Waiting is something I’m not good at!
I don’t really like to wait for anything, and waiting when I’m not expecting it leads to most of my anger issues. I get the most angry about waiting when someone else should be waiting along side me, but for some reason they get ahead of me.
No matter our personal feelings about waiting, we all have things that cause us to wait. The question isn’t WILL we wait, but HOW LONG WILL we wait. We wait at restaurants, in traffic getting to or from a ballgame or concert, or in line to check out at the store. We wait to save enough money for the newer car or remodeling project for the house. We wait for the treatments to work on the disease, or the divorce to be final.
We have to wait to go to bed until everyone’s homework is done and the nightly chores are finished.
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- Monday – trash cans to the street (gather up all trash in the house)
- Every day – get school uniform ready, pack all bags with needed stuff for the next day, gather any snacks/drinks needed, be sure all homework is complete and any other school things are done, feed cats, feed dogs, feed pig
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Waiting absolutely cannot be avoided, but how you handle the waiting is up to you. AND Your ability to wait properly will give God an open or closed door to work in your life.
Waiting is also a 2 way street – I always focus on how waiting affects me, but there is always another side to my waiting.
DANNY GILREATH STORY – recent heart transplant recipient from our church.
But in our spiritual lives, waiting patiently is different. We have a choice to wait patiently on God to act in our lives and on our behalf. Or, we can choose not to wait patiently on Him to act and just do something on our own, apart from Him.
Patience in waiting is something the Word of God talks a lot about. Here are some examples
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him.
18 Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you,
And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you.
For the Lord is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him.
7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains.
8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.
9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
13 I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord.
20 Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart rejoices in Him, Because we trust in His holy name.
22 Let Your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us, According as we have hoped in You.
34 Wait for the Lord and keep His way, And He will exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you will see it.
5 I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, And in His word do I hope.
6 My soul waits for the Lord More than the watchmen for the morning; Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.
7 But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.
There is a purpose in waiting for God
He always know what He will do – He is never devising a plan at the last minute – He is simply waiting for the BEST time to put His PERFECT plan into action
Philippians 3:16-20
16 however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.
17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.
18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ,
19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;
What is the enemy of patience in our world?
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- Our “Right Now” Society
The belief that whatever I’m doing, need, want, desire – should be available RIGHT NOW – waiting has become a sign of weakness or being a second class citizen – more predominate in major metropolitan areas around the world
Examples: wifi service, cell phone service – ultra fast all the time, Amazon – same day delivery, Fast food restaurant apps, etc.
- Our “Right Now” Society
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What are the symptoms of this need to have everything in the world at our fingertips?
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- Pornography – I don’t want to wait until I’m married or talk to my spouse about my needs or desires – I’ll just fulfill them myself
- Social Media – I don’t want to be bothered with calling someone to keep up with them – I’ll just look at what they post when it’s convenient for me – it is counterintuitive to what social media says it does – keep people connected
- Cell phone usage – we touch our phone screens an average of 3-4 thousand time a day – what do we have to show for that? What if we touched our spouse, kids, grandkids, friends, coworkers, neighbors – or prayed (our way to touch God personally) a total of 100 times per day – how different would my world be?
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How do I combat this need that is constantly before me to have and consume whatever I want RIGHT NOW?
How can I wait…patiently for what God wants me to have and what He provides?
How to Wait…Patiently
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- Live To The Example
vs. 16-17
16 however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.
17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.If I want to live more patiently, then I find someone who is accomplishing that and follow them. I have to learn from other people’s examples. If I want to learn how to do a math problem, I need someone to teach me and show me – same thing with our lives – we need to find people who are being successful at this life and follow them
- Live Like I Don’t Belong Here
vs. 20
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;If I am a visitor somewhere, I am typically much more patient when things don’t go my way. I can eat something I don’t like very much, I can mind my manners, I can be kind and nice to someone who is getting on my nerves – because I’m not staying there.
We do not belong here! We are not citizens of earth – we are just visiting.
- Live To The Example
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Patience is one of the fruit of the spirit. God gives it to us because it is another way that we will stand out from the rest of the world.
What are you struggling with waiting for?
Are you waiting Patiently?
Love you all!
WG
ghbcyoungadults 