Wait or Worry

“Wait on the Lord.” Psalm 27:14

David, who would soon be king of Israel, seeking God’s protection from the powers of the government of Saul, then king of Israel, ended his appeal to God with this understanding, “Wait on the Lord.” 

It has been said that “Timing is everything,” and indeed it is true.

The son of David, who would also sit on the throne of Israel, was considered the wisest man to ever live made this observation about the importance of understanding when things happen is more important than what happens.

Solomon said:

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” (Ecc 3:1) 

To understand the purpose of our life events we must understand the effect they will have in the “season” they will have an effect on our lives.

Solomon made these observations about the way an event affects our lives:

“A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted." (Ecc 3:2) 

As we mature into adults, we understand the “seasons” of life and know there is a time that life begins and there also is a time that it ends. When the “timing” of death does not happen in our expectations, we often question God’s wisdom or love in interrupting our understanding of the “time to die.”

The Apostle James and brother of Jesus said:

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (Jas 1:5) 

When we ask God for understanding about our life situations, we must be willing to “wait on the Lord.”

God is not withholding wisdom or understanding but He often waits for the right time to reveal it to you so as you can receive and understand what His purpose and plan for your life is.

It has been said that patience is a virtue and this is true but patience is more than just a developed strength of character. In the life of a follower of Jesus, patience is the outcome of living a life of faith. The scripture reveals this truth with these words:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Gal 5:22-23)

To be “longsuffering” is the spiritual application of patience in the life of a follower of Jesus. When the Apostle said, “the fruit of the Spirit” was “longsuffering” he makes this truth self-evident. The outcome of living a life of faith is the ability to “wait on the Lord.”

The Apostle Paul made this statement about spiritual maturity:

“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” (1 Co13:11) 

A part of spiritual maturity is to leave behind childhood impatience of immediate gratification and learning to “wait on the Lord.”

How about you? Are you living a life that is “longsuffering?” That is willing and able to wait for the “season” of your life to understand the “whys” about the events in your life? The Wiseman reveals to us this truth, “the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” (Ecc 7:8)

To be impatient is the opposite of humility. To be impatient is to be “proud in spirit.” Live a life of faith and develop the “fruit” of long-suffering and you will be able to “wait on the Lord.”

God’s word gives you this warning:

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (Pro 3:5)

Today is a day of new beginnings in your life. Today, if you will “wait on the Lord”, He will help you understand the “whys” of your life in the right “season” of your life and reveal His purpose and plan He has for you.