Wait Patiently

As I said in my last post, I’ve found four keys in scripture on how we are supposed to wait.
1. Wait quietly
2. Wait patiently
3. Wait confidently
4. Wait expectantly
I’ve had plenty of time to wait quietly as I pray that my laryngitis will resolve. Right now, I’m about five or six days into my doctor mandated week of silence, and I still wait quietly for my voice to return. Yesterday, I thought I was doing well. I had some errands to run, and I did some talking. By noon, what little voice I had was quickly fading. I find myself becoming increasingly impatient.
Isn’t God humorous? My waiting quietly has led me directly into exploring what it means to wait patiently. There was a time that I thought I was a pretty patient person, but I seem to be growing more impatient as I grow older. Perhaps that is part of what God is trying to show me.
Shortly after I separated from my husband, I posted Psalm 37:4-7 on my mirror and read it multiple times every day.

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.

As I read and prayed those scriptures every day, the truth began to sink in. Yes, when we delight ourselves in the Lord, God promises to give us our heart’s desires. Repeatedly, I have seen him let my innocence radiate and the justice of my cause shine. But, it took a while for the truth about verse 7 to sink in: All of these things happen in God’s time (not mine), and I must develop a life that delights in Him, trusts Him, and waits patiently for him to act—in His time.

God has a grand calendar, and we see repeatedly throughout scripture that He makes things happen in His time—not ours. Abraham was promised that he would be the father of many nations, but it took 13 years to see the promised heir. The Israelites were in captivity for 400 years before God sent his deliverer, Moses. The Israelites then wandered in the desert for 40 years before they could possess the Promised Land. David was anointed as King of Israel years before he actually took the throne. But, in Joshua 23:14, Moses tells the Israelites, “You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.”

After 35 years of following my Savior, I can truly say that not one of His promises to me has ever failed; they have all been fulfilled. I can’t say that I understand His ways or His timing, for His ways are higher than my ways (Isaiah 55:9). But, what I do know from a firm belief in Scriptures and from years of following my God is that He will not fail me. If He has promised it, He will do it—in His time.

Patience is defined as the ability to wait without becoming annoyed or anxious. I can’t say that I always wait without becoming annoyed. Sometimes, I get very annoyed! But, as I meditate on God’s promises and review His faithfulness over the years, I find that the peace that surpasses all understanding guards my heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). That’s the only explanation I have as to why I can wait patiently.

Sanctus Real has a song called Promises.

Sometimes it’s hard to keep believing
In what you can’t see
That everything happens for a reason
Even the worst life brings
If you’re reaching for an answer
And you don’t know what to pray
Just open up the pages
Let His word be your strength

And hold on to the promises
Hold on to the promises
Jesus is alive so hold tight
Hold on to the promises

All things work for the good
Of those who love God
He holds back nothing that will heal you
Not even His own Son
His love is everlasting
His faithfulness unending
Oh, if God is for us who can be against us
So if you feel weak

Hold on to the promises
Hold on to the promises
Jesus is alive so hold tight
Hold on to the promises

Neither life, nor death
Could separate us
From the eternal love
Of our God who saves us

That is how we wait patiently—by holding on to the promises of God. If He has been faithful, we can trust that no matter what is happening around us, God is at work—even when we can’t see it. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ Jesus. He will keep nothing good from us—even His own Son. So, if you feel weak—if you are becoming annoyed or anxious—hold on to the promises. Not one of His good promises has ever—or will ever—fail!