Kerry Shook is senior pastor of Woodlands Church in Texas, one of the fastest-growing churches in America. He shared the following valuable insight about waiting on the Lord at his blog, kerryshook.org/blog/gods-waiting-room.
“Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act.” Psalm 37:4 (NIV)
Waiting is not my strong suit. We live in a microwave culture that fosters our impatience with waiting. Ever prayed, “Lord, give me patience, but hurry up.”? The truth is, God is never in a hurry, yet He’s never late. Abraham waited 25 years from the time God promised him a son until Isaac was born. Moses waited 40 years before God would use him to deliver the children of Israel out of Egypt. David waited over ten years from the time he was anointed by Samuel to be the next King of Israel and then another seven and a half years before his reign included all the tribes of Israel.
It’s easy to interpret “not now” as “not ever!” when you are seeking God’s guidance. So what’s the point? Why the waiting period? Most of the time that we are waiting on God, God is really waiting on us. He is waiting for us to grow in our character as He prepares us for the next assignment. When you think about your waiting period like that, what do you think God is trying to develop in your character? This gives value to waiting. Don’t waste your time in the waiting room. Learn to be still in God’s presence. The important thing is knowing Him, not knowing the answer. God has a plan and a path for you. He uses the waiting period to prepare us and to protect us. Abraham and Moses both got into trouble when they jumped the gun and tried to help God out. They acted independently of God and had to learn the hard way to do what the psalmist said, “… wait patiently for Him (God) to act.”
It’s human nature to want to take the bull by the horns. Resist the urge and wait on God’s timing. It’s interesting to see how even Noah waited on God’s timing in the ark after the flood. The story in Genesis tells us that the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat on the seventeenth day of the seventh month, yet Noah waited another five months before he and his family left the ark. I think I would have wanted to exit that smelly ship as soon as I could. But God was protecting Noah and his family and preparing them for their calling to start the human race over again.
If you’re waiting on God, be encouraged that God is at work in your life preparing you for His purpose. Let Him complete the process by being still in His presence and pressing in to a deeper and more intimate relationship with Him. Stay connected with God daily in prayer and worship. Before you know it, He will act. Then, like Noah, walk through God’s open door to a whole new world.
The Lord has a timetable that is Very different than ours. As He declared (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.” We need to submit ourselves to His timing and trust that He has Everything under control. He is Large and in Charge! He reigns Supreme and is Lord over heaven and earth. He will do what is right and His timing will be the Best!
This Sunday, March 23, we will continue our new series, “God Works the Night Shift!” This week let’s consider what happens when we are “In God’s Waiting Room” (Psalm 27:14). How do you respond when you have to wait and wait and wait for the Lord to answer your prayer? Please invite someone to join you in the building or online for the Live broadcast on either Facebook (Honolulu AG) or our YouTube channel (Honolulu Assembly of God). We Livestream every Sunday to both locations and would love to have you join us.
Bible classes for all ages take place every Sunday morning at 9:30am. There are two classes for children, one for youth, and one for Adults (current study: The 12 Disciples). Let’s study the Word together this Sunday!
Coming Up: Palm Sunday is April 13 and Resurrection Sunday is April 20. Please invite someone to join you for these glorious celebrations.
Aloha ke Akua!
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