Worth the Wait....

"Never run before God gives you His direction. If you have the slightest doubt, then He is not guiding. Never act on the impulse of your feelings. If you do, you will cause difficult situations to arise which may take years to untangle. Wait on God's timing and He will do it without any heartache or disappointment!" - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest


Waiting... to stay in place in expectation of,to remain stationary in readiness or expectation, to look forward or to hold back expectantly. -Merriam Webster Online Dictionary

Waiting... a dance of joy and pain expecting what could or could not be. Everyone has experienced waiting in one form or another. We wait in a cafe to be served our favorite blend of coffee, we wait for that important phone call telling us to start work by next week, we wait for the arrival of the baby, we wait in line, we wait for our turn, we wait for "the one".

Currently, I am waiting for the arrival of dawn. The promise of a new day. I was waiting for sleep to come, but sleep is elusive for the past nights so as I wait for dear sleep to visit, I thought about scribbling some things God has taught me and continuously teaching me about waiting.

1. Love God!
- Love God more than anyone or anything in this world! God is our grand prize as my friend would often remind me. Other blessings(material, financial, relationships or otherwise) are just mere "glimpses of Heaven". The reason why our hearts can rejoice is because of who God is and our relationship with Him made possible through Calvary's love. We can rejoice in any season of our lives-always-because God has provided us with nothing less but Himself! He is God! Creator of Heaven and Earth, Mighty, Sovereign, Omnipotent God! He measures the universe in the span of His hand! This same God loved us so much that He gave His only begotten Son to die on the Cross of Calvary for our sins! Amazing love isn't it? Love that humbles and compels us to love Him back! Love Him alone with all your might, with all your mind, with all your soul!

"With all my heart, I want to love you Lord, and live my life each day to know you more! All that is in me is yours completely! I love you Lord!"


2. Trust God completely!
- Trust God with all your heart, with all your life. Do not leave anything out! It requires giving yourself wholly, completely, fully to God and not withholding any part of you back. Offer up your life to God!
Your joys, your pains, triumphs, defeats...everything!

- Trusting means giving to God who or what you love most! Remember Genesis 22 when God asked Abraham to offer Isaac.

"Genesis 22:2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. "

Isaac is Abraham's beloved son, in the same way, God wants us to offer up to Him what we love, cherish, treasure and hold dear the most! Remember that in the first place everything is God's! We do not have the right to anything or anyone in this world!

Note as well that we "give" and not "lend"! When we give it to God, it means that He can do anything with it or with that person as He pleases! He may take it away from us, hold it back until the perfect time, or He may give it to you right away. The point is, do not give and then expect that our object of affection will be automatically sent right back to our open arms. God may or may not do that. Let us remind ourselves that God's ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts! He has a plan and purpose for everything and that He will make all things beautiful in His perfect time.

-Trust God even when we don't understand.
Oftentimes in the Season of Waiting, God will place us in circumstances that we can never fully understand or know what is going on! Let us remember that God does not require us to understand, He just said to trust Him with all our hearts and to lean not on our own understanding!.

"Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths!"

Back to Genesis 22, notice that Isaac also trusted and obeyed even though He didn't fully know what was going on. God gave the instruction only to Abraham; Isaac could have restrained and objected but he submitted himself to God's plan. In the face of danger, in the face of uncertainties let us be like Isaac and continue to trust and obey! While I was reading this story I noticed something towards the end of the chapter, God has already mentioned Isaac's future wife-Rebekah!

"Genesis 22:20-23 And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also born children unto thy brother Nahor; Huz his firstborn, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram, And Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel. And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham's brother."

Trusting and obedience has a reward! Let us all be excited and expect what God has in store for us!


-Continue to trust even when circumstances does not seem to get better.
When we find ourselves grow weary and in despair because our situation doesn't seem to change at all, what do we do? We may cry, yes. Feel lonely, tired and exhausted in our wait. But we just have to resolve to continue trusting! As the song goes, "I cannot see through the shadows ahead, but I look at the Cross of My Savior instead!" Focus on God and run to Him for comfort! Let God's presence embrace us, let's cry on His shoulders if we must and tell Him that no matter how we feel we will keep on trusting. There is "an expected end" as Jeremiah said. God's grace is always sufficient and God said that we will obtain the promise if we patiently endure!

"Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

I don't always understand, what Your perfect will demands, God. But I will continue to trust you and obey you!

3. Hope in God!
- In God there is hope without disappointment and blessings without sorrow!

"Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it."

God doesn't lie like all else do! You can count on Him that He will do as He promised!

