When You’re Tired of Waiting
Tired of waiting for your husband, tired of waiting for that promotion or job offer, tired of waiting for friends, tired waiting for your situation to change. Whatever it is that you are waiting for, I know you are tired.
I was in that same place a few months ago. I felt like I was doing everything right by God. I was praying, I was going to church, I was denying myself and my desires. So why wasn’t I receiving what I prayed for?
When I was reading my Bible one Saturday morning I was in the book of numbers and stumbled across Numbers 13:25 it says “After exploring the land for 45 days the men returned.” For context (It is part of a passage that describes the return of a group of people who were sent to explore the land of Canaan for forty days). 45 days it said?? I was shocked reading that. I tried putting myself in their position and seeing what it felt like to complete only 1 thing in 45 days. I realized in that moment I was being very impatient with God.
This one verse led me down a rabbit hole. I wanted to know what more the Bible said about waiting. I found every single verse in the Bible that mentions waiting and read them. Come to find out, the Bible tells us to wait 116 times! If God tells us to wait 116 times it must be pretty important right?
God’s timing is always right and it’s something that cannot be rushed. If God told us how long something was going to take, do you think we would have the patience for that? Probably not. From personal experience, if God had told me it was going to take 15 years for my situation to change, I would have said “that’s too long God”. But he needed that time to align everything perfectly according to his plan. I promise you whatever it is you’re waiting for, God is working. Even when you cannot see him, he is working.
It’s easy to lose hope when you see no signs of progress.
I was so hopeless towards the end of my situation. I often cried myself to sleep wondering if it was ever going to change. But when I was 15 my mom met my stepdad and since then my life has never been the same. I thank God every day for taking me and my family out of a bad situation. I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would be living the life I have now. There is no other explanation for that than God. When people ask me why I believe in God, that is my answer. He did the unbelievable in my life, and that’s all the proof that I need.
“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” Psalm 27:14
As everything in this world has gotten faster, and we can have almost anything at the click of a button. I want to remind you of this passage from Genesis 30:18: “So Jacob worked 7 years to pay for Rachel. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days.” Jacob had to work for Rachel for 7 years to pay to marry her and he didn’t think twice about it. He wasn’t rushing God or asking God why this wasn’t happening for him. He trusted in the Lord and his timing.
It’s so easy for us to get wrapped up in thinking that we have to have everything we want right now! But if God gave you what you were asking for could you handle it? A lot of the time our waiting has a purpose. God is either trying to strengthen us, reveal something to us, or prepare us. The waiting period is never a waste. It takes great strength and humility to wait for the Lord. To be able to put aside your agenda and let go of control. Is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your relationship with God.
If you are waiting for something to happen in your life don’t let the devil discourage you. I encourage you to ask God what he is trying to teach you in this waiting period. If he is asking you to wait, he will give you the strength to do it.
