Waiting Well - Part 3

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Monday we looked at what the Biblical definition of waiting is, and how we need to get that correct first. Wednesday we looked at some of what is involved in waiting according to the Bible.

Today, I want us to look at some of the benefits of learning to wait well on the Lord. Why should we wait on the Lord? What does God do in and thru us while we wait?

  1. WAITING ALLOWS THE LORD TO SUSTAIN AND SATISFY

Psalm 145:14-16 “The LORD sustains all who fall, And raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in due time. You open your hand, and satisfy the desire of every living thing.”

While the word “wait” is not found in this passage in the English translation of the NASB, the concept is clearly here. Note the words, “The eyes of all look to thee.” “Look” is sabar which means, “look, wait, hope” and some translations use it this way here. Compare its use in Psalm 104:27-28 where it has the idea of “be dependent on.” Someone who “looks” to another waits on that person in trust for provision.

We also see the truth and concept in the words of Psalm 145:15 when it states “in due time”. This perfectly describes those periods in our lives when we are sitting in one of those places God has marked with the words “Waiting Room” no matter the source or what we are waiting for.

Notice how this passage describes us? As fallen, bowed down, yet looking, waiting on the Lord to supply and sustain, but allowing and trusting God to do it in His season, in His time. Expectant, yet waiting.

Every time we encounter the circumstances or problems of life that cause us to wait, we are faced with a very important choice—will we look up and wait, or will we focus on the problem and choose our own strategy, whether it be to worry, to run away, throw in the towel, or run ahead of the Lord.

How will we respond? How do you typically respond? Which most often describes you? Why might this be so? What does this teach us about ourselves based upon what we have seen over these three devotions?

  1. WAITING STRENGTHENS AND ENABLES THE ONE WHO WAITS

Isaiah 40:29-31 “He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.”

As we look at this passage, we might think about the following:

(1)          While there are obviously other causes, continued weariness and a lack of strength to carry on may be the result of failing to wait on the Lord as it’s defined above. Let’s be honest, it is tiresome to rely on our own strength, our strength reservoirs are often shallow or empty. And or lives shown this. (Cf. verses 29-30 with verse 31.)

(2)          We all become not only physically tired and weary, but emotionally and spiritually depleted. That’s human. But God says part of the solution along with good health habits (diet, rest, exercise, etc.) is “wait for the Lord.” This is one mark of a truly healthy person.

Discuss this: How does Isaiah connect being tired and weary to waiting or not waiting on the Lord? Isaiah is telling us we often grow weary because we fail to wait on the Lord. When we run around in our own strength and operate by our own insufficient resources we are going to sooner or later run out of steam. Worrying is exhausting. Debilitating. Can anyone relate to this?

The key question is, why don’t we wait on the Lord? Often it’s because we do not believe sufficiently in God and all that He is. We either don’t know or don’t trust Him rightly. For some reason, we begin to think and act like God is simply not involved or doesn’t understand.

Look again at Isaiah 40:29-31. What promises are offered here for those who wait on the Lord and thus forfeited when we do not wait on the Lord? God is good and is doing something even in the waiting.

  1. WAITING STRAIGHTENS AND BUILDS CHARACTER IN THE ONE WHO WILL WAIT

One of the emphases in the following three passages is on what happens in us and to us as we learn to wait on the Lord. It builds our character because through the process of waiting, we learn to depend on the Lord alone and to find our source of strength, security, and joy in Him which is the lesson Paul learned and refers to in Philippians 4:11-13.

Look at Psalm 37:1-11. Discuss this: What three challenges do you find in this text?

One of the misunderstandings about waiting on the Lord is that it doesn’t always mean we sit still and do nothing. Doing good involves living for the Lord and positive ministry. Doing what we know to do until we know otherwise or more. It means living out of deep dependence on the Lord. Even while we wait we still are to be obedient and do what we know to do even then.

Look at Psalm 40:1-9. Discuss this: What do we see here and learn here about how God uses waiting?

In the waiting God continues to shape us into His image and mold our character that we become more like Him.

  1. WAITING LIFTS US OUT OF DESPAIR AND PRODUCES PRAISE TO GOD IN THE ONE WHO WAITS

Read the following Psalms and discuss what we see that teaches this truth:

Psalm 40:2-3

Psalm 42:5-11

Psalm 43:5

Psalm 145:15-21

When we are in despair or depressed, we tend to moan and groan, whine and complain, just as we saw we are commanded not to do in Phil. 2:14. But waiting on the Lord gets our eyes focused on Him and our glorious future. It puts a song in our hearts and praise on our lips. It gives us a sure reason(s) to hope and be filled with joy no matter the circumstances.

But lastly ….

  1. WAITING ENCOURAGES OTHERS AND GIVES GREATER ABILITY TO WITNESS THRU THE ONE WHO WAITS

Look at Psalm 40:1, 5, 9-10. Discuss this: What does our ability to wait well do to those around us and our testimony about the goodness and greatness of God?

We must never discount the impact of our lives on others both for bad and for good. It is hard to have a positive word and a positive witness to others when we haven’t been waiting and aren’t resting on the Lord.

Discuss this: What does it say about the Lord to those around us when we cannot wait on Him? Conversely, what does it say about the Lord to those around us when we can wait on the Lord?

I hope these help us to be a people who wait well, or at least get on the road to being able to wait well.

 

In the waiting God continues to shape us into His image and mold our character that we become more like Him.