Waiting is never the easiest thing to do, but more often than not waiting is worth the time and effort. As some say: "Everything comes to those who wait!"

It appears to be that waiting as an acquired ability. We are not born with this ability, and from very early on we can clearly see how much of a struggle it is to wait.

Within moments an infant will go from content mode to overdrive because it's hungry and wants to be pacified immediately! And it always seems to happen just at the time when the supplier of food is not immediately accessible. The baby’s demand for a top up seems to go from nought to hyperdrive in a matter of seconds, and everything has to stop for a half an hour or so to nurse the hungry infant 😊

How hard it is for little ones to wait when birthdays or Christmases seem so far away! And see how quickly they become discouraged when the school holidays are not arriving quick enough!

And then on a little further and the waiting game becomes more intense in ‘tweenage’ age years when a young one is neither a child or an adult, but in between. He or she can hardly wait to be all grown up and do the things that grown-ups do. That season in the life of an adolescent can be a lonely time. How important it is for someone who remembers and understands those transitional years to be there for them.

Waiting seems to be part of human living, and it would seem by default in order to acquire something we like or long for we have to wait for it! We would so much love to have that thing straight away, and it usually comes in the end, but then it isn’t long before we discover that, the thing that we waited for becomes a thing of the past all too quickly!

Then there are the times in life where waiting is a period of learning, and as difficult as it may seem to be, this is an important part of that which grows a steadfast character.

A trial comes our way, and we want it to be over immediately, but more often than not it is during the waiting period that the most valuable lessons are learned.

The Bible is replete with verses that encourage us to wait, no matter how hard it may seem, because there is immeasurable value in doing so.

That which makes waiting bearable is deep connection with the One who knows the end from the beginning. He knows how to wait and encourages us to do so as well. He does not and never did  anything in a hurry. Over the course of the eternal ages past He waited, and waited until: “… The fulness of the time was come, [then] God sent forth his Son.” Galatians 4: 4. In God’s perfect timing He sent His beloved Son into the world with a mission to do what no one else was qualified to do.

He was to be the bearer away of our sins and the punishment for them. On His way to the cross His perfect and sinless life demonstrated fully what the character of God the Father was like. And so, His finished work and wonderful Person is worthy of our utter and complete trust.

It is His desire that we should get to know Him by spending time in His presence in the reading and meditating of His precious Word, and through prayer and communication with Him. When a deep relationship with Him develops we will begin to understand how valuable waiting is. And during the waiting period we will begin to accumulate treasures for the soul that will enhance our appreciation of the Lord Himself. And that which we waited long for: that promise fulfilled, that day that finally arrived, the fever that finally broke, that loved one you prayed for finally trusted the Lord Jesus and got saved etc., will be all the more precious to your heart.

We may have been going through a situation in life in which patience was needed, and perhaps we whispered a prayer asking God for patience in that time, only to find the situation intensified, and we wondered why? Well, the Bible has an answer for that: “… We stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience.” Romans 5: 2-3

It is through the trial that we learn it. Unfortunately patience is something that doesn't drop into our lap, we have to learn patience through struggles. And as with patience so with waiting!

But we as the Lord’s believing people do not have to wait just for the sake of it, but we can rest while waiting, in Him who knows the end from the beginning, and we can trust Him in the outcome of any situation.

Here is an amazing promise from the heart of a loving God to your’s and mine:

Here it is … The reward of waiting upon the Lord! For those who are prepared to leave everything with Him for the outcome to be performed according to His perfect way and time, He promises something very special. A change in our strength!

🔸 When we thought we didn’t have any strength or stamina, He transforms that with His own! Now we are encouraged instead of feeling downcast. His life and vitality begins to course through our frail being until we are able to walk tall again!

🔸 Like the eagle spreads its mighty wings and mounts up, and up, and up; so does our soul. We can now rise above that which oppressed us like the eagle rides upon the storm. And from that elevated point we get to see things from a totally different perspective.

🔸 Now we can run the race set before us with focus: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith …” Hebrews 12: 2

🔸 Now, our walk is steadfast, deliberate and quietly confident!

If you happen to be in a period of waiting, remember that you are not alone. And remember also that God did not only wait just once until the fulness of time was come to send His Son into the world, but still waits, so that He may be gracious unto you. He is waiting for the moment you are prepared to trust Him in the situation you are in and see what He will do.

And perhaps you may be able to say with assurance along with the sweet Psalmist of Israel: