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Can You Wait?

And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
Hebrews 6:15

Waiting is difficult, but it serves a vital purpose. Over 40 times in the Old Testament God says, ‘Wait.’ At 75, God promised to make Abraham the father of many nations. But he had to wait for 24 more years before he ‘obtained the promise'. God promised to free Israel from Egyptian slavery, but it took 400 years, including 40 years in the wilderness, before it even began to come to pass. Please notice two things: First, what waiting accomplishes. Waiting isn’t just something you have to do in order to get what you want. No, waiting produces patience, understanding, maturity, and character. What God accomplishes in you while you’re waiting is often more important than the thing you’re waiting for. It also forces any potential weakness to the surface. The truth is that time spent waiting is time spent learning and growing! Second, what waiting isn’t. Waiting is not an excuse for dodging reality, shirking responsibility or not doing the right thing. For example, if you’re in a financial mess because of overspending, don’t sit around waiting for dollars from heaven. They’re not coming! Instead, discipline yourself and make it a priority to learn sound financial principles like budgeting, giving, and not buying things until you can pay for them. Above all else, waiting means making a daily decision to trust and obey God, even when things aren’t going the way you planned. It’s saying, "Lord, I’m counting on You - and I don’t have a back-up plan!"

Prayer
Heavenly Father, Help me to be patient and learn to wait for you to open the door you want me to walk through. Kicking it open only messes things up! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.