Have you been trusting and praying to God about a situation, and it seems God is taking forever to answer? Does it seem to you that the waiting period is getting longer and you’re at the verge of giving up? Does it look like you want to do it your way and forget about waiting on God? Or your question is ‘why should I wait on God?’
Follow me as we digest the mystery about waiting on God and what to do in that period of waiting.
A period of waiting is unavoidable and necessary for everyone. It is not everything in life; you will get on a platter of gold. There are some things you will have to wait on God for until your answers come to you not just for waiting sake, but because God is preparing you to be fit for it.
Waiting is a phase everyone must pass through; and what we wait on God for differs from one person to another. From seeking admission to getting a job after graduation, giving birth, getting a spouse, promotion, healing, Marriage, and lots more, are what individuals wait on God for. But when it seems the waiting period is getting longer than we expected, we tend to start losing hope.
The waiting period is necessary. It is not just a time to sit and watch, or a time to allow depression and all sort of negative thinking. It is a time to move closer to God and trust Him more. A time to build capacity and add value to yourself. It is a time to focus on other areas of your life while God is working on the area you’re waiting on Him for. That you’re waiting doesn’t mean you should be stagnant.
From my experiences and according to the scriptures, these are what to do while waiting on God.
1) Wait Patiently On God
There is a big difference between waiting on God hurriedly and waiting patiently. Saul in the Bible waited but not patiently. He hurried just when his waiting was almost over, and that marks the beginning of his error. Saul violated God’s instruction because his soldiers are leaving him and went ahead to offer the sacrifice.
Many are also like Saul, who are waiting but not patiently. That your mates are leaving you behind to get married in whatever way it comes is not enough reason for you to jump God’s process for your life. Because others are going, launching their ministries, starting their churches, and many more do not give you the go-ahead with yours. You can render your period of waiting useless if you fail to wait until the appointed time like Saul.
When we fail to wait patiently, what ought to be ours can be given to another, who is waiting for on God patiently. For instance, Jesus might have been called “Son of Saul” instead of “Son of David” What a heritage Saul missed! You can never be too patient.
God expect you to rest on Him and trust Him while you’re waiting on Him.
2) Continue Praying
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, ESV). Obviously, in this verse, what the Bible tells us to do is clear, to pray without ceasing and thank God in all circumstances.
The waiting period is not a time to complain or worry. It is a time to pray till you get what you need. A time to pray until your joy is full. John 16: 24b says ” ….. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full” There is a difference between praying and complaining while waiting on God. Beware of the one you’re doing between the two!
3) Dwell In The Truth
Christ Jesus said, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). And who is the truth? Jesus! He said in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the TRUTH, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. What is the truth? God’s word is the truth. John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth”.
To dwell in the truth is to trust in Christ, study and meditate on Gods word concerning the areas you’re waiting on Him for. Believe and confess God’s promises for your life in faith. Let His word, which is the truth abides in your heart, let it be your companion. Study how those who waited on God in the Bible like Abraham, Sarah, Hannah, Elizabeth, Rachel, Joseph, even David and many more. Learn about what they did and draw strength from their lives. Above all, remember, God’s word is ever true. What He says will surely come to pass, don’t give up on it.
4) Count your blessings
In your waiting period, recount God’s faithfulness over your life. When the devil makes you think ” Can God do it for you?” Count your blessings and see how much He has done for you, then you will be encouraged that He can do much more, even what you’re waiting in Him for, and the whisper of the devil are just lies to discourage you.
Thank Him for the past result He has given to your prayers, and it can provoke God to provide you with a speedy answer on what you are trusting Him for. Remember, in Luke 9:16, Jesus gave thanks over the few fishes and loaves, and bless His Father for always answering His prayers. Do you know what happened? The fishes and loaves of bread were multiplied that the people could not exhaust it. When you’re grateful to God for doing a thing for you, it makes Him want to do more.
These points, as mentioned above, are essential out of many things to do while waiting on God.
In the journey of every man, God put us through a test, and most of the time, the test is in the form of patience while waiting. Waiting can be a tremendous test of patience, and patience is not an easy thing, but when you go to God, He will always give you the grace to wait on Him till He answers you.
In all your waiting, wait patiently and expectantly on Him to do what He has promised you.
Remain blessed
