Waiting on God

Faith. Hope. Patience. All these things are needed in a season of waiting. This season is where God prepares you for the next level of your life. He will mold you into the person you need to be for the next phase; whether that be adding more to you, taking away from you, or just rearranging your structure. You may not feel like there is any work being done in you or for you, but keep faith in the Lord, be patient, and don’t lose hope. Here’s some examples of people who waited on God:

1. David- The Appointed King

The first king of Israel was Saul, a rebellious and ungodly leader. God did not approve of this and rejected Saul as king. Spoken to the prophet Samuel, God declared David was the true appointed king of Israel. Yet David was not made king for another 15 or so years. Why did he have to wait? He had to overcome many obstacles and be tested many times before God knew David was ready to be king of Israel.

Although you may not be waiting to be king or queen of your people, you may be searching for other positions, such as a job opening or a team leader. You may have submitted several applications with few callbacks. This can be discouraging, but as David knew he would eventually get to where God wants him to be, know that you will get to where you need to be as well.

2. Joseph- From Prison to Power

Joseph was his parents' favorite child and his brothers’ most hated sibling. There was a constant cycle of rage against Joseph from his brothers. When Joseph received dreams from God about how he would one day rule over his family, he told his siblings about it. This fueled their hatred even more, creating a desire to kill Joseph. They ended up throwing him in a cistern and selling him to Midianite merchants, where he was taken to be an Egyptian slave. As Joseph was kept prisoner, he interpreted many dreams of the other prisoners. Eventually, the Pharaoh needed his dreams interpreted as well, and he came to Joseph. Not only was Joseph released from slavery, but he was also made the second-in-command of Egypt. He helped Egypt prepare and get through a famine.

While in slavery, Joseph was stuck as a prisoner. He couldn’t do much. He was in a season of waiting for his release and waiting for his purpose. If you feel like you are just idling through life, understand this. In waiting seasons, you don’t have to wait and do nothing. In Joseph’s waiting season, he found purpose as a prisoner by interpreting the dreams of others. Ask God to reveal your purpose. Ask for confirmation on what He wants you to pursue. Whether it be working on yourself or doing hands-on projects, you can absolutely work while you wait!

3. Jacob- Hopeless Romantic

Jacob, Abraham’s grandson, met Rachel on his journeys. He instantly fell in love with her and knew that she was the one he wanted to marry. He met her father Laban and, being his uncle, he brought him home and allowed Jacob to stay with them for a whole month. Laban eventually asked what Jacob wanted in return for all the work he has done, and he said that he will work 7 years for his daughter Rachel. So that is what he did. After the 7 years, they had a big feast and Jacob asked for his wife. But Laban brought out Leah, his other daughter instead. He explained that the oldest daughter had to marry first, but he can also marry Rachel... if he works another 7 years. So that is what he did. Jacob ended up working a total of 14 years for the woman that he loves.

In this story, we see that it didn’t matter the time or the price, Jacob was willing to do anything to marry the woman that he loves. And in his season of waiting for love, he faced unexpected turns and delays. But this did not stop him, for with time he would receive what he longed for. In your season of waiting for a significant other, do not rush anything. This may result in ending up with someone who provides you no good and may even bring hurt into your life. Pray that God brings you the perfect one and make sure that when someone comes along, you ask Him if this one is really the one. Don’t be with someone due to impatience or desperation. Be patient, because the Lord has someone who will do anything for your love in store for you.

4. The Israelites- The Storm Before the Calm

While staying in Egypt, the Israelites faced incredible amounts of bad treatment from the Egyptians. They were forced into enslavement and were treated cruelly and harshly. Even through the maltreatment, they continued to multiply and grow their families. This is what instilled fear into the Egyptians and caused them to treat the people of God even worse. They endured this for centuries upon centuries, but this would change once Moses was born. God spoke to him and asked him to lead His people out of Egypt, for He sees how cruel the Egyptians are being to them. So the Lord walks along Moses’ side as he leads His people out of Egypt and into the promised land. After being mistreated and abused for 430 years, the Israelites finally escaped the brutality of the Egyptians and were free to honor and praise the Lord in their new land.

After enduring so much pain and suffering within Egypt, the Israelites were finally set free after the arrival of Moses, the one who led them to the promised land. This was an incredibly long waiting season for them, 430 years to be exact, and they still continued to maintain faith in the Lord and worship Him. While waiting for a bad situation to pass, maintaining faith in God is essential in order to see the light at the end of the tunnel. If you allow yourself to be consumed by this bad time, it will make it even harder for you to come out of it. The Lord has a plan with you, so make sure you trust His process and continue to pray to Him. Know that He has something incredible in store for you in the end!