Waiting Patiently

Photo by Jen Theodore
​Written by Georgetta Head

“I waited patiently for the Lord and He inclined and heard my cry.  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.” (Psalm 40:1-3)
 
Everywhere we look people are in a hurry!  They are constantly rushing here and there, but never seeming to accomplish much.  In today’s culture, we live in a rushed and frustrated society - better known as “stress-filled.”  This fast-pace society is so well accepted that it has been nonchalantly entitled the “microwave generation.” We have been programmed to want what we want now!  No waiting, no planning—just buy it now!  Just do it now!  Leaving us with a buy now, pay later mentality! Rush, rush, hurry, hurry!  My fingers got tired typing these words!
Unfortunately, many of us have allowed this “have it now” attitude to interfere with our relationship with God.  We pray to God with our petitions and needs, and then expect Him to respond or answer immediately. When an immediate response doesn’t happen we then become doubtful believing God doesn’t care about us or our loved ones; or we become angry and impatient.  Why are always in a hurry?  Why are we so impatient? Why do we have difficulties waiting?  Why are we acting as if there is no “hope!”
Psalm 40:1-3 gives a different story about waiting, this Psalm pens hope for the one who patiently waits for God to answer.  As we read these verses penned in these scriptures, we soon discover that it is a treasury of hope, which is salvation, deliverance and joy unspeakable.  Hope the devil doesn’t want us to know about, so he keeps us busy in a fast-paced life anxious about nothing. 
God hears us!  Friends, He can easily bless us with materialistic things, solve our problems, and fight our battles, but His primary goal is for us to learn how to have a priceless and valuable relationship with Him, which includes learning patience.  Instant gratification hurts us more than helps us.  Learning to wait develops a spirit of patience and appreciation that will develop us into a spiritually mature child of God for His kingdom. 
As we wait on God, we learn that a fast-paced life offered by the devil is fruitless, leaving us empty and unhappy.  But, as we wait patiently on the Lord, we will begin to understand the true value and rewards of contentment, forgiveness, victory and witnessing.
 
1. Contentment:   Being happy with what God has already blessed us with and where He has placed us in our calling in the Body of Christ. 

2.  Forgiveness:  Learning genuine forgiveness by not carrying offenses thereby forgiving one another and living a life of peace with one another.

3.    Victory:  Learning to trust and believe in God no matter what happens in life.  We are not moved by what we see, rather we believe that all things are possible with God as we wait patiently on Him for our every need.
​
4.    Witnessing:  We will learn the joy of letting our light shine before men as we witness and plant seeds for God’s kingdom, as we now know experientially contentment, forgiveness and victory.
 
No matter what our current or past situation, we don’t have to accept the attitudes of “this world.”  As we patiently wait, we will soon discover that God is already at work behind the scenes setting up the right conditions and positioning people that will be needed to accomplish what He has planned for us.  He’s just waiting for us to “wait patiently!”  Then at the right moment, in God’s timing, He is going to deliver us from that horrible trial, supply our need and establish our goings. 
 
As we experience victories in our lives, we will become excited and blessed with a “new song in our mouth.” This new song is our testimony which we will excitedly share with others.  When they see and hear your victory, they will want what we have.  They will want to know the “Rock of Salvation” that has transformed our lives through Christ Jesus.  Let’s each ask God to teach us to wait patiently on Him.  There is great reward when we do!