Wait Confidently

As for me, I look to the Lord for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me. Micah 7:7

In the past few weeks, I’ve mentioned that I have found four aspects of waiting in scripture:

1. Wait quietly
2. Wait patiently
3. Wait confidently
4. Wait expectantly

Confidence is defined as “the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something; firm trust; the state of feeling certain about the truth of something.” Confidence means that you know that something will happen—not that you are just hoping that something will happen.

As I contemplated waiting confidently, I came to the realization that all aspects of waiting are dependent upon our trust in God’s character. I cannot wait confidently if I do not trust God. Waiting confidently is about believing God and His word.
What are the characteristics of God that give me the ability to wait confidently? I came across several aspects that help me to be confident.

1. He is faithful. 2 Timothy 2:13 states, “If we are not faithful, he remains faithful, because he cannot be false to himself.” God is utterly incapable of being unfaithful. It is against His very nature. It is not dependent upon me, my actions, or my obedience. No matter what, God is faithful.

2. He has plans to prosper us. God tells us in Jeremiah 29:11 that He knows the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Throughout scripture we are promised that God loves us so much that He wants us to have a wonderful, abundant life. He never promises that our life will be trouble-free, but He does assure us that He will see us through all of the trials and tribulation. If we trust Him, He will use the trials to work His character into our lives and use those trials to bless us.

3. He is sovereign. Sovereignty is the idea that God is in complete control of every circumstance of our lives. Nothing can happen to us unless He allows it in our lives. Romans 8:28 tells us that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purposes. If we believe scripture, then we have to believe that no matter how painful our situation is, God can and will work something beautiful through it. If we continue in Romans 8, He promises that nothing will be able to separate us from the love of Christ Jesus.

4. He is perfect love. Love always seeks the best for another person. Since God is perfect love, we can be confident that He is seeking what is best for us—even if we can’t possibly understand how our situation can be good for us! We must remember that He has the final result in mind—not the immediate circumstances. He is looking for how He can best mold us into His image, how He can accomplish his eternal purposes in us. Again, we live in a society that values the here and now; God values the eternal.

If I can understand and accept the nature of God, then I can know that what God has promised He will do. That is how I can wait confidently, even when it seems that time is dragging on and He is slow in providing His promised answers.
I often find myself reviewing the things He has spoken to me and the faithfulness that He has shown me throughout my life. When I look over what He has told me and how He has been so faithful to me over the years, it provides a much needed boost of faith and confidence, a faith that gives me the ability to make it a little longer as I wait.

The beauty of waiting is that when He does give me the answer, when He does give me the desire of my heart, I know that I will be able to look back at this period of waiting for the rest of my life. My faith will grow beyond my greatest imagination because I chose to wait on Him instead of trying to barge ahead and make things happen in my time and in my way. I know that this period of waiting will be a pivotal point in my life.

Right now, God has spoken loud and clear to me. He has made me some promises, but it seems that they aren’t getting closer—instead, they appear to be getting farther away. I am struggling to wait patiently, quietly, confidently, and expectantly. I find myself becoming discouraged as it seems my prayers are falling on deaf ears. But, I keep hearing a still, small voice whisper, “Trust me. I’ve got this.” I can’t see God working right now, but I have to trust His character—His faithfulness, His inability to lie or change, His sovereignty, His good plans. Some days it’s a struggle, but I continue to pray that God will just fill me with His peace that surpasses all understanding! I pray that He will give me the strength—daily—to cling to Him, His character, His word. I know that not one of His good promises has ever failed!

I recently heard a quote on the radio: Our willingness to wait reveals the value we place on the object upon which we are waiting. I know that I am waiting on one of the greatest blessings I will ever experience in my lifetime. I am not willing to settle for less than God’s best. God’s answer is out there, and I don’t want to short-change myself. Therefore, I will wait confidently for God to fulfill the promises He has made to me.

2 replies
  1. denacyd
    denacyd says:

    Bethanystar04, I completely understand! I just wrote another post (that will eventually be posted) about the wavering. I have finally come to a point of accepting completely that God has told me something will happen–but I find myself wavering between absolute unbelief and complete confidence. I just have to remember that what He has promised, He will do! Praying for you!

    Reply
  2. bethanystar04
    bethanystar04 says:

    I needed this. I am struggling, too. Waiting is difficult. I keep reminding myself that the Lord is trustworthy, but as you wrote–sometimes I start feeling like promises He’s given me are actually getting further away, not closer. My struggle is to remain in HOPE. Without HOPE I start to plummet. Thanks for the reminder to look back at all that God has done. I need to sit down and journal about that, as I’ve been discouraged recently, as the two strongest desires of my heart are ones that the Lord planted in me, but are still over 10 years in the waiting.

    Reply

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