Waiting is Common

Introduction

Betsy Childs Howard, Seasons of Waiting: Walking by Faith When Dreams Are Delayed.

“You can’t buy manna in bulk.”

Why do we buy in bulk?

Manna first appeared in Exodus 16.

After the Israelites complained because they didn’t have enough food, God provided in a unique way:

“Morning by morning they gathered it [manna], each as much as he could eat; but when the sun grew hot, it melted” (Exodus 16:21)

The Israelites went to bed 14,600 times, waiting for God to provide food the next day.

The daily provision of manna was teaching the Israelites and us a valuable lesson.

Psalm 27

Waiting Thoughtfully.

Waiting begins with our focus.

David starts here with a thoughtful approach.

Psalm 27:4 “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.”

David’s setting is tense.

Verses 2 and 3 mention “evildoers” advancing and an “army” besieging him.

He’s likely on the run, perhaps from Saul or Absalom, facing real threats to his life.

Yet in this chaos, he zeroes in on “one thing.”

Not safety, not victory, but God’s presence.

“Dwell in the house of the LORD”

Doesn’t necessarily mean a physical building.

It’s a metaphor for abiding in God’s nearness.

“…gaze upon the beauty of the LORD” is to think about and ponder on His character—His holiness, mercy, power.

“…to inquire in his temple.”

Suggests deep reflection or prayer, a deliberate act of turning inward to God.

David’s waiting isn’t scattered or frantic; it’s thoughtful, centered on God’s unchanging beauty, which steadies him when everything else shakes.

Application

What’s on your mind when you wait?

It’s easy to obsess over the problem—refreshing emails, checking the phone, replaying worst-case scenarios.

David challenges us to pivot.

Try this: set aside five minutes today to sit quietly and “gaze” on God.

Picture His kindness, His strength—maybe recall a time He came through for you.

Thoughtful waiting shifts your perspective, making God the center, not the delay.

Waiting Frequently.

Waiting isn’t a one-time event; it’s a rhythm of the Christian life.

We’re called to wait on God again and again because His timing often differs from ours.

Psalm 27:14: “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”

This verse comes from a psalm of David.

Written during a time of distress when he faced enemies and uncertainty.

Twice in this short verse, David emphasizes waiting for the Lord, urging us to be strong and courageous in the process.

Why?

Because waiting isn’t easy—it requires strength.

It’s a frequent call because our lives are full of moments where we must surrender our impatience and trust God’s plan.

David knew this firsthand.

Anointed at around 15, he didn’t become king over all Israel until 37 (2 Samuel 5:4-5).

That’s over 20 years of waiting, dodging spears, leading outcasts, trusting God’s promise.

In Psalm 27, he’s still waiting—enemies persist (v.2-3), yet he doesn’t give up.

“Be strong and let your heart take courage” acknowledges the toll; waiting saps energy, tests courage.

David repeats “wait” because he’s lived it frequently—each delay a chance to lean harder on God.

It’s less a suggestion, more a survival strategy for a faith under fire.

Waiting frequently builds endurance and reminds us that God is sovereign over every season.

Other Examples:

Abraham waited almost twenty-five years for God to follow through on his promise of the birth of Isaac. Joseph waited somewhere between thirteen and twenty-two years to see his family again after being betrayed by his brothers. Moses waited forty years in the desert for God to resurrect a purpose for his life. Hannah waited years for an answer to her prayers for a child. Job waited years, not months, for God to reveal himself, redeem his losses, and take him into a new beginning. John the Baptist and Jesus waited almost thirty years before the Father’s time for their ministries came to fulfillment.

Application:

Think back—how many times has God asked you to wait?

A job, a healing, a reconciliation?

It’s not a fluke; it’s frequent because it’s formative.

Next time you’re tempted to groan, “Not again,” pause.

Whisper David’s words: “Be strong and let your heart take courage”

Waiting Errors.

Not all waiting honors God.

There are pitfalls we can fall into—errors that turn waiting into frustration or disobedience.

Anger

It’s probably the most common response.

We even have a specific cultural name for this as it relates to driving: road rage.

Road rage, however, is merely one example.

Sometimes it looks like an obvious blowup with hurtful words or rash actions.

Sinful anger is simply our attempt to take control.

When it comes to waiting, it’s tempting to fill the gap of vulnerability with anger.

In actuality, anger is just a way for us to force change.

Rather than living on what we know to be true about God, we choose to live on what we’re going to do—right now!

Regardless of the consequences.

Anxiety

If anger is about external action, anxiety is about internal thinking or processing.

Anxiety and worry, like anger, are sometimes appropriate.

There are things in life that we should be concerned and even worried about.

But the kind of anxiety I have in mind is the constant thinking of potential problems or the persistent ruminating on what could be done to solve an issue.

I’m talking about the kind of internal narrative that reacts to fears, insecurities, unfulfilled dreams, and past hurts.

It’s another way that we respond to the gaps in life and our lack of control.

Rather than blowing up, we turn inward with a mental and emotional churning that can be exhausting and debilitating.

Rather than learning to wait on God, we try to think our way out of our limitations.

Apathy

Anger demands action. Anxiety wants to think. Apathy stops caring.

It’s the person who has responded to disappointment, delays, and unfulfilled dreams with the self-protecting posture of “I just don’t care anymore.”

They’ve grown weary of hoping, only to be disappointed—again.

Have you heard of the work problem called “quiet quitting?”

It describes employees who show up to work, but they do the bare minimum.

They’re deeply unmotivated.

They’re not flourishing.

They’ve stopped caring about their work.

They’ve quit, but they’re still at work.

I suspect that there are a fair number of Christians doing the same thing.

They still come to church.

They still sing.

But they’ve quit hoping as they are waiting.

Apathy is just another defense mechanism to control our disappointment.

Waiting Actively.

Waiting on God doesn’t mean sitting idly by.

David’s waiting isn’t idle.

It was vibrant with action and expectation.

Waiting is an active process of preparation, service, and obedience.

Psalm 27:13 “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!”

This verse, just before the call to wait (v.14), is David’s battle cry.

“I believe”—a firm, active trust.

“Goodness of the Lord” isn’t abstract; it’s God’s tangible blessing—rescue, provision, peace.

“In the land of the living” means now, not just heaven.

David expects God to act in his lifetime.

This confidence fuels his earlier actions:

He offers sacrifices with shouts of joy (v.6),

Seeks God’s face (v.8),

Cries out for help (v.7).

He’s not slumped in despair; he’s praising, praying, believing while surrounded by foes.

Active waiting, for David, is living as if God’s promise is already unfolding, even in the delays.

Conclusion.

As we close, let’s remember that waiting is a gift, not a burden.

It’s a chance…

To wait thoughtfully, renewing our strength.

To wait frequently, building endurance.

To avoid waiting errors that lead us astray.

And to wait actively, ready for God’s move and growing in our relationship with Him.