Waiting. We have all experienced waiting in our spiritual walk. Many in the Bible did as well. David waited many years to become king after being anointed by Samuel as a teenager. Then, once he was king of Judah, he waited another 7 years to become king over all Israel (I Samuel 16 & II Samuel 5:4-5). Hannah waited to become a mother (I Samuel 1 & 2), Abraham and Sarah waited for their promised son Isaac (Genesis 15 & 21). There are many other examples as well.
In both Luke and Acts the followers of Jesus are asked to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:49 NIV
On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 1:4-5 NIV
In the Old Testament examples I listed, the waiting took years. In Luke and Acts the waiting for the Holy Spirit was about 10 days — from the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven and the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. But the amount of time waiting is not important. The obedience, staying where we have been told to stay or going where we have been told to go; being ready for a gift promised, and waiting on God’s timing, God’s plan, God’s provision; that is the important part.
Are you currently waiting for something in your life? Are you waiting for an answer to prayer? Are you waiting on God to give you direction? Are you waiting for this difficult season in your life to be over, to move on to a more peaceful calm or less grievous state?
If you find yourself in a time of waiting, let me suggest that being about the business that God has given you for today is what you should do. In the GriefShare curriculum, one of the key things stressed for grieving people is to “do the next right thing”. Don’t focus on next week, next month or next year. Instead look at today, this morning, this hour. Do the next right thing. Pray, wait, seek God and Godly counsel, and wait on the Lord. He will be faithful to do what needs to be done, to show what needs to be shown, to direct in a Godly way when the timing is right. We can trust Him and His timing.
I am still confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:13-14 NIV
by Grace Hunter
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