"Hebrews 6:18-19 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; "


-Hope in God's Word
The Bible is full of precious promises and truths! Let us claim it and make them ours!
"Psalms 130:5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope"

-Hope in God's return
Remember that feeling of anticipation when we are about to meet and see the object of our affection?! Our tummy gets butterflies, our thoughts spin, nothing in the world really matters- all we want to do is to see the one we love. I hope we feel the same level of anticipation when we think of our Savior! He is our desire, the object of our affection! Oh, to see God face to face! To embrace our Heavenly Father, to finally see the lover of our souls! This is hope more than enough that we can ask for! In any situation, in any circumstance we can say that these too shall pass because we do not belong here. We belong with our Heavenly Father, in our home called Heaven!

God, I am a desolate person if I do not have hope! My hope is in You, in Your Word, in Your return. I look forward to see be with you and finally see you face to face!

4. Remember God's character!
The promise is only as good as the One who promised it! God has given us many precious promises in His Word and we now all these are sure and true because of who God is!

"2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. "

-God is Sovereign: He is great, mighty, awesome God! He created everything, all things are by Him and for His good pleasure!

-God is Omnipotent: All powerful, nothing is too hard for Him. He can do ALL things!

-God is Omniscient: He knows everything, nothing escapes Him. He knows you inside out!

-God is Omnipresent: He is everywhere! We are never truly alone! God is always with us!

-God is Immutable: He can never ever change! He is the same yesterday, today and forever!

-God is love: His love is unconditional!

God, I thank you for who You are! I praise you, adore you for You alone are worthy of glory and of praise!

5. Hide God's Word in our Hearts!
-God's Word is food for the soul! It refreshes our spirits and calms our hearts! Hide God's Word in our heart that we might not sin against Him! The more we read and study God's Word, the more we will know about Him.

-God's Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our paths! God's Word provide enough light for our next step! Light for us to know the next step, light enough to keep us from falling and wandering. This is why we should seek God's Word daily so we can be guided each step of the way!

-God's Word is our strength.
As we go through our Season of Waiting, we will often find ourselves in situations that may seem hard to bear. It is during these times that we need to ask the Holy Spirit to bring Scriptures to our remembrance, to remind us of the truths and promises we have claimed! God's Word is the source of our strength! If we have failed to arm our selves with God's Word we will surely fall in our battles.

Father, please help me to love Your Word. Thank you for the Bible for it truth, thank you that it is provides light to help me in my next step in my journey with You!

6. Pray! Get down on our knees and pray!
-Prayer is our lifeline! Pray to God like a child and tell God everything! Bare your soul, your deepest secrets and thoughts to God. He understands and He knows them even before we tell it to Him. Even the things that we cannot utter, God knows! Pray and cry out to God. Tell Him our pains and sorrows! Pray and rejoice in Him over our triumphs and joys. Pray even when it seems hard to pray. We can ask God to help us to pray. "Whisper in a crowd to Him, Cry when you're alone with Him". God longs to hear from us, He desires to hear from His children. He desires us to grow closer to Him.

-Tell God your heart's desire.
Just like a child would tell her Father what she likes, tell them to God. Let us learn to ask God to help us desire what He desires, to want what He wants. Only God can change our hearts. When we have hearts completely abandoned to Christ, obedience to Him will be a delight!

"Psalm37:4 Delight thyself in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart"

-Pray for our future mate!
Oh yes! I do not mean that we name names. Let us start today and pray for our future life partner, he will after all be the person that we are going to spend the rest of our life with. Pray that God will prepare Him, preserve Him because he is His promise. Pray according to God's will. Likewise let us pray that God will also prepare and preserve us for the one He promised us to.

-Pray for others!
Let us not be selfish in our prayer life. Do not miss out on the joy of praying for others. Realize that no matter how hard we think life is for us, there are people who have bigger problems than we do.

Pray for those who are in their Season of Waiting too. Family, friends, church-mates, classmates, name as many as you can. Pray that they too will not grow tired and exhausted in waiting for God's best. Bear in mind that other people are praying for us too; we may not know it, but we sure can feel it. This is one of the greatest blessings that God has given us. The ministry of prayer.

Father, let me not miss out on talking to you! Help me to tell you everything and lay them all to you, Oh Lord!

7. Do not put God in a box!
Let us not limit God's power in the four walls of our limited understanding! Let us not commit the mistake of manipulating our lives and taking things in control. Let us not take the pen and write our own stories, God is the author of our lives, let Him write the beautiful story He has intended for us to have!

Nothing is too hard for God. Our reactions, responses or lack thereof does not and will never ever dictate what God will or will not do! What God declares shall be! He is Sovereign God and He is always in control. He has a plan, a purpose for everything under the sun. Our hurts, our pains, our victories, our happiness, the past, the now and the future are all in God's hands. All these play a role in God's master plan! So let us be still and know that He is God. Let us let God do His work! Let Him surprise us and show us what great and mighty things He can do in and for us!

