I don’t like waiting. Every time I am waiting, I feel like I’m wasting time and losing a part of my life. I am always trying to get ahead, because we all know that life is short and we are all given one shot at this thing called life.

I want things to be done the minute I said so, and when that doesn’t happen? I am the one who end up losing; I lose my cool and end up being frustrated. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Galatians 5:22-23

I am always trying to work hard at being more patient and I am still learning about self-control. And this past summer God really wanted me to exercise those two muscle that I don’t really have. Patience. Self-control. I have learned that every time God tells you to stay and wait, you really need to be patient and have self-control.

When He says stay, you need to be patient and trust His timing.

When He says wait, you need to have self-control because you may move without Him and we all know where that leads. It leads to frustration because we end up doing what we were not supposed to be doing in the first place.

But why don’t we like staying and waiting on the Lord? Perhaps we are afraid that when He says stay, He is not working at all?

Are we afraid that when He says wait, He is busy with others? Perhaps busy with those who love him more, busy with those who always seem to have everything together?

Have you ever felt that God was very busy in all other people’s lives except yours?

That’s the devil’s lie! Because God says that “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

When I read this verse, the first thing that came to my mind was, “God was probably very busy in the lives of the people of Israelites in Babylon when He said this”. If God says that He has a good plan for us, my mind thinks that He is already “working out” things to make our future prosperous not necessarily in a financial way.

Let’s come back to Jeremiah 29:11. We all know this popular verse. And it really gives hope on so many occasions, at least for me. But the verse that comes before that is the least talked about because I believe it’s about staying still.

“This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years.” I can’t help but wonder if people revolted and said, no God, we want to go home, we are really tired of living here. If God wanted them to stay in Babylon for seventy years wasn’t it for their good? After all, the Israelites had rebelled against God over and over and over again. Though our rebellious ways always need chastening, God also promises the following: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

My heart smiles big when I think about the fact that God uses all things for our good. It may not be specifically what I see as good, but it is definitely what He sees as good. And this good enough for me.

The song Nothing is Wasted by Jason Gray always reminds me that God indeed uses all things:

Beloved, can you join me in believing that God is making us stay where we are to make us grow spiritually or to exercise our faith? I’m gonna choose to stay and trust Him, because He is Holy and He knows better. “The real test of faith is in facing the silence when God places you on “hold”. T.D Jakes

Sometimes God says stay because He is preparing us for the next task.

After Jesus was resurrected and it was time for Him to go to heaven, the disciples knew what needed to be done next. “Go and make disciples of all nations…” Matthew 28:19 This was a huge task and they needed to get started on it, right? At least, that’s what I thought.

Jesus says something quite interesting; “But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” Luke 24:49 This verse tells us two things: First, where God tells me to stay at is just temporary. Second, He is making me stay because He is filling me with power from heaven. Glory to God! Glory to God!

So when God tells me to stay He is equipping me for something better? Yes and Yes!!! Glory be to God! Glory be to God!! If staying means being equipped with power from heaven, shouldn’t the waiting be easy to handle now? Lord, from now on, I want to passionately wait on You. So help me God. “He works where He sends us to wait. But don’t wait sulking spiritually and feeling sorry for yourself just because you can’t see an inch in front of you.” ~Oswald Chambers

And Moses says to God, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us from here.” Exodus 33:15 I want to always gladly pray this prayer. Lord, if Your presence doesn’t go with me, I don’t want to move at all. Failing to wait where God wants us to wait may lead us into things He doesn’t want us to do. What can we get done without God?? Absolutely nothing worthwhile, right? But isn’t that what we do when we try to move where He says to wait? We shouldn’t confuse waiting with not doing anything. Psalm 37:34 says, “Wait on the Lord. Travel steadily along His path.” The point is doing what He commands when He tells us to wait. Chambers said it well, “Waiting is not sitting with folded hands doing nothing, but it is learning to do what we are told.” I pray that we may always do what He intends us to do while we wait for Him.

Gracious God, we thank You for times like these, times where You command us to stay and wait. I pray that we may always be reminded that the “hold” moment is a time to be clothed with Your power. Your power and Your will is what we long to follow. Teach our hearts to always lean on Your presence. May our prayers always be, “if your presence doesn’t go with us, we don’t want to move.” God, thank You for today’s lesson. Thanking You for teaching us that waiting is the time to listen closely and to do what You are telling us. God, Your presence is heaven to us. Thank You for willingly giving Yourself to unworthy/sinful people like us. Glory to God that Jesus makes us worthy and beautiful. Glory be to God now and forever. Amen