In review of Deuteronomy 8:2 it says, “Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands.” (NLT).
If every prayer I asked were answered immediately, if every need were instantly met, and if every problem was automatically solved, my faith would never be stretched or exercised. I’d be spoiled and would have no need for faith!
In my own life, I don’t like to wait. I don’t like to wait for the train to come or in a grocery store line or at stop lights. But life is full of waiting. The Israelites had to learn this reality. Deuteronomy 8:2 says, “Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands.” (NLT). The journey the Israelites made from Egypt to Israel should have only taken a few weeks. But it took them 40 years! They wandered around and around because of their disobedience to God. And as they experienced one delay after another, God was testing them. He wanted to see what kind of faith they had.
God uses delays to test me as well, to see what kind of faith I have. God’s timing is perfect, but often his timetable doesn’t match mine. When I’m in a hurry, I always ask the “when” questions. “Lord, when am I going to find ?” “When are you going to answer my prayer?”
I’m in God’s waiting room right now when it comes to what will happen at work. It’s not a lot of fun. But it is a necessary time of building of my faith.
The Bible says in Isaiah 64:4, “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him” (NIV).
This means that while I’m waiting, God is working. I may not be able to see it. It may be behind the scenes. But while I’m waiting for that answer to prayer, for that thing to change, for the circumstances to be different, God is working, and he’s working on me.
In summary, God is leading me through the wilderness, humbling and testing me to prove my character, and to find out whether I will be obedient to him and his commands. If every prayer of mine was answered immediately, my faith would not be stretched or exercised. I'd have no need for faith. I know I don't like waiting, however I’m reminded this morning that life if full of waiting. Just like the Israelite's, God wants to see what kind of faith I have. God uses delays to test me. I must realize that his timing is perfect, and his timetable won't match mine. When I get in a hurry, I tend to ask the "when" question, however, I need to learn to just be patient and obedient and have faith that God will word in my best interest. I may be in God's waiting room right now, but it is a necessary time of building my faith. I can know that while I'm waiting, God is working and he's working on me.
This morning Father I thank you for the reminder of learning to accept the time of waiting. You have things you want to build into me about my faith in you and are likely preparing me for bigger things you have planned for me. I pray Father for your Spirit to help comfort me with your truths while I wait and put my trust in you. I ask you today for wisdom and guidance for my day, my tasks, my leadership, and my interactions with others. I also ask you to help me with my attitude of doing the best job I can while I wait. These things I pray through your Son Jesus name, Amen.
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