Photo credit Stan Elesky. www.stanelesky.com
Editor's Note: This posted was first published in August 2016 and modified for republication.
The Holy Spirit had been encouraging me to talk about waiting, and trusting God instead of becoming anxious because we haven’t seen the answer to prayer. The Holy Spirit has continued to encouraging me to talk about the need to trust that God is acting on our behalf, while we wait. The things that I have been hearing in bible studies, in talking to other believers, and in my daily quiet times are confirmation that we must wait on God’s timing because His timing is perfect.
Here’s what I said in a sermon in August 2016;
When we grow impatient, it is easy to rush ahead of God’s work. If it hasn’t happened yet it doesn’t mean something’s wrong, it doesn’t mean God’s mad at you, it doesn’t mean it’s never gonna work out. God has already established the time down to the split second, you don’t have to worry, stress out, or be anxious. God is directing your steps not randomly, not vaguely, but down to the smallest detail. This takes all the pressure off you.
If you are waiting for the answer to a prayer right now and you have been waiting a long time, remember that God’s timing is perfect. He may just be putting things in place, or moving something out of the way for you. Trust Him because he loves you.
It really doesn’t matter what you are waiting on God for; a job, a spouse, a house, a car, a child, healing, whatever. God’s timing is always perfect. So whatever you are praying and trusting God for wait patiently, even if it’s very hard to do.
We need to persevere in prayer. We often go to prayer eagerly about something or someone but when we didn't see the answer right away we became discouraged. The We get tired of asking and listening when all we get is silence. It's at those times when we are about to "freak out" that we must remember that God always acts on our behalf. We have to rely on Him and His timing to guide our lives, not our own schedule and timing. What we can see and know is limited but God’s knowledge is unlimited because He knows the end from the beginning.
Isaiah 46:10 (NLT) Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.
God may be putting people in certain places just so they can be the answer to your prayer. He may be building a new ministry for you to join where you will find your answer. He may be creating a new job for you in a new city. There are any number of things that God may be preparing or removing,which involve other people even other believers, before He reveals the answer to you.
While we're waiting on God's timing we should be persistent in prayer. Dr. Charles Stanley says;
Barriers can develop if we persistently cry out to God but nothing changes. Continue to pray. Beyond this “wall,” you’ll sense God’s presence, where you will find peace, joy, and awesome glimpses of His glory. This will be completely satisfying, even if He never gives you exactly what you requested".
As I have said many times God may not answer right away or He may not answer in the way we would like but we can be sure of one thing, that He will always give us peace.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
What do You do While Waiting Patiently?
What do you do while you’re waiting? How do you build a faith that trusts God during the delays?
First of all be confident that God will do what He said He would do just like the farmer when he plant. When he plants he expects a harvest so he waits patiently.
James 5:7-8 NLT Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.
However, patiently waiting doesn't mean doing nothing. They get ready. They don’t sit around wondering if the seed is going to produce a plant. The farmer expects a harvest and prepares for it. When it comes the farmer reaps the benefits.
Like the farmer God to act and provide.
Psalms 130:5 NLT I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word.
Isaiah 49:23 NLT Kings and queens will serve you and care for all your needs. They will bow to the earth before you and lick the dust from your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord. Those who trust in me will never be put to shame.” (emphasis mine)
If you are really expecting God to answer your prayer, what are you doing to prepare for the answer? You may not be ready to handle the blessing he wants to give you, and so he’s waiting on you to spiritually mature. If you’re not preparing yourself while you wait, you’re not really expecting anything to happen.
God is working in your life, even when you can't see what he's doing and even if you think his timing is too slow. Wait patiently and prepare, get still, spend time in God’s Word, and learn how to be more like Jesus. Then get busy doing the work that will prepare you for the harvest.
The Holy Spirit had been encouraging me to talk about waiting, and trusting God instead of becoming anxious because we haven’t seen the answer to prayer. The Holy Spirit has continued to encouraging me to talk about the need to trust that God is acting on our behalf, while we wait. The things that I have been hearing in bible studies, in talking to other believers, and in my daily quiet times are confirmation that we must wait on God’s timing because His timing is perfect.
Here’s what I said in a sermon in August 2016;
When we grow impatient, it is easy to rush ahead of God’s work. If it hasn’t happened yet it doesn’t mean something’s wrong, it doesn’t mean God’s mad at you, it doesn’t mean it’s never gonna work out. God has already established the time down to the split second, you don’t have to worry, stress out, or be anxious. God is directing your steps not randomly, not vaguely, but down to the smallest detail. This takes all the pressure off you.
If you are waiting for the answer to a prayer right now and you have been waiting a long time, remember that God’s timing is perfect. He may just be putting things in place, or moving something out of the way for you. Trust Him because he loves you.
It really doesn’t matter what you are waiting on God for; a job, a spouse, a house, a car, a child, healing, whatever. God’s timing is always perfect. So whatever you are praying and trusting God for wait patiently, even if it’s very hard to do.
We need to persevere in prayer. We often go to prayer eagerly about something or someone but when we didn't see the answer right away we became discouraged. The We get tired of asking and listening when all we get is silence. It's at those times when we are about to "freak out" that we must remember that God always acts on our behalf. We have to rely on Him and His timing to guide our lives, not our own schedule and timing. What we can see and know is limited but God’s knowledge is unlimited because He knows the end from the beginning.
Isaiah 46:10 (NLT) Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.
God may be putting people in certain places just so they can be the answer to your prayer. He may be building a new ministry for you to join where you will find your answer. He may be creating a new job for you in a new city. There are any number of things that God may be preparing or removing,which involve other people even other believers, before He reveals the answer to you.
While we're waiting on God's timing we should be persistent in prayer. Dr. Charles Stanley says;
Barriers can develop if we persistently cry out to God but nothing changes. Continue to pray. Beyond this “wall,” you’ll sense God’s presence, where you will find peace, joy, and awesome glimpses of His glory. This will be completely satisfying, even if He never gives you exactly what you requested".
As I have said many times God may not answer right away or He may not answer in the way we would like but we can be sure of one thing, that He will always give us peace.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
What do You do While Waiting Patiently?
What do you do while you’re waiting? How do you build a faith that trusts God during the delays?
First of all be confident that God will do what He said He would do just like the farmer when he plant. When he plants he expects a harvest so he waits patiently.
James 5:7-8 NLT Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.
However, patiently waiting doesn't mean doing nothing. They get ready. They don’t sit around wondering if the seed is going to produce a plant. The farmer expects a harvest and prepares for it. When it comes the farmer reaps the benefits.
Like the farmer God to act and provide.
Psalms 130:5 NLT I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word.
Isaiah 49:23 NLT Kings and queens will serve you and care for all your needs. They will bow to the earth before you and lick the dust from your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord. Those who trust in me will never be put to shame.” (emphasis mine)
If you are really expecting God to answer your prayer, what are you doing to prepare for the answer? You may not be ready to handle the blessing he wants to give you, and so he’s waiting on you to spiritually mature. If you’re not preparing yourself while you wait, you’re not really expecting anything to happen.
God is working in your life, even when you can't see what he's doing and even if you think his timing is too slow. Wait patiently and prepare, get still, spend time in God’s Word, and learn how to be more like Jesus. Then get busy doing the work that will prepare you for the harvest.
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