Waiting by Ps Dave Podhaczky

Waiting for anything in life can be a very difficult thing for many of us.

How is your patience when waiting in traffic, or behind someone with more than 12 items in the express checkout? How about waiting for serious needs or desires in life?  

Scripture has plenty to say about waiting. We can read about dozens of people that had to wait for God to answer their prayers. I encourage you to learn from these people’s stories - and from God’s role in them.

Let’s take a look at the story of Joseph in Genesis. The end of Genesis 40 and the first verse of 41 can so easily be glossed over. ‘The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him”. “When two years had passed, Pharoah had a dream”.

Joseph had faithfully endured many ordeals and difficult times since the dreams of his youth. He had been thrown into a well and sold into slavery by his brothers. He then found success in Potiphar’s house, but ended up in prison after being falsely accused by his master’s wife.
I daresay that time goes very slowly while in prison - but even so, Joseph remained faithful and found success again. Finally, a glimmer of hope presented itself for him to find a way out. Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker were put into prison and Joseph interpreted their dreams. The cupbearer was impressed and promised to put in a good word for Joseph with the Pharaoh.
Sadly, however, he forgot all about Joseph.

Two years passed. Two years. In prison. 

How would you go waiting two years for your moment of hope to materialise? And without any idea of how much longer you would need to wait.

So what was Joseph’s response when he finally got his chance to help Pharaoh?

He faithfully trusted God and continued to serve Him with a good attitude.
How do you respond to seasons or moments of waiting?

Max Lucado writes about waiting in his book You’ll Get Through This: “While you wait, God works. “My Father is always at his work,” Jesus said (John 5:17 NIV). God never twiddles his thumbs. He never stops. He takes no vacations. He rested on the seventh day of creation but got back to work on the eighth and hasn’t stopped since. Just because you are idle, don’t assume God is. He’s working for you as well. “Be still, and know that I am God” reads the sign on God’s waiting room wall.

To wait, biblically speaking, is not to assume the worst, worry, fret, make demands, or take control. Nor is waiting inactivity. Waiting is a sustained effort to stay focused on God through prayer and belief. To wait is to “rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; . . . not fret” (Ps. 37:7).”

Those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. (Isa. 40:31). Delight yourself in God, and he will bring rest to your soul. You’ll get through this waiting room season just fine. Pay careful note, and you will detect the most wonderful surprise. The doctor will step out of his office and take the seat next to yours. “Just thought I’d keep you company while you are waiting.” Not every physician will do that, but yours will. After all, he is the Great Physician.