I don’t know about you, but I have felt impatient lately. Impatient to see the results of my prayers and cries out to God. Yet what is so ironic about those feelings is that when we are patient and wait upon the Lord, we are blessed. There are powerful benefits of waiting upon the Lord. In all circumstances, he has a plan for our lives and it is always better than our own.
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We often know the right answer to questions, but don’t always feel their truthfulness. Is God’s timing perfect? Yes, but I don’t feel or understand it at the moment. Yet I know that God perfectly holds this universe and sustains it.
We live on 40 acres in the depths of the Northwest. It’s beautiful here, and when I gaze over the acres of grass blowing in the breeze each morning, I can rely on the simple truth that the sun is going to continue to rise over the horizon. God sovereignly holds the world together in His perfect timing.
Yet acknowledge that in my own circumstances? That seems to be a bit harder. Our feelings are not unique though. The Bible is saturated with reminders to trust God’s timing.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9 ESV
Waiting on God’s perfect timing is a part of our maturity and sanctification in the faith. It is a blessing to wait on a God who is merciful, gracious, and true. He has made many promises in the Bible and he has never failed to fulfill one. Do not doubt that he will fulfill a perfect plan for your life.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!
Psalm 27:14
What about God’s sovereignty? God sees everything. He sees the beginning of time, the end, and everything in between. He is not just planning for your story, he is planning for everyone’s story. You are a part of a much larger picture. He also loves you dearly and knows when you are ready for the next step in your journey. He knows when you are mature enough to handle something more.
Trust God’s timing. There are so many benefits of waiting upon the Lord. Don’t lose hope.
4 Benefits of Waiting Upon the Lord
As we are waiting upon the Lord for his perfect timing, instead of our own, there are fruits that come from our patience. God is using this time for his glory and purpose. You will find as you walk these benefits of waiting upon the Lord that waiting produces endurance, waiting gives you rest, waiting allows you to rely on God, and waiting produces discernment.
These benefits of waiting upon the Lord are for your good. Let me shout that again waiting upon God is for your GOOD!
Times of waiting might be hard, but they are certainly good.
Waiting Upon the Lord Produces Endurance
God’s plan for our life takes endurance.
Have you ever set a goal and immediately see the results? Yay, me neither. Goals and success take endurance. When we cry out to our Heavenly Father with prayers for something, our loving and all-knowing Father knows our unique circumstances and the endurance it will take for us to get there. Yet he is faithful.
I think back to when I was praying for a baby. I remember in great detail trips to my doctor, the infertility testing, wondering what was wrong with my body, and finally releasing it and letting God’s timing come. It was a process and one that I would not give up for a quicker time frame.
God knows our hearts, and our needs, His plans, and uses these times of waiting for our good. When we are called to wait upon the Lord, we have the blessing of seeing God’s goodness revealed and there is great joy in that process.
being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;
Colossians 1:11 ESV
Waiting on God Allows us to Rest
Your alarm goes off and you find yourself rubbing your eyes and opening them up to the world around you. Your body feels rested, refreshed, and ready.
Dear friend, times of waiting, even though hard, give you the much-needed gift of rest. Do you know what else a reason for rest gives us? The opportunity for gratitude. Often when we slow down, we find simplicity and the clutter of life clears to show us a great horizon of blessings we already possess.
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.
Isaiah 40:31 ESV
God will carry you through whatever struggle you are facing. Learn to rest in the comfort of verses like Isaiah 46:4, that remind us of God’s gracious love.
even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.
Isaiah 46:4
Waiting for God Helps us Learn to Rely on God Instead of Circumstances
Our circumstances are constantly changing. Friendships change, finances change, careers change, family changes; and with each change, our heavenly Father does not. He stays constant and secure. When we learn to rely on God instead of our circumstances we find ourselves resting in a secure path instead of the changing winds of circumstances.
Instead of seeing your circumstances and past through the eyes of regret or frustration, try refocusing on your heavenly father’s perspective. When we focus on God we will begin to see with fresh eyes circumstances that have grown us into a better child of God. Perhaps he is preparing you for something even greater in the waiting.
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 ESV
Waiting Produces Discernment
Waiting on our loving Father gives us so many gifts, but one of the most powerful ones is that waiting produces discernment. Have you ever heard the saying that hindsight is 20-20? When we patiently walk in God’s will we are allowing him to show us perspective, and for us to learn more about the character and qualities of our loving Father.
Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you,
and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him.
Isiaiah 30:18 ESV
Waiting assures us of what we are saying yes, or no to. When we try to walk ahead of God’s timing our passion will eventually run out. Have you ever experienced that? I know I have. Waiting on God’s perfect timing helps us produce godly discernment to know when our yes should be a yes, and a no should be a no. As we mature in Christ, those times of waiting will often be shorter as we become closer to him.
How Do You Patiently Wait on God?
All of these benefits of waiting upon the Lord lead to a question.
How do we practically wait on God? There is not an easy answer to this because waiting will often look different for each person, but here are some ideas to get you started.
- Read your Bible
- Spend time in prayer
- Think and do for others instead of yourself
- Find grateful moments
- Rest
- Write down your requests
- Write down when your prayers are answered!
Why Does God Want Us to Wait?
Why does God want us to wait? What’s the point? Wouldn’t it just be easier for us to get what we want right away?
I’m not a patient person by nature. I used to think I was, but then God humbled me and I realized just how saturated I was with instant gratification. I want the results now! God is not subjecting us to a season of waiting, he is walking alongside us!
What a precious gift we have been given in the waiting. We are offered this time to walk alongside the God of the universe. Be an example to your other sisters in Christ of women waiting well.
Trust in God’s timing for your requests. His timing is absolutely perfect.
Have you found other benefits of waiting upon the Lord? Share them below, I would love to hear them!
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