What does “wait” mean in a world full of instant gratification? Add, “wait with patience” and instantly we gravitate towards the opposite direction wanting the item we most desire now. We want – what we want – when we want it. The battles daily that take place between the flesh and the Spirit! But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (Romans 13:14).
Do Not Love the World As You Wait
The Lord wants us to wait with patience for the good that he has in store for us. The life of a Christian is not wrapped up in the instant gratification of this world. We know this is not our home and we strive and persevere through this life being sanctified more each day into Christ’s likeness focusing our eyes towards eternity as we wait with patience for the day we will be joined with the Lord. But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Romans 8:25). Though, being in this fallen world, I am afraid many times we fall into wanting the desires of what we see too often and not waiting with patience for the hope we do not see. We love the darkness that is so enticing to our eyes and our hearts. The temptations come at us in many forms of distractions, taking our eyes off Jesus, our only hope, and places our focus of what the world has to offer us in the here and now. We love and seek what we can see – money, jobs, possessions, technology, gadgets, health, education, entertainment and the list continues on. God’s word is clear and tells us to not love the world or anything in the world. Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life – is not from the Father, but is from the world. (1John 2:15-16).
Removing the Idol
I know this place of wait so well. It has been a part of me for my whole life. And only when I look back do I see the reasons why the Lord had me wait for certain things. He was definitely looking out for what was best for me even though I may not have seen it at the time. There are times, I fall into the world of desiring what I see and not waiting for the hope, which is unseen. The Lord does not always shelter me from my impatience of waiting and there are consequences for my actions. In the midst of it all, I am so thankful that the wait of certain things has been long because it has contributed to where I am today. One of the waits is the longing to be married and have a family, but this has yet to happen. See, if I had married years ago, I would have most likely married an unbeliever. Now that I am a Christian, I see the Lord saved me from a lot of hardship of possibly being unevenly yoked. More importantly, I needed to have the type of relationship with the Lord with an undivided heart to see him as my husband putting away the idol of seeking another that is temporary to total dependence on Jesus. There continues to be this hope of someday a godly man will find me as the Lord knows my heart’s desire. Yet in this season, I am content with where the Lord has placed me knowing my identity is with him and not in my martial status. The Lord will lead me through the days of struggle and tough times ahead. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; (Psalm 130:5).
Radically Worth Waiting For
Where are you in the wait? Maybe you are waiting for a cure of a disease, a child to return home, your loved ones to be saved or like me waiting for a husband. In these times, holdfast and stand firm in your faith, taking your requests in prayer to the Lord with thanksgiving. Take courage, when the answers to your prayers are not quite what you expected or planned as in the Lord’s Sovereignty, he knows best. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9). Radically living for Jesus in the wait is not for the light of heart – it takes courage, boldness, perseverance, humility, love, patience, gentleness, forgiveness and a heart of obedience to the upward call of God through Jesus Christ. Go to the cross daily and see how Jesus radically gave his life for you, taking your punishment upon himself, forgiving all of your sins, promising you eternal life when you believe in him and repent of your sins. In the joy that was set before him, he endured the cross and now is seated at the right hand of God, the Father. Jesus’ obedience won the victory over death for you and for me!
Take heart, the joy set before us in The WAIT, is worth waiting for!
Love this, Christine! So great, my saved sister! Wonderful reminders that what we want is often good, but what God has for us is BEST! Prayers that you, like me, continue to find the blessings from him while we wait!