Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. [Psalm 27:14 (NLT)]
Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. [Psalm 37:7 (NLT)]
When writing about Nehemiah recently, I thought about waiting. From the time he learned of Jerusalem’s broken-down walls until he spoke to the king, three months passed. Day in and day out, Nehemiah was at the king’s side but remained silent about his concern. Trusting that God would provide the opportune time, Nehemiah patiently waited at the king’s side until God provided the perfect moment when the king inquired about his cupbearer’s sadness. Had I been Nehemiah, would I have trusted God’s timing and kept silent for ninety days? What about you?
Although David was between ten and fifteen when Samuel anointed him Israel’s king, it was not until he was thirty that he became Judah’s king. He waited until he was thirty-seven before he finally reigned over a united Israel. Rather than spending years running from Saul, David had an opportunity to speed up things when he was hiding with his men in the back of a cave and Saul came in to relieve himself. Without Saul knowing, David got close enough to stab him but he didn’t. Instead, he cut off a piece of Saul’s robe. Although he’d been promised the throne, David knew he was not to gain it by assassinating his king. He patiently waited for God’s appointed time. When he penned the words about waiting for the Lord in Psalms 27, 37 and 40, David was speaking from experience. Had I been David, however, I’m not so sure I wouldn’t have taken that early opportunity to claim the crown. What about you?
After Elijah told Ahab that God had determined there would be a drought until the prophet gave the word, he fled. The Lord told his prophet to hide by the Kerith Brook where he could drink from the brook and be fed by ravens. Because of the drought, the brook gradually dwindled into a rill and then a trickle until it was nothing but a dry gully. Nevertheless, as Elijah watched the water disappear, he faithfully remained there until God sent him to Zarephath. Had I been Elijah, would I have waited there patiently as I watched the brook turn to mud? I suspect I would have panicked and gone searching for water. What about you?
Joseph was just 17 when he was given two dreams about his family bowing down in submission to him, but at least twenty years passed before they actually did bow before him. Thirteen of those years, Joseph spent as a slave or a prisoner. Nevertheless, even though it looked like his vision would never materialize, he continued to trust in the Lord and interpret dreams, even while sitting in a prison cell and forgotten by Pharaoh’s cup-bearer. Had I been Joseph, I might have thrown myself a pity party and stopped believing those dreams. What about you?
Through no fault of his own, Joshua had to wait until an entire generation died before entering the Promised Land. Had I been Joshua, would I have trusted God that I would live long enough to see Canaan or gone ahead with Caleb? What about Simeon and Anna who waited decades for the Messiah? After so many years of disappointment, would I have grown weary of the fruitless wait and not gone to the Temple that day? What about you?
Although our timing and God’s timing are rarely the same, He always is right on time! He has complete control over the events in our lives and orders them according to His plan—even if that means we must delay getting a project started, hide in a cave, grow thirsty by a dwindling stream, sit in a prison cell, delay nearly forty years, or wait a lifetime to see the Messiah! Although these Biblical heroes all exhibited patience, they couldn’t have done so without faith! Rather than allowing themselves to be overwhelmed by their disappointment, distress, or challenging circumstances, they had unwavering confidence in God’s promises, love, and divine plan.
Trusting even when it appears you have been forsaken, praying when it seems your words are simply entering a vast expanse where no one hears and no voice answers…waiting patiently while seemingly starving to death, with your only fear being your faith might fail…this is genuine faith indeed. [George MacDonald]
Devotions of the Heart 