THE GRACE TO WAIT ON GOD
"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.
People don't like to wait because it implies that they are not in charge, but that someone else is in control! We all want to be in control of our life's circumstances. In these times of steep competition, the tendency is for men to be in a hurry, especially as they see the "progress" of others and they are quick to compare themselves with others.
This is totally wrong! As the Bible says, "For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." - 2 Corinthians 10:12 (KJV)
Experience has shown that it is golden to wait. Being in a hurry robs you of God's glory. When you are in a hurry, you may get what was not originally planned by God for you. But while we wait, God is at work! Most often, when God is out to do a great work in our lives, it becomes necessary to put us out of action or activity by putting us to stillness or rather, putting us on the neutral gear! For instance, He put Adam to sleep in order to bring forth Eve. Again, when in the battle of Jericho He made Israel to be quiet for a while and to give a shout at the appropriate time, the imposing walls came tumbling down. So you see, waiting on God can be golden! So many miss it by being in a hurry. God says: "Be still, and know that I am God:" - Psalms 46:10 (KJV)
We all know that Issac was Abraham's desired goal but he got Ishmael because he quit waiting on God. The coming of Ishmael did not only lead to a bitter experience for Abraham (Gen 21:9-12), but today the world's peace is taken away because of his coming (Gen 16:11-12).
On the other hand, David waited from 16 years of age to when he was moving from cave to cave as a fugitive, until the right moment came. While he waited, God had the opportunity to infuse in him those qualities that made David the best King Israel ever had! Who says that waiting on God is a wasteful venture? Even when David had the opportunity to be king, he still waited on God. He refused to crown himself king by slaying Saul, despite encouragement from friends and colleagues to the contrary (1 Samuel 24:1-7, 26:5-12) Was David not the better for waiting on God? Was God's Word in Isaiah 40:31 not fulfilled in his life? Was David not strengthened by God while he waited on Him?
In Isa 40:30 the Bible speaks about how even natural strength cannot compare to the strength that people will receive when they wait on God. We are told that the youths shall fail. Young men shall also fall. But those who wait on God, God seems to give them a supernatural strength.
"Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 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 40:30-31 (KJV)
Wait on God my friend and you will not regret what you did!
Merry Christmas!
PRAYER:
Dearest Heavenly Father, no matter what lies before me, I am determined to wait on you because nothing compares to waiting on you, in Jesus name.