13 Sep Prayers of Waiting
Sometimes circumstances are out of our control. This often requires a response of waiting. If in a hurry, waiting may come with frustration. If our personal goals are blocked or delayed, waiting can move toward anger. When waiting is the best option, a better response could be waiting with hope and positive anticipation. The best path to this kind of waiting is waiting in prayer.
Waiting can include thankfulness. Charles Spurgeon said, “Wait in prayer…. Call upon God, and spread the case before Him; tell Him your difficulty, and plead His promise of aid…. Wait in quiet patience, not rebelling because you are under the affliction, but blessing your God for it.”
Waiting may delay our goals, while accomplishing God’s goals. In Psalm 27:14 David said, “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” (Psalm 27:14) As David waited and reflected on the attacks he experienced from evil men (vs. 2), he grew confident (vs 3). He proclaimed, “The LORD is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?” (vs. 1) He focused on worship and pondered the LORD’S beauty in the temple (vs. 4-5), he made sacrifices, shouts and songs of joy (vs. 6), he prayed and chose to seek the face of the LORD (vs. 7-8), he requested that the LORD would teach him His ways and lead him in straight paths (vs. 11), and he grew in confidence that he would “see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” (vs. 13) This was productive waiting. It was prayerful waiting.
Waiting in prayer includes trust in God. Daniel waited on God in prayer during the hardships of three Kingdoms including Judah, Babylon, and the Medes/Persians. He overcame defeat of his homeland, exile, false religions, threats on his worship and life and more. God accomplished His kingdom goals through Daniel’s prayerful waiting. (Daniel 1-12)
Not waiting can have sad results. King Saul rushed God’s timing when he usurped the role of the priest, Samuel, and offered sacrifice (1 Samuel 13:7-14). This cost him His kingdom. Samson lived a life of immediate gratification rather than allowing prayerful waiting in obedience in character with his particular calling to produce godly character in him for leadership. His people suffered temporary defeat, he was blinded, imprisoned and mocked. He caused the name of the LORD to also be mocked. (Judges 14-16)
What has God placed on your heart? How has He spoken to you recently in a passage of scripture? Henry Blackaby said that when God speaks to you from scripture, write it down and keep it before you until God clarifies what He is saying and doing. I pray that you will engage in hopeful, prayerful, productive waiting and anticipation of the manifestations and works of God in your life.
Greg Murphy – Pastor, Pastoral Care, Prayer, and Recovery