Waiting on God

“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (Psalm 27:14-15).

“How much longer do I have to wait, God?” I prayed on my drive home. I had been talking to God about the same prayer requests for months and was eager to see Him at work.

Just then, I came to a stoplight. When I looked over, I noticed a beautiful mural just beginning to be painted on the side of a coffee shop. I was reminded that God is working even while I wait. “Not my will, but Yours, God,” I prayed in quiet surrender (Luke 22:42).

Seconds later, the light turned green.

How do you feel about waiting? Whether you’re waiting on God to answer your prayers, waiting for a special holiday or birthday, waiting for your next paycheck, or waiting in line, waiting can be hard. . .sometimes, really hard. No matter how hard we try, we can’t avoid waiting. Even if we choose an order-ahead option at a restaurant, chances are, we’ll still have to wait for our take-out to be ready once we arrive.

Not only can waiting feel tough, but it can also feel scary sometimes—at least it was for David in the Bible. David was surrounded by enemies, literally, who wanted to defeat him. But as David cried out to God in Psalm 27, notice he didn’t say, “God, I need you to act now! I don’t have time to wait!” Instead, David chose to trust God and believe that God was with him even in his tough circumstances.

While urgently waiting on God’s deliverance, David declared, “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (Psalm 27:14-15). What strong faith. What beautiful surrender.

Throughout the rest of the psalm, David worshiped God while he waited, declaring truths about God’s faithful character. Friend, if you need a reminder of God’s faithfulness amid your waiting, I encourage you to check out Psalm 27 today. Be sure to share it with a friend who needs the same reminders, too.

I don’t know what you’re waiting for this season, but God does. Just like David, He hears your every prayer. You can rest assured that God loves you and has a plan for your life that is ultimately for His glory. Even if that plan looks different than what you ask for or expect, you can trust that it is good because God Himself is good. His thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8). God’s timing and plan are perfect, even if they’re not always preferred.

So, don’t stop praying. Don’t stop trusting that God hears you and is at work behind the scenes. Look forward most expectantly to Christ’s promised return, where He will “bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:28).

Talk to a trusted friend to share what you’re waiting for, and ask him/her to join you in prayer for God’s will to be done in your life. Encourage one another to take heart and to believe that God is good despite your circumstances.

God always comes through in His timing and in His way. Remember, with God, waiting time is never wasted time.

Friend, will you join me in prayer today?

Dear God,
Thank You for Your faithfulness. You always keep Your promises; You are trustworthy, God! Please give us perseverance as we wait in life. Fix our eyes on You. Help us to see your goodness all around us, even as we wait. Help us to wait well, seeking You, and to be strong and to take heart. Most of all, help us to eagerly await Christ’s return. What a joy-filled day that will be for those of us who have placed our faith in You! We love You!
In Jesus’ name, amen.