By Rachel Greene
Ever feel like you have been waiting for God’s promises to come through for a long time? He gave you a dream but it seems so far away? You have been praying for a job, spouse, or healing and there is no sign that God has even heard your prayer? We have all felt at one time or another that God has forgotten about us. We think our prayers have traveled to a deaf ear and even our faith is challenged. But how do we keep our faith and continue to put our hope and trust in God during the waiting?
Here’s how:
1. Write your prayers, dreams, and visions down. “And then God answered: “Write this. Write what you see. Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run. This vision-message is a witness pointing to what’s coming. It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn’t lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time.” (Habakkuk 2:13 MSG) There is something about seeing your promises written down on paper. It ignites your faith. If God said it, he will do it. It’s in his own timing, not yours. And God knows the whole picture from beginning to end. We just see a small road of the entire journey. Trust him. He know’s best. Writing down your promises also is a great faith tool to look back on because when God comes through, you have a written example of his faithfulness.
2. Know your God. How are you going to trust someone if you don’t know them? The same goes for God. Read his word and memorize scripture about who he is and his characteristics. When doubt creeps in, remind yourself of your loyal God. Remember the times he has came through on such a larger scale than you ever dreamed possible. “For Jesus doesn’t change – yesterday, today, tomorrow, he’s always totally himself.” (Hebrews 13:8) He is the God that was faithful previously and the same God now and forevermore.
3. Work your spiritual muscles out. “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31) There is a a strength that is produced only in the waiting room. It’s like lifting weights. You don’t curl a 20 lb weight when you first start weight training. You start with 5 lbs. Why don’t you start with the heavier weight? Because your body can’t handle that right now. It’s the same way with our spiritual lives. God can’t give you all the things he has promised until you can handle the weight of his promises. If God answered immediately, many of us wouldn’t be ready to handle His answer.
4. Get your praise on. “Along about midnight, Paul and Silas were at prayer and singing a robust hymn to God. The other prisoners couldn’t believe their ears. Then, without warning, a huge earthquake! The jailhouse tottered, every door flew open, all the prisoners were loose.” (Acts 16:25-26, MSG) These guys were in jail and waiting on God to bust them out. They could have been crying and complaining or worrying about God taking his sweet time but instead they started singing loud praises to God. Sometimes we find ourselves in such horrible situations that it’s exhausting to think about waiting even one more moment. But we need to ‘hold our horses’ and trust Him. Praising him in the midst of waiting is music to his ears and he he will honor our hearts song. Then, God moves instantaneously in an answer we never saw coming!
5. Wait with expectation. “That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.” (Romans 8:24-25, MSG) Waiting with an expectant heart will build your faith. It’s just like when a woman is expecting (pregnant). The promise of a baby is inside her and she knows it’s there even though her physical eyes can’t see it. The instant she finds out she is pregnant, she begins to makes plans for the babies birth. She starts preparing for everything she’ll need and gets the babies nursery all set. She actively arranges for the child’s birth because she is certain that it’s on the way—it’s just a matter of when. She is waiting with expectation. In the same way, don’t sit around waiting for your promise. Prepare yourself for the things the Lord has promised. Waiting isn’t meant to be passively sitting around and hoping that maybe it will show up soon.
God is faithful. He keeps his word and his perfect timing. Be joyful because your promise is on the way!
5 Ways to Wait