patience
“Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.”
Isaiah 30:18 ESV
Your season of waiting is a promise of greater things.
There is something inside every human heart that compels us to act towards what we see with our eyes. The idea of trust, waiting & resting somehow feel counterintuitive and oftentimes not enough. We feel a demand to take action — especially when facing difficulty. We rush to fulfill our own needs, doubting our Savior who knows our needs better than we know ourselves.
For the people of Israel, this kind of faith, trust and patience was too much. Rather than wait on the Lord, they took matters into their own hands. When we do this, even our best efforts end up nowhere.
Hurry will ultimately lead to loss. As we rush to a conclusion, we miss what God longs to do. Waiting will always expose what’s inside and on the other side of waiting there is always something far greater than you could have ever imagined.
We often wonder why God waits to do things in our lives— Isaiah tells us plainly, it is so He may be gracious to us. Whenever God waits or seems to delay, there is always a loving purpose behind it. He invites us to trust even when we don’t understand.
Beloved, I don’t know what you’re currently waiting for, but I do know that your season of waiting will lead to greater purpose, for His glory. God has not and will not abandon you and there are things He is doing that you cannot see.
Faith never hurries, so be encouraged to wait on Him. Trust in the One who is fighting on your behalf. (Ex 14:14) Trust in the One who has plans to prosper you. (Je 29:11) Trust that you need only be still.
Take heart and hold on just a little while longer.
In joy, peace+ love,
RRB
additional reading:
Old testament: Micah 7:7, Psalm 27:14, Lamentations 3:24-26, Psalm 40:1
New testament: Romans 12:12, 2 Peter 3:9, Galatians 5:5
reflect:
What areas of your heart or life are you rushing to find an answer to? Is there a root to this rushing? Does it stem from doubt or unbelief? How can you better steward the waiting process?
centering prayer:
LORD, what are YOUR promises over my life? How can I come into alignment with those promises and better steward the waiting process? Help me to run and not grow weary as I trust that You are ultimately bringing everything together for my good. amen.
