Why must I wait?

“Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

Psalm 37:7,9 [KJV]

Last Friday, I received an email saying a parcel I had ordered would arrive that day. So when the doorbell rang, I immediately thought, “That’s my parcel”. It was a parcel – but for someone else. The doorbell rang several more times that day – for another delivery, a visitor and also one of my siblings who had misplaced their house keys. But – despite the email’s claim – I had to wait until Monday afternoon for my parcel.

I don’t usually enjoy waiting. Who does? Yet life involves so much of it: we wait in queues at shops, and for medical tests, traffic lights, replies to messages, babies to be born, or the weather to cool down (or warm up).

We don’t tend to enjoy waiting for things. But waiting and faith go together in the Christian life. J We are told “to wait for his Son from heaven” (1 Thessalonians 1:10) and keep “Looking for that blessed hope” (Titus 2:13). We wait for answers to prayer, for the salvation of souls, and for the Lord’s enabling (Isaiah 40:29-31).

There are also seasons of waiting – days, months or years when we are seeking the Lord’s direction for our lives. It’s this kind of waiting I want to focus on today, particularly in light of Psalm 37 which includes verses 7 & 9, “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.” In Psalm 37, David has not just general but specific evildoers and circumstances in mind.

So what are waiting seasons? Why does God give them? What are potential dangers we face in these times? And what exactly are we supposed to do while we wait?

Waiting is “staying where one is or delaying action until a particular time or event” (Oxford Dictionary). For Christians, a waiting season is one when you stay where you are or hold off action until God shows you both the right direction and the right timing. There are some things we can easily decide are right or wrong actions based on clear scriptural teaching. For example, if a proposed action involves lying, it is wrong (Colossians 3:9). But many of life’s ‘big’ decisions, often in areas such as study, work, ministry and relationships, need us to wait on the Lord for guidance.

Why do we go through seasons when we must wait for God’s direction and timing? The foundational reason is that they are part of God’s good, acceptable and perfect will for us (Romans 12:2). As Christians, we are called to follow the example of Christ, who said “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (John 4:34b). We need to wait because humans cannot fully comprehend God, let alone His will: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD” (Isaiah 55:8). We often make mistakes, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts” (Proverbs 21:2). God sees every detail of our lives (Psalm 37:18) – including the emotional and spiritual turbulence that can accompany uncertainty, our lack of patience, and our challenging circumstances. He comes alongside as the great Comforter to help and teach us (John 14:26), “For the LORD …forsaketh not his saints” (Psalm 37:28a). The Lord remains in control of even the apparently impossible situations (Matthew 19:26). Because God knows all things (Psalms 147:5), He sees the purpose in delays. Waiting strengthens faith and produces godly character. It teaches us to walk by faith rather than sight (2 Corinthians 5:7), and to seek God and His kingdom, not just what He can give us (Matthew 6:33).

God works in us, transforming us from people determined to have it our way, to those who desire what He wants and are spiritually mature enough to do it (Philippians 2:13) and handle greater responsibilities (Luke 16:10). God “is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews  11:6c) and blesses those who “have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29b). Therefore, we will have the wonderful privilege of seeing how God works: “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him” (2 Chronicles 16:9a). In God’s perfect plan for each one of us, waiting seasons can be a time of tremendous spiritual growth.

Yet we also need be on guard against temptations that become especially attractive to those in waiting seasons. The flesh does not like waiting, so Satan, the roaring lion, seeks to attack us in our vulnerable moments (1 Peter 5:8). Psalm 37 identifies various pitfalls, one of which is envy. It’s easy to be discontent through comparing ourselves to ungodly people who seem to get what they want when they want it. But David corrects this perspective, “neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass” (v1b-2a). “A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked” (v16). How foolish to envy those who will be destroyed, when “those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth” (v9b)?

 We may also be tempted to worry: the command to “fret not” is repeated three times in Psalm 37. Instead of becoming anxious, we are urged to put our faith in our faithful God, “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass” (v5). We can also be tempted to take matters into our own hands. David is distressed by his enemies but reminds himself of God’s enduring faithfulness (v25), and warns us to never copy the ways of the wicked, “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil” (v8). Even if others refuse to wait on God, we remain accountable for our own obedience (Romans 14:12). During waiting times, we can also be tempted to despair. But Psalm 37 is a song of encouragement, reminding us over and over of God’s faithfulness to the righteous and judgement of the wicked. David testifies, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread” (v25). This echoes Joshua’s testimony (Joshua 23:14), and the truth that “tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope” (Romans 5:3b,4).

We often wonder what God wants us to do while waiting. Well, just like any other season of life, the Lord calls us to keep growing (Hebrews 12:1) and bearing fruit that glorifies the Father (John 15:8). This involves letting go of our own ideas about how God should work, and allowing him to work in ways “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). Israel’s history of battles with neighbouring countries illustrates this point. Sometimes God used the ‘obvious’ solution – Israel’s army – to defeat their enemies. But other times God gave victory through unexpected means, such as a youth with a sling (1 Samuel 17:50), torches and clay pitchers (Judges 7:20), sunlight reflecting on water (2 Kings 3:21-24), or the angel of the Lord (2 Kings 19:35). If God can accomplish His purposes in so many different ways, we can trust Him to choose the right solution for our circumstances. Jesus did: at Gethsemane He prayed, “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). We also need to keep seeking the Lord’s will, through the Word, prayer, godly counsel and circumstances (see blog post here). Let’s keep serving the Lord where He has placed us, and trust Him for the future.

And when the right time and the right direction is made clear to you, you’ll be ready to respond in the right way. “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him”, and you’ll see His promise come true, “those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth”.