"waiting On God's Time"

INTRO.

No one likes to wait. But we wait in traffic, bus stages, in banking hall, in grocery stores, barber shops, hair salons, for the doctor, for a spouse, for an expected baby, etc. But one fact is for sure waiting is not an easy task.

I. WAITING REQUIRES PATIENCE AND TRUST.

Waiting is the process of becoming what God wants us to be. What God does in us while we wait is as important as what it is we are waiting for. Waiting is God's way of seeing if we will trust him before we move forward

That trust is a patient trust. Whether it has to do with our relationships, our finances, our careers, our dreams, or our church worships. We have to trust that God knows what he is doing.

II. WAITING REMINDS US THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL.

Sometimes people ask, "But what do I do while I'm waiting?". During waiting times, we aught to take on the active role of a watchman. "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,..." (Ps. 130:5-6). In biblical times, watchmen vigilantly guarded the city. They watched for enemies who might attack at night, and they waited for the sun to come up. They were alert and obedient, ready to respond when needed. When called upon, they sprang into action. But on the other hand, watchmen didn't make things happen. They didn't control the rising of the sun. They couldn't speed up the process of the dawning of a new day. A watchman knew the difference between his job and God's job.

Waiting reminds us that we are not in charge we are the patients in the waiting room. In the real issues of life, we can trust God's wisdom and his timing and wait with confidence.

Waiting reminds us that we are not in the position of God. As men, we want to fix things: To fix our problems, relationships, conflicts, career, and church matters. Fixing and controlling situations and people is like trying to expedite the rising of the sun. From time to time we have to be reminded that we are not God. Our job is to be watchmen. Therefore we need to have a watchman's attitude: a confident and alert expectation that God will do what he said he will do

III. WAITING ON GOD INCREASES STRENGTH.

Sometimes we struggle to remember that it's good to wait for the Lord. It isn't easy. It goes against the grain of our quick-fix society. But, there's a hidden benefit in waiting. In times of waiting our soul is revived and spirit is renewed. Isaiah wrote, "but those who trust in the LORD will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint" (Is. 40:31) The time will come when those who wait on the Lord will soar. I may not understand what you have been waiting for. It could be: to get married, peace in the family, a job, a boy child or vice-versa or healing. One thing I am certain about is that God's time is the best and God will never disappoint you.

CONC.

God is the great mover. We are to push, to work. And if we wait, in patient trust, remembering that God is in control doing his work increasing our strength, we will experience the move of God on our lives.

Have a great time ahead.

Rev. Mark Orwa