Isn't it true isn't it true that waiting is a struggle because when you're waiting it just it
feels like nothing is actually happening how is there any advantage to this how is this in any
way beneficial to me to be waiting and waiting is incredibly hard it's hard because when we wait for
a very long time sometimes it can make you feel like has God forgotten about me and over time you
begin to think waiting is bad it doesn't produce anything good for me is it possible is it possible
that the reason that waiting is so frustrating is that we haven't looked at waiting the right
way that you and I are absolutely focused on the destination hey God this is the thing you need to
do this is the thing that needs to be accomplished in my life this is the goal that we've got to get
to is it possible that you and I are so focused on the destination and that God is actually focused
on you and me becoming and it's not about getting there it's about what happens on the journey if
you spend your life chasing destinations hey I can't wait until I accomplish that I can't
wait until I have enough I can't wait if you spend your life chasing destinations you will constantly
struggle with God because with God it's not about the destination it's about who you're becoming on
the way and guys here's here's how you'll know if this is a struggle in your life or not when
you pray do you pray hey God if you could just give me a better house and God if I could just
get the promotion and God if I could just stop being being sick do you spend more time praying
about the destination than becoming like the son while I'm waiting what are you doing in me what
do you see in me that needs to be strengthened what do you see in me that needs to go what do
you see in me that needs to be equipped what do you pray for it's going to tell you whether or not
you're chasing the destination or you're focused on who you're becoming most of us here would say
I I trust God most of us here would say I I trust his plan I believe that he has my best interest
in mind the hard part is can we trust his timing patience and the ability to wait on God suggest
that we trust his timing that's why waiting on God is hard but you know what's worse than
waiting on God wishing that you waited on God that whatever however long you have to wait it will be
worth it because because God's timing is perfect see we understand timing when it comes to other
things in this life you put cookies in the oven and they're supposed to take 20 minutes and you
take them out after 5 they're not ready yet but when we can't see God working we grow impatient we
take matters into our own hands and we make a mess because we can't see what he's doing he's up to
something we just can't see it so while we wait we can either make things worse by taking matters
into our own hands or we can allow the wait to build our character we can allow the wait to
grow fruit we can allow the wait to remind us that he's good and not only is he good but that
he's trustworthy and that his timing is best see God has been working his way through history for
all time God is always at work when you can see it and when you can't when you're rushing
and when you're waiting he is still at work and so the point in sharing this as a principle for
us is God is working in the waiting some of you are in a period of waiting for whatever it might
be maybe you're you're waiting um to get married maybe you're waiting to have kids maybe you're
waiting for that career that that you that you would like or whatever the case might be waiting
to move waiting for something you know don't get impatient because it is in those waiting
years that that God can do wonderful things in your heart to prepare you to refine you uh you
know there's some things that like an onion that need to be peeled off layer by layer and God will
reveal some things to us but look you know when God moved in the hearts and lives of people it
often uh was preceded by years of waiting you know God will take his time to do his good work
the waiting is not in vain I just somebody needs to hear that uh and it is so counterintuitive to
what we're used to because in our culture we want everything instantly and if it doesn't happen by
Thursday we get mad at God but God and his timing will bring about his perfect will if we learn to
wait so we have to we have to learn especially in our fast-paced culture we have to learn the
discipline of waiting on the Lord and his perfect timing is always perfect so the question becomes
how do you and I learn how to wait better what if what God's going to do in your life takes 5 years
10 years 15 years 20 years having to wait that long is painful so here's the big idea here's
what I want you to do instead of you waiting on God you know what I want you to do I want
you and I to learn how to wait with God there's a big difference when it comes to waiting with God
and waiting on God when I make him my shepherd He leads me and guides me to the places that
I'm supposed to go we are dependent upon God's timing and we're going to have to make peace with
that you may be frustrated that God hasn't solved the challenge of your life or that
you've had to to bear a circumstance for an extended period of time I don't pretend to
be able to tell you I I understand that or I can articulate an answer to that but I would
tell you I've come to trust the Lord in his timing trust he wants you to trust him and I
want to challenge you during seasons that you're waiting it shows our trust in God I mean at the
absolute irreducible minimum when you and I are in the midst of a waiting season we can
still trust God we can still be faithful to him we can is it often difficult and challenging you
bet how long would you
wait if you knew there was a blessing on the other side
how long would you
wait when God says wait or I'm going to put you
in a waiting season and you trust him with it it's always worth the wait