Most people don’t like to wait. We often get frustrated when we have to wait in line at the grocery store or when we’re held up behind a slow car in the fast lane. This hurriedness often works its ways into our spiritual lives causing us to rush into the next thing before calling on God for direction. While most of us feel the need to rush, God is not in hurry. In fact, the Bible says He is slow at going about things. What we often forget is that God has a plan and a purpose for us according to His will. On the road of life, crucial decisions are like intersections that call for us to choose which way to go. If we barrel through without seeking Christ, the road we pick may lead to regret. But when we seek Christ, things that didn’t make sense before are revealed to us. Although the Lord is ready and willing to offer us clear direction, He doesn’t always give it quickly. Here are five reasons why God makes you wait.
He Wants to Get Your Attention
At times, God makes us wait because He wants to get our attention. He may be trying to reach you or speak to you about a certain situation in your life. When everything is running smoothly, we tend to forget the Lord. But uncertainty draws us back to Him like a magnet. By aligning our steps with His and walking in submission to the Spirit, we open our ears to hear His voice. Our waiting period is God’s preparation time. He may put us on hold to coordinate events to line up with His will.
He is Strengthening You Spiritually
Waiting helps strengthen us spiritually. By the mere term “spiritual strengthening” two things might be suggested to us. We might think of spiritual as distinguished from physical strengthening. Or we might think of strengthening by the Spirit as distinguished from some earthly agent. Sometimes the Lord has to work to accomplish in us before we are ready to handle what He’s planned for our future. If we instantly received His direction, we would rarely have the opportunity two exercise our faith. Christian maturity becomes evident in the ability to wait in peaceful confidence. We’ll know exactly what to do when we trust in His timing.
He is Building Patience in Your Life
Waiting on God means patiently looking to Him for what we need. David recognized why we had to wait on the Lord. First, His salvation came from Him (Psalm 62:1). He learned that no one else could deliver Him. His only hope was in God for God alone hears prayers. Our prayers often revolve around asking God to hurry up and bless what we want done or want to do. But what if God’s answer to us is simply, “Be patient. Wait upon me”? We can pray with David: “Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly” (Psalm 5:3). We can trust His response, even if it doesn’t come in the time we expect.
He is Building Dependence on Him
When we are in an unhealthy condition either physically or emotionally, we tend to lack patience when it comes to our circumstances. We also begin to look for thrills in life. In our physical life, it leads to obsessions and to destruction; and in our spiritual life, if we insist on pursuing only thrills, on mounting up “with wings like eagles” (Isaiah 40:31), it will result in the destruction of us spiritually. Having the reality of God’s presence is not dependent on our determinations to keep the Lord before us continually. Our problems arise when we refuse to place our trust in the reality of His presence.
He is Transforming Our Character
Waiting builds and transforms our character. Moses became a great leader in his time and God worked through him to bring about many miracles for the children of Israel. Of course he had to go through a long period of processing in the desert for 40 years before God came to him. We know that when he was a young man, he was brash and impatient. Yet, when he was given a second chance, he opted to do it God’s way and in God’s time. Waiting has a way of humbling us and to rub off the tough edges of our lives so that the true Christlike character is revealed in us.
If impatience tempts you to jump ahead of the Lord’s timing, you risk stepping outside of His will and missing His blessings. But by waiting until He gives clear direction, you will walk in His peace and certainty, instead of stumbling around in anxiety and confusion.
Lesli White is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth with a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications and a concentration in print and online journalism. In college, she took a number of religious studies courses and harnessed her talent for storytelling. White has a rich faith background. Her father, a Lutheran pastor and life coach was a big influence in her faith life, helping her to see the value of sharing the message of Christ with others. She has served in the church from an early age. Some of these roles include assisting ministry, mutual ministry, worship and music ministry and church council.
