Wait on the Lord: Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. {Psalm 27:14}
My soul wait thou only upon God, for my expectation is from Him.
He only is my Rock and my Salvation, He is my Defense,
I shall not be moved. {Psalm 62: 5 & 6}
There is a purpose in waiting and great is the expectation thereof. The farmer patiently waits for his harvest and celebrates in the fruits of his labor. An expectant mother excitedly awaits the birth of her child and rejoices when she delivers!
In the waiting room, there is often anxiety, strain, and occasional fatigue, but this is a growing time as God builds character and strengthens the reins of our hearts. He also renews us so that we are able to persevere with all hope.
"I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." Psalm 27:13.
"For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith, but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul." Hebrews 10:36-39.
Our whole trust must be in Him and not the sons of men. His Word is an anchor that keeps us grounded, while vehement winds blow and torrential rains beat against our house. Rejoice! The Lord is our exceedingly great reward. Blessed are all who wait for Him!
"He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:29-31.
Patience is more than waiting on God for our own needs and desires. It's learning to rely on the Lord totally and in everything. It involves learning to be still, quietly trusting that God will do what He says He will do. It also involves active faith, like the farmer who works in his field, whose expectation is to see the fruits of his labor and patiently waits for it.
Many faithful men and women in the Old Testament exemplified great patience and trust in the Lord, but many went the way of death without seeing the manifestation of a promise. Even so, they died with hope, and surely, God is still fulfilling His word. Whether in our time or a time to come, it shall be done.
So, if you are wondering when that dream or vision God has put into your heart will come to pass, do not lose heart. Even if it has been years since you first believed and trusted, keep believing, keep trusting. Every one of God’s promises is true and very sure!
Do our emotions have any impact on the sun or the rain? Absolutely not! Likewise, how we feel does not alter God’s plans for our lives.
His purposes are not contingent on mood swings. He expects us to believe in our hearts for the impossible. Hannah poured out her soul before God and was granted her desire for a child. We must learn to hold on to our faith in God. It will happen in its time if we continue to believe and rest in God's Word despite any minor discomfort. We also know that God had plans for Samuel, Hannah's son. She got her desire, but she also had made a vow to offer him back to the Lord, all the days of his life.
We must examine ourselves and ask the Lord to search us and try us and only give us those things that would be for His glory and praise, and when He does, be careful to offer it on the altar of God.
Scripture Readings:
Isaiah 40:31; Habakkuk 2:1-4, Psalm 27:13 & 14, Psalm 37:1-8, Isaiah 40:27-31, 1 Samuel 1:1-20, Mark 9:23, Hebrews 10:36-39, Hebrews 11, Psalm 145:14-21, Psalm 123, Philippians 4:6, & the Book of James; Lamentations 3:25 & 26
Thought For Today:
The plowman doesn't plow forever.
Updated Photo Credit: Flickr/Creative Commons user Julep67
