In my almost 30 years of walking with the Lord, as with so many other Christians I know, there have been many peaks and valleys, like a roller coaster

One thing that used to be of concern to me was God’s timing. And yes I know in my heart that sooner or later, God is going to come through, but I don’t think I’m alone in sometimes thinking that it would be great if God would just show up and fix things. It isn’t that I doubt God’s power, after all, I believe just as God told Job, “I am God and Job is not!”

There are times in our spiritual journey that we tend to get anxious even though we are told (by God’s word) not to. Times that it feels like we are all alone. The Psalmist gives us the remedy for these times when things get us down; “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14).

Waiting on the Lord is not a passive activity. Waiting means to actively seek God to supply what is needed to handle our situation. We believe in God and his word, yet we tend to believe that if only God knew what we know in our circumstances, he would act immediately. One of the amazing things about God is that we’re never waiting on God to show up; he is an ever present help in the time of need.

There is the waiting of the single person who seeks to find the one who God has planned for their life, the childless couple whose prayers seem to go unanswered year after year. The waiting of so many folks today longing for employment, but it doesn’t come.

Also, those who are suffering illness and longing to be well and return to a normal healthy life; and the spouse who feels trapped in a hurting marriage that seems unlikely to change. Waiting on God can sometimes be difficult and could be a challenge to our faith. But, waiting on God is extremely important to our growth as a Christian. We read in Psalms 37:7: “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass.”

Think of Noah, 120 years building the ark God commanded him to build. Think of Jesus’ disciples waiting for him to right all the wrongs, then he was crucified. Abraham and Sarah waited for God’s promise, David waited for God’s promise; what if they hadn’t waited for God’s timing?

Waiting is a crucial part of our lives.What this does though is to bring us to the question, “Why does God make us wait?” It just seems that an all-loving God could answer our prayers immediately and give us some relief.

The truth is that what God does ‘in’ us while we wait is even more important than whatever it is we’re waiting for. “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed. (Romans 5:3-5a).

Waiting isn’t something we just have to do until we get what we want; waiting is a key part of the process of becoming what God wants us to be. God wants the very best for us, and that we should be careful to ask of the Lord what will benefit and bring glory to him, not just to get things that will only bring pleasure to us. As we continue our walk with God, remember Isaiah’s words:

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

Pastor Dick Nichols

Cedar Creek Community Church

2969 14 Mile Road, Sparta