Waiting

What are we willing to wait for? I mean really, really wait for.

A conversation with my mom this week brought up this question in my mind. Waiting is difficult, no matter what the reason. But, as believers, learning to wait on the Lord’s hand and provision is a primary lesson that seems to confront us all. I know it’s a lesson I’ve had to learn over and over again.

So, what do we wait for? There are many facets of waiting, but I think it comes down to two primary categories.

1) Timing. Some things just won’t happen until the appropriate time. It doesn’t matter how much we desire the time to be now, if it’s not the right time, it won’t happen. Sometimes it’s as simple as an event that is planned for Saturday while we seem stuck on Monday. Other times it’s something we know we need – a job, a house to sell, a disease to be cured, etc – that seems to have no definite timing. Often we have some control over the factors that can minimize the waiting, but other times we have no control. We just have to wait. Interminably, it seems.

2) Provision. Typically in the form of finances or stuff. We wait either for the money to be granted that we might pay for what we need, or we wait for what we need to be provided in a more direct manner. Like timing, we often have some control over provision. Although there are many times when we cannot fathom where the provision will come from, there are other times that we can actively save or prepare for the provision we need.

But, the conversation with Mom made me think a little deeper about that level of control. How often do we take control when we should instead be continuing to wait? How often does God allow us to grab for something of lesser value all the while knowing that if we would wait a little longer He would have something absolutely stupendous for us? 

Now, please understand. I am not saying that we should sit on a stockpile of money and say, “Lord, I’m just going to wait and trust You to provide __________ miraculously!” I’m not saying that when He opens doors we should wait to go through them because we want a more miraculous and fantastic door to walk through. But, think about this with me for a minute. Are there ever times when instead of jumping on the first opportunity we should instead prayerfully sit back and wait for clear confirmation? Wait to see if God wants to give us something even better?

Waiting is about more than having enough money or seeing an opportunity. Waiting is about following God in such a way as to allow His glory to shine.

What are you waiting for right now? What can you engineer to make it happen? Can you manipulate circumstances to bring something about sooner? Can you save or gather enough money to secure some provision? Before you take that route, stop and seek wisdom from God. Is it the approach He wants you to take? Is it His plan? If so, then go for it. He will be best glorified in that way. But, if not, wait a little longer. Trust Him to show you clearly when and how His timing and provision is perfect. If you do, you will find the results to be even more amazing that any more immediate provision could ever be.