Waiting On God
Key Verse
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord.”
– Psalm 27:14
Basic Biblical Understanding
We’re all waiting for something. And when you walk by faith, God will put you in places where patience is required. Whatever you’re waiting for today, it’s important to remember that God prepares us through the waiting to better embrace His answer on the other side.
David offers a word of warning and guidance for those who are waiting on God. “Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord.” David reminds us of something that we already know. God’s answers do not always come immediately. Sometimes, we have to wait. Sometimes God needs to get us prepared to receive the answer, and at other times, God is orchestrating circumstances to produce the answer.
A problem in waiting is that delays make us nervous. When God doesn’t answer immediately, we sometimes start to question everything. Am I praying right? Does God hear me? Does God care? If we’re not careful, we confuse ourselves, lose confidence in God, and become fearful of the outcome.
In Psalm 27:14, David is giving himself a spiritual pep talk. He’s saying, “David, wait for the Lord. Don’t lose heart. Don’t let fear overtake you. You’ve been here before. God has proven Himself to be trustworthy in the past, and you can trust Him again today. Because of Him, you can be strong and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for the Lord.”
As odd as it sounds, sometimes you might need to have a good conversation with yourself. It may be helpful to stop everything and simply reflect on this question: “What do I know to be true about God, and am I willing to trust Him completely in this situation?”
It’s also important to remember that God’s delays are not necessarily God’s denials. His silence may be “No,” “Not right now,” or “I have something better.” However, silence is never “Yes.” Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Until God has spoken, it’s presumption on our part to take action. “Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord.”
God’s best through waiting is always better than our best right now!
Verses (ask God to to show you how they apply to your life)
“Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength…”
– Isaiah 40:31a
“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him.”
– Lamentations 3:25
“…I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.”
– Micah 7:7b
Helpful Questions and Application
There are many benefits that come from waiting on the Lord. Read back over the three verses in the previous section and write out some benefits that come when we wait. If you’d like to see more benefits, look up the Scripture references in the “Additional Resources” below.
Why is waiting hard for you? For some people, waiting seems like a waste of time, or it delays getting what you want, or it creates anxiousness. Take the time to reflect over why waiting is hard for you. As God brings issues to mind, submit them to Him in prayer.
Additional Resources
Scripture references: Psalm 37:34; Psalm 40:1–7; Ecclesiastes 3
WordTruth Article:
”Do You Really Believe What You Say About Prayer?”
”God Always Answers Prayer But Not As We Think”