiting on God can feel like a weight that is holding us back from living the abundant life that Jesus promised us.
I am no stranger to the weight of the wait. However, in hindsight, I have discovered many benefits of waiting on God. I’ll share a few.
Preparation
As a teenager, I felt ready to take on the world. My momma, teachers, basically everyone told me not to rush. They would say, “You have the rest of your life to be an adult, but only a few years to be a child.” In my teenage mind, I felt as though they just did not understand. After all, I was “ready”. It was not until I entered the real world did I realize, they were 150,000% right 😂. I definitely was not prepared.
This is an accurate depiction of the way we usually are. Oftentimes, we believe we are ready for the next, but frankly, it is not true. God on the other hand knows the truth. He knows there is much maturity needed for us to maintain what we are waiting for. Rather than give us anything that we can not handle, with His guidance, He gives us the opportunity to grow and mature.
Have you ever seen a toddler throwing a tantrum when their parents said no? That tantrum is an indicator of immaturity. Imagine trying to give this immature toddler major responsibility. Every single time anything does not go their way, they would probably throw the usual fit. However, with time and maturity, this toddler will learn:
- To be patient,
- Navigate difficulties,
- Accept when life does not go their way.
Similarly, waiting on God helps to mature a believer, if the believer allows it. It is during the wait God nurtures us and gently reveals our places of weaknesses. Not to shame anyone, but so that we can build muscle and become stronger in these areas. Areas such as living beyond our feelings.
The wait is a beautiful gift that gives us an opportunity to confront what is in our hearts before we make a complete mess of what God gives to us. Rather than viewing the wait as daunting, see it for what it is.
Preparation rather than punishment.
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
James 1:2-3
Protection
Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s better to wait long than to marry wrong.”? Well, ain’t that the truth. In essence, the principle of this saying is, It’s better to wait on God than to live in regret and experience unnecessary hardship.
The reality is God is good. He wants to give good gifts to His children. When you wait on God, you can be assured His best is on the other side of that wait, despite how difficult it feels. However, when we choose to be impatient and do our own thing, we end up running into challenges that could be avoided by waiting. In a sense, waiting on God protects us.
Waiting on God does not mean that you will not have any hardships at all. It just means you will not have to face certain battles, because God will steer you down the right path.
If you are waiting on God for a godly marriage, this is a form of protection. By trusting Him to direct your path, you would not date just anyone. Instead, in your wait, God can lead you to a good spouse, protecting you from experiencing the heartache of being unequally yoked or connected to those that are not meant to be a part of your future.
The wait protects you.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
-Proverbs 3:5-6
God’s Promises
Bank lines.
Traffic lines.
Food store lines.
I have never met a person who enjoyed standing in lines. Despite our disdain, we stand on lines because there is something at the end of the line that we really want or even need. As unbearable as standing on lines may feel, what is at the end of the line makes it worth the wait.
There are several promises God has made to us. Some of those promises are written in the Bible and other promises may be personal promises. Although these promises exist, it does not mean that we do not have to wait for them. Actually, most of the time we do.
Sarah, Abraham’s wife, was a contender in the waiting game. God promised Sarah a child. Sarah waited a whopping 25 years to have that child at the age of 90 (Genesis 21). 25 years!!!
Still, the Bible tells us why Sarah received her promise. It was because Sarah chose to believe God in her wait, even though the odds were stacked against her. Sarah’s faith qualified her (Hebrews 11:11).
Just like Sarah, we can be assured at the end of waiting on God, He will reward our faith in Him with His promises. Now I can not say exactly what your personal promise and reward will be, but I can say with surety, your promise is worth the wait.
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
-Galatians 6:9
Testimony
It’s not even about you boo! Yes, I said it. The wait is not all about you.
It’s easy to keep the focus on oneself during hard times, however, I am here to announce your waiting is bigger than you.
When I am in a low moment, one of the ways I encourage myself is to listen to the testimony of others that have endured what I am currently going through. Their testimonies provide a breath of fresh air and remind me that if God did it for them, He will definitely do it for me. After all, He is the same forever (Hebrews 13:8).
The wait gives you a testimony that will one day help others. You will be the proof they need that God has not forgotten them and their waiting is not in vain.
And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.
-Revelations 12:11
Intimacy
My absolute favorite benefit of waiting on God is that it gives us an opportunity to deepen our relationship with Him. Waiting seasons foster intimacy with God in ways we probably would not experience outside of the wait.
In every season of waiting, there is an unknown element.
- If you are waiting on God for a husband, you will not know who that husband is. The Unknown Element.
- If you are waiting on God for a financial breakthrough, you will not know how that breakthrough will come. The Unknown Element.
The unknown causes us to depend on God for guidance, direction, and comfort. This dependency opens the door for vulnerability and intimacy.
I wish I can explain what that intimacy, love, and acceptance feels like, but truthfully there are no words. You just have to experience it for yourself.
In your time of waiting, resist the temptation to grumble, complain, and live in discontentment. Use those moments to become closer to God (through prayer and reading the Bible) and to experience intimacy with Him on another level.
Come close to God, and God will come close to you.
-James 4:8
Your Waiting Is A Gift
In the middle of waiting on God, it can seem like God has forgotten you. It may feel like it waiting just does not make sense. But Steve Jobs said it best, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward.”
In hindsight, when you are on the other side of the wait, you can see that it was indeed a gift from God. It was a gift that prepared and protected you. A gift that opened the door to God’s promises, a powerful testimony, and true intimacy with the Father.
If you are struggling with your wait and you just want to chat or someone to pray for you, know that I am always a comment or email away.
Until Next Time,
Be Strong, Be Courageous, Serve God Wholeheartedly.
Gilberta Thompson
P.S. If you want to hear more about my story, check out a copy of my book here.
