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“You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.” — James 5:8, NIV
Life is full of waiting. In fact, we must wait on a daily basis. Perhaps, it’s waiting for food to finish baking, or waiting in a line to go on a ride or to buy something from a store, or perhaps it’s waiting for the beginning of an anticipated event.
In our spiritual life, we also experience seasons of waiting. We may feel that our prayers are going unheard. Maybe we have a decision to make but do not know which direction to take. No matter the case, waiting can be tough and confusing.
However, during times of waiting, we are not alone. God is with us no matter where we are in life, even during periods of waiting.
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9, NIV
Patience is often far from easy. It can seem impossible to wait for God’s timing and plan for our lives. However, patience and faith come hand-in-hand.
In order to wait patiently on the Lord’s timing, we must have faith and trust in His plan for us. Just because we do not know the plans that God has for us, does not mean we cannot place our trust in Him.
In some situations, we feel like doing the right thing but are not seeing results in our life, whether it be sharing the gospel with others or changing habits. Galatians 6 tells us not to grow weary of doing good. We may not see the results of our patience and faith instantaneously, but this should not be a discouragement because God is still working through us even when it takes time or we don’t see the outcome.
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” — Psalm 27:14, NIV
During our waiting, we can draw strength from God’s words and promises. Psalm 21:14 tells us to “be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” In circumstances of waiting, we can cling to hope and the fact that our suffering, confusion or other emotions will not last forever. We can rely on God for peace even in the unknown.
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” — Ecclesiastes 3:1, NIV
We may begin to transition out of our period of waiting and start to see long awaited answers or newfound perspectives on our circumstances. When this happens, we may notice that in every season God is with us, both in and out of the waiting. When we are content, He is by our side. While we are waiting, He is still there. There is a time to wait and to stop waiting; and in all circumstances, God is there for us.
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