"Jeremiah 32:17 Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:"

God, forgive me for many times I have put you in a box. Let me not do that but instead allow me to experience fullness of joy by letting you be God of my life!

8. Develop and attitude of Gratitude!
Be thankful for what He has done! Be thankful from the bottom of our hearts for Jesus is good all the time!

"1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. "

Everyday there is always something to thank God for! Do not focus on what we don't have but focus on the things that we do! Try to list down everything God has blessed us with and we will soon find out that He has given us more than enough, more than we have actually asked for! The list will be endless as each day God showers us with His bountiful blessings. Thank God for the big things, thank God for the small things. Thank God for the beautiful and thank Him for the unpleasant. In everything give thanks for this is the will of God!


9. Keep on!
-When we falter, fail or commit mistakes and sin do not be disheartened. Pray and ask God for forgiveness and repent of our sins! Let us continue to walk with God and keep on waiting. God has promised to forgive and forget.

"Psalms 130:3-4 If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. "

Our Enemy wants us down and will do everything to keep us from standing up! The good news is, we have victory in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Enemy is already a defeated foe! Let us claim Christ's victory and keep on growing and abiding in God's Word.

-Resolve to refuse bitterness and self-pity!
Easier said than done, I know. But it can be done! God's strength is made perfect in our weakness. All these are poison to the soul. When it knocks on our hearts and thoughts, be sure to lock our doors and lock it tight! Do not entertain it. Pray for God's strength to resist. God does not want us to harbor a bitter spirit, He wants us to have peace and joy in our hearts.

" 2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

-Look at things from God's perspective.
Sometimes we just need a fresh view of ourselves and our circumstances for us to realize that our situation is not as worst as we think. Remember that we our God's child and that He never forgets His children! God has taken care of the fowls of the air, the beasts of the field, how much more us! We are His children!
We are special! God had created us, God redeemed us from our sins! Even if we do not deserve any bit of it, God loved us so.

-God's grace is always sufficient! His mercies are new every morning! His forgiveness is constant! God's love is unfailing and unconditional. What more can you ask for? God has given us everything we need in our lives that we may live it for His honor and glory! Let us not grow weary while we wait, instead let us look forward and be excited for God's plan and His fulfillment of His promises to us!

"Lamentations 3:22-23 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. "

10. Wait quietly!
-Waiting is hard, but waiting quietly is harder! It requires endurance, restraint, and perseverance. Many times our hearts will be tested- we will be given a "heart exercise" to see the condition of our faith. Are we of little faith or big faith? Is our faith big enough that we do not take the pen from God's hands and write the story of our lives or author our love story?

"Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: "

"Ecclesiastes 3:11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. "

-Wait quietly and tune out other "noises" around!
Listen to God's voice, He can speak to us directly! Get your answer directly from God! Be prayerful and discerning. Learn to tell God everything first especially things that we feel deeply about before we tell others! Pray that God will give you and surround you with people that will always remind you to look unto God, the author and finisher of our faith. it is a blessing to have friends that remind us to always seek God and His leading in our Season of Waiting. Remember also that it is better to trust God than to put confidence in man! God does not make mistakes, men often do!

-Listen well!
Many times our "listening" is blocked by our own desires, wants, feelings and longings of our hearts. Ask God to search your heart! There are times that God is already "shouting" the answer to us but we cannot hear because we are distracted by our object of affection or circumstances. Pray and seek to be in tune with God always so that we will not miss God's voice when He speaks. God's voice is still and small, make sure that we listen!

"Jeremiah 17:9-10 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings."

-Ask God for a calm and quiet heart.
Our heart is deceitful and desperately wicked! Let us remember this verse always. Just look back at the times when our hearts tricked us to grabbing what seemingly is good and then it turns out to be sour and rotten! Give your heart to God and ask Him to keep our hearts calm and quiet as you wait. Pray that He will only open it to the right one!


Let us enjoy our Season of Waiting with God. Let us continue to pray and wait. Choose to rejoice each day. Determine to be satisfied with the Lord's answer for there is always joy, safety, protection, peace and blessings in the center of God's will. The answer may be a "yes", it may be a "no", but no matter what the answer is, nothing compares to experiencing God and His presence in our lives each and everyday! For many of us, God's answer is for us to continue waiting, may we not grow weary for God will not withhold any good thing to them who walk uprightly before Him. Let us remain faithful to the One who loves us most!

"1 Chronicles 16:8-12 Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth; "

Our greatest joy is to experience and know God in a more intimate way, this alone makes everything worth the wait!!!