What to Do While I Wait for an Answer

In review of Psalm 37:7 (NLT) I read to, “Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act.”

In Psalm 37, David calls me to take delight in the Lord and to commit everything I have and do to him. This means I experience great pleasure and joy in his presence and doing what I do for him. Everyday I strive to know him better and to be faithful in my relationship with him. I need to be willing to wait patiently for him to work out what is best for me.

So what does God want me to do while I’m waiting on an answer to my prayer? According to this verse, God wants me to wait patiently for him to answer.

Yet, like a little 2-year-old, I get the spiritual wiggles while I’m waiting for God to answer a prayer. I get nervous and restless. I want to jump up and do something. But God says, “Wait patiently. Be still. Watch me act. Don’t get restless, don’t get nervous, and don’t try to take matters into your own hands.”

And, don’t ever make Abraham’s mistake in the Old Testament of trying to be the answer to my own prayer. It will cause all kinds of problems! One day God told Abraham that he was going to make him the father of a great nation. There were only two problems: Abraham was 99 years old, and he was childless. Abraham looked at his own body and said, “I don’t think so, God!” And he looked at his wife Sarah, who was infertile, and said, “Double no way! It ain’t gonna happen.”

So Abraham took matters into his own hands and had a baby with his wife’s maid, Hagar. Abraham said, “Here’s my answer to prayer! I’ve got a son at 99. His name is Ishmael.” God said, “No, no. You missed the point. That’s not my answer to prayer. That’s your own answer to prayer. I’ve got a miracle boy who’s coming, and Sarah’s going to be the mom. You’re going to name him Isaac.” Isaac means “laughter.” When Sarah was told that she was going to be pregnant, the Bible says she laughed because she didn’t believe God.

But God had the last laugh. Isaac was born, and it started an intense rivalry between him and Ishmael that we’re still paying for today. The tense relationship between Jews and Arabs all began because Abraham tried to answer his own prayer request.

Whenever I try to answer my own prayer, I’m asking for trouble. Instead, wait patiently, and watch God act.

In summary, be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. I need to be willing to wait patiently for him to work out what is best for me. Unfortunately I get the spiritual wiggles while I'm waiting for God to answer. I want to jump up and do something. However God tells me to "wait patiently, to be still, watch him act, don't get restless, don't get nervous, and don't try to take matters into my own hands. Like Abraham, who took matters into his own hands, I'm only asking for trouble when I try to answer my own prayers. Instead, I need to learn and practice patience and watch God act.

I know that waiting on God will always be a tough thing. I’m always wanting things on my own terms and my own timing. I pray this morning Father that I remember your promises whenever I get antsy and that I wait on you to act. I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my tasks, my leadership and my interactions with others. I ask these things in your Son Jesus name, Amen.