Wait on the Lord (Spotlight on Faith Series 4)

One of the greatest acts of faith is to wait on the Lord, trusting Him with an outcome that seems impossible. And He always comes through.

One of the greatest acts of faith is to wait on the Lord, trusting Him with an outcome that seems impossible. And He always comes through. Click To Tweet

We always seem to be waiting for something. Sometimes good things, sometimes difficult things. But the important thing is that we look to God in our waiting.

When we wait on the Lord to see us through a season—to provide answers, to calm our fears, to strengthen us—we’re demonstrating the faith we claim when we say Amen, and we receive a peace that surpasses circumstances (Philippians 4:6).

Sarah (Genesis 18–21)

Sarah waited on the Lord when faced with an impossible situation: she would become pregnant with her first baby at the age of 90. How absurd that had to sound to her. I can imagine how I’d react: Me? A wrinkled old lady, past my prime in everyway? No way!

Sarah had a similar response. She laughed when she first overheard the Lord (she didn’t know He was the Lord at the time) saying she’d have a baby (Genesis 18:12). But she set aside her skepticism and trusted Him in the wait.

Years earlier, Sarah had taken things into her own hands and had given Abraham a son through another woman (Genesis 16). It hadn’t gone how she’d hoped and unrest followed her choice.

But the Lord forgives, and circumstances had grown her faith. Through the years Sarah learned to place her trust in the Lord even when it seemed absurd. Because she grew to know the power of God, she judged this impossible promise of His as true and in the end received its fulfillment in the birth of her son Isaac.

God rewarded Sarah’s faith with a baby boy in her old age and a spot in the Hall of Faith forever.

Faith in the Wait

Like Sarah, at times we may question the Lord’s timing. We may take things into our own hands, thinking God won’t act.

Thankfully, we serve a merciful God, longsuffering and faithful. When our faith waivers, He invites us back in to the fold. He reassures us of His love and grace. He absolutely knows what’s best for each of us. And He fulfills His promises despite our doubts.

At times we may question the Lord's timing, but we serve a merciful God, longsuffering and faithful. When our faith waivers, He invites us back in to the fold and reassures us of His love and grace. Click To Tweet

“By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.” Hebrews 11:11, NKJV

When you wonder if the Lord will ever show Himself more powerful than your storm, remind yourself of His love for you. When your wait feels interminable, take Him at His word. He will act in your best interest. Count on it!

We won’t walk out our faith perfectly. None of us can. But we can grow to know the Lord’s power and love for us. When we do, we’ll also grow in our trust for Him, even in those most difficult or absurd times of waiting.

We won't walk out our faith perfectly, but we can grow in our knowledge of the Lord's power & love for us & in our trust for Him, even in those most difficult or absurd times of waiting. In doing so, we'll experience peace in the wait. Click To Tweet

As we learn to wait in faith, we will experience peace and a sense of fellowship with those who hold space in the Hall of Faith like Sarah.

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18

Prayer

Thank You, Lord, for Your love and faithfulness. The longer I walk with You, the more I know You, and the more I know I can trust You, even in those seemingly impossible things. Still at times I doubt; I question Your timing. I struggle in the wait. Please forgive me, Lord. Strengthen my faith. Bring me peace in those times of waiting. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Reflections: What are you waiting on the Lord for? How are you growing your knowledge of God’s power and love?

By His grace ≈

Julie