Waiting On The Lord

Psalm 27:13–14 NKJV

13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. 14 Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!

Psalm 27, David opens with a declaration of strength and courage.

in closing he reminds us to wait on the Lord for that strength

Though The Lord is his source, it was not instant

we like instant - but the bible says to wait.

Many examples of this “waiting”

WAITING IN PRAYER

Waiting for Strength—Isa. 40:31. — Those who wait on the Lord --- shall renew their strength

… like eagles --- they shall run and not be weary, walk and not faint ...

Allow God to speak. Too often, we do all the speaking in prayer.

If God isn’t speaking, maybe you are not waiting

Steadfast in waiting —James 5:17–18. Elijah prayed several times before the answer came (1 Kings 18:41–45). He could have prayed once and given up, but he prayed and God sent rain.

James 5:17–18 NKJV

17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

waiting for Mercy (Sympathy)—Gen. 18:20–33. Abraham prayed for his nephew Lot. He kept asking God not to destroy the sinful city. There were not fifty, forty, thirty, twenty, or even ten righteous in the city. Abraham could have stopped praying at fifty, but he didn’t.

Waiting with Surety—James 5:16. There is sure power in praying daily. There is great power. God may answer you the first time when you pray, He may not answer you for months or even years—but keep praying. Never give up.

James 5:16 NKJV

16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

WAITING IN PAIN

God does heal. However, sometimes He doesn’t. We must be patient.

Suffering—2 Cor. 11:24–27. God didn’t deliver Paul from all his suffering. He allowed him to suffer much pain.

2 Corinthians 11:24–27 NKJV

24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—

Waiting in Sickness—2 Cor. 12:7–10. God didn’t remove Paul’s sickness; He gave him strength to endure it.

Surrender while waiting

Most of us don’t like to surrender —

If we have to wait, we do it kicking and screaming

But consider Job’s example —Job 2:7–9.

Job 2:7–9 NKJV

7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. 8 And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ashes. 9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!”

Note Job’s:

Patience—Job 2:10. He was not critical of God.

Job 2:10 NKJV

10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

Faith—Job 13:15. (Though He slay me…) Though it meant death, he would accept.

Testing—Job 23:10. After testing, he would come forth as gold.

WAITING DURING PERSECUTION

No one likes persecution, but it is part of the Christian life.

Jesus said - “in the world you will have persecution....”

In fact, many Christians compromise their faith, and perhaps even their salvation, becasue they are not willing to wait through persecution

Waiting in Happiness—Matt. 5:10–12.

Matthew 5:10–12 NKJV

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

This persecution comes from living for God. Be happy when persecution comes your way.

Hardship—2 Tim. 3:12. You cannot live for God without suffering persecution.

2 Timothy 3:12 NKJV

12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

Heaven—Rom. 8:18. Heaven will be our reward for suffering. The sufferings are small when compared with His glory, and heaven.

The wait is but a moment, especially when compared tot he glory He has prepared

WAITING DURING PROBLEMS

Loneliness—Matt. 28:20. (I am with you always …) He will not forsake us.

Discouragement—Matt. 14:27. When the disciples were afraid in the storm === Be of good cheer. Don’t worry.

Loss—Phil. 3:7. Lose all to gain Christ.

When the answer is no -—Rom. 8:28. God has a reason for His denials.

Worry—Phil. 4:7. God will give peace of mind.

Fear—Isa. 41:10. He will uphold us and destroy all fear.

Isaiah 41:10 NKJV

10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

So, Wait on The Lord - in everything — Be strong and of good courage, and wait on the Lord.