REWIND: God's Timing (Why the Wait is So Long)

Guiding Scripture: Psalm 27:13-14 - “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (NLT)

• God’s timing is always different from ours.
  • Isaiah 55:8-9 - “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’”
  • 2 Peter 3:8 - “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”
• The wait is long to build up our faith.
  • James 1:2-3  - “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
• The wait is long to make us mature.
  • James 1:4 - “Let perseverance finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
• The wait is long so our motives can be revealed.
  • Genesis 22:12 - “‘Do not lay a hand on the boy,’ he said. ‘Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.’”  
• The wait is long so that God can get more glory.
  • Exodus 3:19-20 - “But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand forces him. So I will raise my hand and strike the Egyptians, performing all kinds of miracles among them. Then at last he will let you go.”
• What to do while you’re waiting (the ABC’s of waiting):
  • Anticipate what God will do: “Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.” (James 5:7-8)
  • Be still: “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.” (Psalm 37:7)
  • Celebrate what God is doing right now: “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.  And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” (Romans 5:3-4)

Action Step: What is one area where you are waiting on God to break through or bring change in your life?