He’s in the Waiting…
Am I the only one who feels like they’re in a constant state of “hurry up and wait”? I constantly feel I’m waiting on something. Something big. Something amazing. Even, God’s promises for my life. I try to combat this feeling by telling myself old Christian cliches like, “God’s timing is perfect” and “God never gives you more than you can handle” (the first one is true, technically, but the second one is just flat out false. Both are still terrible cliches nonetheless). Yet, here I am, in wait. If I can be honest, I loathe even the idea of waiting. Patience is a talent and I don’t possess it.
Waiting can be especially hard when we’re going through trials and battles. Let’s be real, many of us have battles going on right now, especially as believers. Spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical battles are happening all around us and many times we feel like we’re in wait, waiting on God to swoop in and calm the storm. But what happens when He doesn’t? I believe He can, but speaking from experience, more times than not, He doesn’t. We have hope, but hope isn’t an easy thing. It’s a fight inside us. We have to remember who God really is.
And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at the great horde, for the battle is not yours but God…
…You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go against them and the LORD will be with you.” – 2 Chronicles 20:15, 17
The challenge for us is the concept of needing to wait for God’s promises, knowing that the challenges we face in this fallen world are God’s way of making our faith grow stronger in Him alone. I know many times I think I can control outcomes and want things to always go my way. Do you want to be in control? Or do you want God to reveal His plans for you by waiting on Him?
“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Being a Christian means that we walk by faith, not by sight. Faith requires us to rely on the unseen. The beauty of walking by faith and not by sight is that we can learn to more fully trust God with our lives. God is always there. He’s in the waiting.
The song, “Take Courage” says it perfectly:
Slow down, take time "Breathe in," He said He'd reveal what's to come The thoughts in His mind Always higher than mine He'll reveal all to come Take courage my heart Stay steadfast my soul He's in the waiting He's in the waiting Hold onto your hope As your triumph unfolds He's never failing He's never failing
And You who hold the stars Who call them each by name Will surely keep, Your promise to me That I will rise, in Your victory
So take courage my heart Stay steadfast my soul He's in the waiting He's in the waiting And hold onto your hope Watch your triumph unfold He's never failing He's never failing
He’s in the waiting…