Are You Ready For What Comes Next?

I have spent much of my life waiting for things.

Sometimes during those waiting periods I often wonder, “Where are you God? Why is it taking so long?”

The other day I was at Urgent Care and I was sitting in an exam room for three hours. Waiting. I spent the first two hours checking social media, reading, and online shopping. After two hours, I found myself bored out of my mind.

At that point, I couldn’t take much longer and then a lightbulb went off in my mind. I thought I am literally sitting here waiting in silence, when do I ever have that? (I have two toddler boys ages 3 and 4, so there is literally no silence ever.) I should be praying!

I started praying and 15 minutes went by without me looking at the clock. It was so interesting to me because I prayed for patience to help me get through the time and God gave me comfort through talking to Him.

I spent half an hour praying and heard answers from God I had been wanting for a while. All because of the waiting!

What’s the Point of the Waiting?

God uses the waiting to draw us closer to Him. I know that sounds cliché but it’s true. If we are willing to pursue God in our waiting, He makes our waiting worth it.

My urgent care story is a pretty trivial example. I know oftentimes we are waiting for big things. Things that seem impossible. What about then?

God is preparing you. He is preparing your situation.

I always think about it this way. God has such incredible plans for your future that He needs you to be prepared for it. If He hasn’t opened the door or fulfilled his promise, He knows you aren’t ready yet. I know that’s not the answer you want to hear, but we’re in good company. Joseph waited 13 years (in slavery), Abraham waited 25 years (for a son), Jesus waited 30 years (to start his ministry), and David waited 20 years to become king. Let’s look at what God did with David during his waiting.

King David’s Example

David waited years to become King of Israel.

God promised David he would be king when he was a young man. David then spent the next 20 years building his reputation. By the time he became king, the people loved him!

What if he had become king when God first promised it to him? Things would have been much different.

The people would not have trusted him. He wouldn’t have had the commanding knowledge that he gained during his years on the run from Saul. David might have been the same person, we don’t know, but the kingdom would have looked very different.

Are you ready for what comes next?

You’re complaining in the waiting, but are you seeking God? Are you having the same attitude in the waiting as you want to have when God fulfills his promise to you?

Dive Deeper

Read David’s story. 1 Samuel 16 – 2 Samuel 5

What is David’s attitude as he’s running from Saul and waiting to become king?

Does he ever doubt God?

What do you think is David’s secret weapon for following God?

How would you rate your attitude while waiting on God? What can you do to improve it?