Finding Faith in the Waiting
Waiting.
I don’t like it. Waiting is not doing. Waiting is not getting. Waiting is not moving.
Or is it?
In the Old Testament of the Bible, over and over the Jewish people had been promised the Messiah. As a matter of fact, hundreds of prophecies in the Old Testament speak about the coming Son of God that Jesus fulfilled.
And, yet, the Israelites waited. For thousands of years, they waited for God to fulfill His promise. The people of Israel were not perfect, but they had faith. They didn’t plop down on the dusty ground and say, “Okay, God, we will be here waiting for Him to show up.” They moved forward in their faith. Yes, there were times when the Israelites were unfaithful to God and lost sight of His promise (just like we do), but there are so many wonderful stories of God working through His people, helping them learn and grow through their reliance on Him, all while they were waiting.
We don’t have to wait for much today: same-day online shopping, mobile food ordering, worldwide video messaging, streaming music, and movies. Because there’s so much at our fingertips so fast, it’s easy to find ourselves wondering why our requests to God aren’t answered in the same day.
I sometimes wonder why I can’t fast-forward through a difficult time in my life. If God wants me to move forward, then He needs to give me the answers…now. Didn’t He promise if I ask, He would answer?
God did promise that – He just didn’t put a deadline on when He’d answer. I should be thankful He didn’t because it’s in the waiting where my faith deepens. I learn if my faith is truly in the One who provides, or if my faith is based on what I want God to provide.
For the Israelites, at the exact perfect moment in time God intended, a star appeared. The angels announced the waiting was over. The Promise Maker had provided the Promise Keeper, just like He said He would. Perfect Love had come into the world, the One who would save us all.
Faith is believing and trusting God is working every minute of every day. Faith is continuing to learn, work, and build your relationship with Him. The closer you become, the more you will realize there is a reason you are waiting. As you develop this relationship with the Lord, you begin to see your faith as the bridge between your doubts and your confidence that God is who He says He is, and He will fulfill His promise at the right time.
As you go into this week, I pray your faith is strengthened. That person or thing you’re praying about? Don’t give up. In faith, keep taking it to God. You only need faith the size of a mustard seed. You can be confident that He’s hearing you and will grow you in the waiting.
Keep the faith,
Mike
