Are you ever or always in a hurry? Would you say your life is characterized by rushing? Perhaps you are like the guy who was always impatient. He knew that wasn’t a good trait so he prayed to the LORD and said, “LORD, I want more patience, and I want it right now!” Many people find it hard to wait but the Bible has much to say about waiting.
In Psalm 27:14 David prayed, “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” He realized that in times of trouble he really needed the LORD’s help. In humble submission, he sought the LORD’s face for His presence, His counsel, His fellowship, and His strength. David knew that he could not rush God or boss Him, so he determined to wait for God’s guidance and once he received a word from the LORD, he would do whatever the LORD told him to do.
In Psalm 69:17-18 David prayed,” And do not hide Your face from Your servant, for I am in trouble; hear me speedily. Draw near to my soul, and redeem it; deliver me because of my enemies.”
In Psalm 86:11-13, he prays again and he wants to learn God’s ways. “Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name. I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore. For great is Your mercy toward me, and You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.”
One way you can learn to wait on the LORD is to recall His faithfulness in time past and rehearse the ways He has specifically met your needs. This will increase your confidence in the future. If God is in control – and He is – then there is no need to fear and fret.
Listen to what Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 3:10-11. “I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.”
Think of it, folks – God has put eternity in our hearts. He designed us to be forever people.
As we wait on Him, He makes everything beautiful in its time. There is no need to paint yourself into a corner then fret over how you are going to get out. Wait on Him. Be of good courage. His ways are perfect. His solutions to our life’s dilemmas are magnificent.
Isaiah 40:28-31 has an amazing promise for us. “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might, He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, 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.”
At this point in this meditation, I would like to include what Charles Spurgeon wrote in his daily devotional, Beside Still Waters.
There is no real danger. You are safe while God lives, while Christ pleads, and while the Holy Spirit dwells in you. Do not be fearful and unbelieving. Wait on the LORD as a beggar waits for a handout. We have gone to God’s door, knocked, waited, and obtained gracious answers.
Wait, but knock as you wait. Knock, but with fervent pleading and strong confidence, for the LORD Himself waits to be gracious. Agonize in desire. Make the door of mercy resound again and again with your resolute blows. The LORD is good to those who wait on Him. He will answer you in due time, and you will never be sent away empty-handed.
It is your Father’s business to provide for you. His name is Jehovah-Jireh. It is your Father’s business to preserve you. He has given His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands, they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. (Psalm 91:11-12)
It is your Father’s business to mark the future. Our eyes are dim. We cannot see tomorrow. But our Father knows all about tomorrow and He will be ready for whatever happens.
What great wisdom and encouragement from Charles Spurgeon. When I read it, I felt I just had to pass it on to you.
I close this meditation with the inspired wisdom of the Holy Spirit in Psalm 27:14. “Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. Wait, I say on the LORD.”
May you be blessed as you wait.
For His Glory,
Pastor Leonard
