Waiting on God's Timing - A Lesson for Life

   Ever feel like your life is going 70 MPH in a 25 MPH speed zone? In our world, where everything is instant, it's hard to slow down, take a look around, and wait on the Lord's timing. I know that for myself, being a girl that enjoys things to happen quickly, I've definitely had to work on waiting for the Lord's timing and have regretted when I have not done so. Maybe that's why some of my favorite passages of scripture have to deal with trusting in the Lord or waiting patiently on Him!

~**~

   If we look closer at scripture, it's easy to see that waiting on the Lord is a major theme for many people in the Bible. Specifically, I think of David: anointed at a young age by Samuel to one day be king over Israel, his battle with Goliath, his struggle with Saul, his eventual exile both in his own country and in the foreign land of the Philistines, and his a continual respect for the Saul, God's anointed.Over and over we see that David's life was characterized by waiting for God's timing...not his own.

   In 2 Samuel chapter 2, the process of waiting continues, this time we see David waiting for the right time to take the throne over all of Israel, not just over Judah. Instead of forcing the nation to give him immediate control of the nation, David asks the Lord for wisdom and direction and then follows what the Lord directs. We see a humbleness in his willingness and desire to inquire of the Lord. Now, some might think..."well, it couldn't have been very long before David took the throne of Israel after Saul died. There probably wasn't much patience he had to exercise there." This though is not the case, in all reality, it took seven years and six months, on top of the decade or more he had already been waiting. What a great example of patience!

 
   Eventually, in God's perfect timing, the pieces of the puzzle fell together in a perfection that can only be matched by God. Though opposition arose against him in the form of Ish-bosheth, one of Saul's sons, we see that God's hand was still sovereign. "Ish-bosheth's kingship was brought forth out of man's power, not God's. His anointing was an open act of rebellion against Jehovah..." (Joe Bellanti)* and his kingship would eventually crumble. Even through the opposition of one wrongly appointed king, David waited on the Lord. He knew God would fulfill his kingship at the exact moment it needed to happen.

     Personalizing all of this, do you actively seek wisdom from the Lord? Are you in prayer about the decisions in your life - the big and the small? Remember, "God's timing is wrapped in His incomparable wisdom" (Joe Bellanti)*, and we have access to that wisdom as His children! Stop in the mad rush of life, read the word, prayerfully ask for guidance and wisdom, and see where the Lord will take you. David was blessed when he waited on the Lord...and so will you and I be if we are humbly approaching His throne of grace and willingly accept what He has for us.

~**~

"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

 ~**~

We must wait for God long, meekly, in the wind and the rain, in thunder and lightening, in the cold and  the dark. Wait and He will come. (Unknown)

~**~

After being encouraged this morning by my pastor's sermon in this area....the song "Holy Lord" is ever so much sweeter. What an awesome (awe-inspiring) God we serve. If we just wait upon Him, His holiness and glory will shine in and through us as we are faithful to follow His will in our lives. 

Great are You Lord.
Worthy of praise.
Holy and true;
great are You Lord, most holy Lord.

~**~

* If you liked what you read here, let me encourage you to listen to this sermon preached by my pastor. You will be greatly encouraged, I have no doubt! Many of my thoughts came from his message, which I was deeply encouraged by.