Waiting on God Can Be Difficult

By Evangelist Garlena L. Hines

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint.” 
Isaiah 40:31

When I was younger I was very impatient.  Whenever my mother stated that she would do something for us or take us somewhere I wanted immediate results.  As I grew older, my impatience caused me to make hasty decisions that I later regretted.  I did not understand the cliché “Good things come to those who wait.”  If I knew I was to receive it I did not want to wait or work for it, but I wanted it then.  There were times in my spiritual walk that this same impatience caused problems and I often found myself moving out of the will of God.  What do you do when you’re waiting on God and become weary?  Why does it seem that God takes His time when we desire something we feel we really need?  Is it because God knows we are not ready for it or is it that God has no intention of giving it to us?  Journey with me…

About twelve years ago I was mentoring a young lady and sharing scriptures on how we could live Holy as single women.  At first it was okay and we both were doing fine.  After about six months she became tired.  She no longer wanted to believe God for a mate or wait, but she wanted to have the man now.  Soon after she moved in with her male friend and she stopped coming to church.  I made attempts to contact her, but they were to no avail.  Soon I had lost total contact with her, but I continued with the vow that I made before God.  I would often wonder about my friend and trust that she was okay.  After twelve years, our paths crossed.  When she approached me she did not recognize me due to my weight loss.  We exchanged pleasantries and she began to ask about my personal life.  I knew where this conversation was headed and I was trying to avoid it.  She asked if I was married and I replied, “Not yet.”  She immediately threw her hand up to show me her wedding ring.  She bragged on her handsome husband, nice big house, his job and how much money he makes--- and, of course, her two kids.  Then she said with a smirk on her face, “I guess you’re still waiting on God?”  I replied, “Yes, I am.” 

That day I experienced mixed feelings.  Why is it that this young lady leaves church, cohabitates with her male friend and now seems to have the “good life?”  Is waiting on God really worth it?  Preaching, teaching, living a holy life and waiting on God has gotten me nowhere.  Although I smiled when she made her comment the enemy began to have a field day with my thoughts.  I had to immediately cast them down and understand that waiting on God is the best thing I could ever do.  No, I don’t live in a big house.  I am not dating, let alone married, but I am in the PERFECT will of God.  What else can I desire? 

Readers, let me encourage you while you are waiting on God:

• Continue the ministry that God has called you to while you wait. 
• Be faithful to God while you wait
• Don’t compare yourself to others in your waiting period
• Make sure God has not answered you and you are still waiting because you missed his voice
• Remember, time works against faith. Time will say it has been a while and God is not going to do it.  Faith says God hasn’t done it “yet”

Many of you are waiting on healing and deliverance and praying for someone to be saved.  Others are waiting on God to send a spouse and have to wait on God.  The prophet Isaiah encourages us to wait on the Lord and He shall renew our strength.  Sometimes waiting on God can cause us to become weary, to give up and even to compromise.  While this young lady had a husband, nice house and children, she compromised her relationship with God to have these things.  She is yet to return to church and feels that she has what she was praying for; therefore, God is no longer a priority. 

After thinking about our conversation I understood that I was exactly where God desired me to be.  I would rather be single and alone than to be out of the will of God.  I will admit that it can be hard waiting on God, but it is necessary.  I have learned to be content in whatever state that I am in.  There are many things that I have on the altar and I don’t know when God is going to fulfill those requests for me, but I know He will.  Until he does, I will be strengthened and mount up on wings as eagles.  See, the eagle flies above the storm unlike other birds. 

Whatever God has promised, you need to wait for it because it will surely come to pass.  Do not allow your impatience to cause you to move out of the will of God.  His plan for you is much more important than your desire to fulfill the request on your own.  Waiting can be difficult, but we have to press into the spiritual power that God has given us. Don’t give up.  Don’t give in, but wait on the Lord, even when it is difficult. 

Let’s pray:

Father, we thank you for being such a sovereign God.  Thank you for making a way out of no way.  I pray for every reader who feels as if s/he is wasting time waiting on You.  God, teach us to know Your will and to wait for the manifestation of Your will.  I pray for every woman who is thinking about compromising her mind, body and soul to receive something she feels she must have.  I pray for every man who is preparing to make a decision that will affect those close to him.  Teach us how to wait and be patient until You bless us.  Don’t allow us to take counterfeits because we are tired of waiting for the genuine blessing.  Keep us safe and our minds stayed on You.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.