Waiting – Patiently

Gordon Crook

I waited  patiently  for the LORD; and he inclined  unto me, and heard  my cry. Psalm 40:1

Waiting patiently is not a normal human characteristic. Or maybe it’s just me. It seems so easy to get impatient when we want or need something and it is not happening in our expected time frame.

The Hebrew word for “waited patiently” carries the meaning of waiting expectantly. When we take our needs to our heavenly Father, we wait expectantly because we know He will answer. The Psalmist knows that God inclines unto Him. That means that God hears our cry.

Being patient with other people or the doctor’s office, or the DMV may not be easy, but we wait because we know we will eventually get what we need. Imagine how much better our heavenly Father is. He is the only one that will never fail us.

Sometimes, God is just using the patient waiting to work in our lives some greater spiritual maturity for his glory. “My brethren, count it  all joy when ye fall  into divers temptations; Knowing  this, that the trying of your faith worketh  patience. But let patience have  her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting  nothing.” James 1:2-4

The key for us is to learn to rest in our complete trust in our heavenly Father. “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.” Psalm 37:7. If indeed we truly are placing all of our trust in our Lord, we will not need to fret about anything. We will not need to be impatient about anything. Knowing that He is in control should allow us to rest in peace.

Our entire race here is one of patience. We may, at times, be weary of our race, but we continue with patience because we know the end. “Wherefore seeing we also are  compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside  every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before  us,” Hebrews 12:1. “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. Hebrews 10:36. “Be patient  therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold , the husbandman waiteth  for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience  for it, until  he receive  the early and latter rain.” James 5:7.

Do not allow the enemy to discourage you and make you impatient. God never fails and He always hears his children.