Working in the Waiting

Waiting.

I don't know about you, but I don't particularly like to wait. It's down right torturous at times. 2020 has been a year filled with waiting. We have been waiting on so many things...waiting on answers, waiting on relief, waiting on a vaccine, waiting for it all to be over. I'm sure we have all prayed, "God please put an end to our agony."

Could there be a purpose to our waiting? A reason for our agony? There always is. Waiting is not new and not exclusive to you and me. Just as we are waiting for an end to this pandemic, God's people were waiting for relief in the Old Testament. They waited on the promised Messiah for 400 year., 400 years! 400 years of silence from God. Can you imagine what that felt like? It makes waiting less than one year seem a little less monumental. I'm sure they had felt like God had forgotten about them. Maybe you feel that way now too.

"The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth." Lamentations 3:25-27 Jeremiah tells us the Lord is good to those who wait on him and trust in him. When we bear this yoke of waiting, we are learning a lesson that God wants to teach us. We can quietly reflect on what God wants, repent for doing what we want that is outside of his will, and practice self-control in the face of our adversities. God is seldom early, but He is never late. His timing is always perfect. Trust that what we are waiting on will be worth it. Let the lessons we learn in the meantime reshape you. Let the lessons change your perspective. Let the lessons bring upon grace and maybe even gratitude.

Take time to reflect today. Are there lessons you have learned in the past from a season of waiting? What are you waiting on today? If you need a little extra inspiration, check out Pastor Daniel Tyler's message (starts at minute 45). Thank You Pastor Daniel for some words of inspiration!