In the Waiting

INTRO

At the beginning of this quarantine season, I came across a quote from Jerry Lorenzo.

“The biggest loss in the end is if we come out on the other side of this unchanged.” — Jerry Lorenzo

I wanted to come out of this a better person, so I prayed and asked God.

But days grew longer, weeks flew by, and months kept passing along. I found myself growing so frustrated at myself and God.

You read texts like Isaiah 40:31 that say...

English Standard Version Chapter 40

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.

After reading this text, I asked God, “Why am I not experiencing this ‘renewal of strength’ in this text? If anything, I’m growing more weary and frustrated!”

BECAUSE YOU ARE WAITING INCORRECTLY.

If you’re like me, you’ve not only been RESTLESS to see things “get back to normal”, but also FRUSTRATED with the waiting.

Waiting to gather again. Waiting to travel again. Waiting for things to be normal again.

When you read the Scriptures, waiting is something that God continually asks His people to do...

BODY

Promise Made (75 years old)

Set the STORY.

English Standard Version Chapter 12

Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

God PROMISES Abram that he will be a great nation—a blessing to the world! God even said that Abram’s offspring will be as numerous as the stars in the night sky.

Imagine that. God, the Creator, giving you a promise like that!

KEEP THIS IN MIND (Gen 12:4):

English Standard Version Chapter 12

Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

So the story continues...

Promise Compromised (86 years old)

English Standard Version Chapter 16

16 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children.

Put yourself in Abram and Sarai’s shoes. God gave them a promise that they had not seen yet.

When someone makes you a promise, you expect them to come through! And when they don’t, you immediately become frustrated and do what you asked them to do.

English Standard Version Chapter 16

She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.”

Something to know:

Genesis 11:27–50:26 7. Abram’s Firstborn Son, Ishmael (16:1–16)

Giving a concubine slave to a husband by a barren wife is attested elsewhere in the ancient Near East for remedying childlessness

The point: In Abram and Sarai’s impatience, they decided to take God’s promise into their own hands.

When God didn’t work according their schedule, they blamed Him.

When God doesn’t work in our preferred time frame, we blame Him for being the source of our issues.

We live in a society of immediacy! According to a survey taken by 2,000 British adults (who live pretty normal lives), respondents reported becoming frustrated after just 16 seconds of waiting for a web page to load, and after 25 seconds of waiting for a traffic light to change.

English Standard Version Chapter 16

16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.

While we are frustrated at inactive webpages that last mere seconds, Abram and Sarai were waiting for God to fulfill His promise for over 10 years.

Promise Fulfilled (100 years old)

English Standard Version Chapter 21

21 The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had promised. 2 And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. 3 Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac.

God did not leave Abraham and Sarah barren, but remained faithful to His promise! GOD IS ALWAYS FAITHFUL TO WHAT HE SAYS, REGARDLESS OF HOW LONG IT TAKES.

NOTICE THIS:

English Standard Version Chapter 21

5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

KEY: Abraham was 75 when he first received God’s promise, 86 when he compromised God’s promise, and 100 when saw the fulfillment of God’s promise.

Abraham waited for 25 years for God to fulfill His promise.

How long would you be willing to wait for God’s promises?

BULLET: Who you’re waiting with is more important than the length you are waiting for.

I have been so caught up and frustrated with things to get “back to normal” that I have forgotten that God is with me all the time.

CONCLUSION

When you’re at an amusement park, waiting in line is one of most boring and frustrating things to endure. You might be frustrated with with the length of the line, the heat of the sun, and maybe the smell of those around you.

Waiting by yourself

Waiting with those close to you

Whether its in line, on the ride, or at the gift shop at the end, WAITING WITH SOMEONE IS ALWAYS BETTER.

BULLET: Who you’re waiting with is more important than the length you are waiting for.

This is a call for stronger community and deeper commitment.

We must be intentional about growing community with one another in the family of God.

We must show our undying loyalty and allegiance to the LORD our God. Now, more than ever, the Kingdom of God needs our commitment.

This coming week:

Call or text a brother/sister in Christ, and let them know you are praying for them. Continue to build a deep relationship with them.

Dedicate time to be with God. Go on a walk and pray. Turn off any distractions. Meditate on His Word and pray. God is faithful to reveal Himself to you.