Do You Mind Waiting on God?

Have you ever heard the saying, “Patience is a virtue?”

I would agree.  I believe patience is next to godliness.  I’m sure you wonder why I say that.

First, let me admit that I have a BIG problem with patience. In all honesty, I am not patient at all.  I am almost led to believe that it is the thorn in my side that I keep asking God to remove, but it seems to remain!

With that being said, I don’t know a Christian that has not battled with impatience at some point in their lives.  I just believe that by nature, people have a measure of impatience.  The culture of our society does not make things any better.  We live in a microwave, “I want it know”-type society.  We want everything fast, and we want it served exactly the way we like it.  Everytime!

Now this is where we run into problems with God…

God is not a “have it your way” type of God.  In the book of Isaiah 55:8-9, God informs us that:

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
    “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
⁹ For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so my ways are higher than your ways
    and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

It looks to me as if God already knew from the beginning of time that man would have some problems.  Not only would we have problems, but we would experience major difficulties in conforming to the ways of God.

Wrapping our mind around the way that God thinks is a monumental task in and of itself.  God told us in Philippians 2:5:

 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Say what?  And what does having the same attitude as Christ had mean for us as believers?  If you go on to read the rest of Philippians 2 you gain an understanding that having the attitude of Christ refers to “obedience.”  Another much dreaded word.

All in all, having patience reflects an attitude of giving over to the divine will and plan of God for your life.  It means recognizing and acknowledging that God knows whats best for you.  You may feel as if certain things will never happen or that you are behind schedule concerning some areas of your life.  But guess what?  God already knew where you would be at this point in your life and He has already made provision for you!  Now, that’s good news!

Listen to what the word of God says concerning God’s view of time in 2 Peter 3:8-9

⁸ But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. ⁹ The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

Did you just read what I read?  Yet another twist in this mystery!  According to this passage of scripture, God’s delay has absolutely nothing to do with Him.  It has everything to do with US!  When you have a revelation of this scripture, you experience God’s love for His people.

Now this changes everything.  It changes our entire attitude about having to wait on God.  In actuality, we are not waiting on God, He is waiting on US!  Isn’t that something?

God wants to give us time to get things together in our lives so that we can enjoy the fruit of our blessings.  If God were to give us certain things now, the truth of the matter is that we may end up losing them just as quick as He released them into our lives.

I don’t know about you, but I want fruit that remains in my life.  I don’t want a TEMPORARY blessing!  I want all that God has for me and I want to be able to enjoy it for all ETERNITY.

The God that we serve is an eternal God and the way that He views things is from an eternal perspective.  If God has you in a “holding” position, I encourage you to seek God.  Seek Him for the “why” behind your current situation.  Why has God not released what you have been asking Him for?  Could it be that He is waiting on you?

Please leave your comments and your feedback.  Have you ever had to “wait” on God?  What did you do while in your “holding” position?