Waiting with Patience

Song: Turning Around for Me - VaShawn Mitchell

Have you ever wanted something so bad that you felt like you just couldn’t wait any longer? In life, there will be seasons of waiting and testing of our faith. As believers, we must learn to wait with patience. In the Bible, God shows us how many men and women of God waited with patience.

Noah was obedient to God's command and built the ark over many years. In that long length of time, he waited with patience, remained steadfast and obedient, and built the ark as God commanded him to do. The flood came and Noah saw the fruit of his labor. I am sure he was so glad he was obedient and waited on the Lord.

Abraham waited on the promise of God. God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. While Sarah was old in age, and they did not have any children yet, Abraham still believed in God's promise and waited with patience for Him to perform it. After he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. (Hebrews 6:15) What seems impossible to man is possible with God. (Mathew 19:26, Luke 18:27)

So why do we have to wait? The testing of our faith produces patience/endurance. (James 1:3). When we wait, God is testing our faith. We must remain confident in the promises of God and trust in Him, leaning not on our own understanding but acknowledging God so He can direct our paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

James 1:3-4 KJV

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

When we read the definition of patience, we see that it mentions not complaining and bearing trials calmly. One may ask, if we complain are we letting patience have her perfect work? Are we trusting God? The testing of our faith produces endurance. Somethings we have to go through but when we come out we will come out as pure gold. (Job 23:10)

Patience (n) – the power of capacity to endure without complaint something difficult or disagreeable,; forbearance, longsuffering (Cambridge dictionary includes: the ability to accept delay).

Patience (adj)- bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint, steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity: not hasty or impetuous.

We need to let patience have her perfect work. This means not complaining or giving up, but being obedient in walking in patience. Walking in the spirit allows us to walk in accordance with God's will and God's desires rather than our own. We must remember that we walk in God's timing and must yield to His will and His way. It's not our timing for things to happen but God's.

Isaiah 55:8-9 KJV

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Even though you are waiting, and you want to get to the finish line now. Your waiting is for a reason and this is working for your good (Romans 8:28). God is perfecting you and growing you in this season of waiting.

What does the Lord tell us about waiting with patience?

Hebrews 6:12 KJV

12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

God is reminding us that just like Abraham, we too will inherit His promises. We just need to keep the faith and maintain patience.

Hebrews 11:1 KJV

11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Romans 8:25 KJV

But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Proverbs 13:12 KJV

12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

Wait with hope! Be hopeful in the waiting season, knowing that God has a plan and trusting Him to perform it.

Hebrews 6:15 KJV

15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

God is showing us that even though we do not currently see what we have asked for we have faith that it will come to pass. We endure with patience and expectation remaining confident in the word of God.

We must remember that God cannot lie (Numbers 23:19, Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:18) and what He speaks must happen as He commanded and as He promised. We must continue to walk in patience and keep the faith, confidently knowing that God will do just what he said (Isaiah 55:10-12).

The very rainbow in the sky reminds us of God's promises. (Genesis 9:11-17) He has kept His covenant with Noah and every living creature never to destroy the earth by flood again. God will always keep His promise to you.

What do I do while I wait with patience?

· Seek God (1 Chronicles 16:11, Jeremiah 29:13) while you are waiting, there are things he wants to teach you during this season.

· Ask God for patience, patience comes from God. It is a fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5: 22-25) Walk in the spirit and not the flesh (Galatians 5:16). The Holy Ghost will give you peace, patience, and all of the fruits of the spirit so you may walk in God’s perfect will.

· Trust God, you may not understand why you have to wait but God’s plans are purposeful and great. He has good plans for His Saints. (Jeremiah 29:11) Remember, God does not withhold any good thing from his saints. (Psalm 84:11) There is a reason for the season.

· Believe God and His word. (Romans 4:20-21) Have faith. (Hebrews 11:6). His word cannot return back void (Isaiah 55:11) When God has promised you something it must come to pass. The promises of God are yes and amen (2 Corinthians 1:20)

· Know God, Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10) Don’t worry (Mathew 6:25) about the situation, pray and trust God to deliver you.

Maybe you are in a season of waiting, have been through that season, or are approaching that season. Remember the words of the Lord when that time comes. He will walk with you through this time and keep you in perfect peace.

Questions

· How are you allowing patience to work in your life?

· What have you learned in the season of waiting?

Notes and Scriptures:

Romans 5:1-4 KJV

1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

Romans 8:28 KJV

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Hebrews 6:10-15 KJV

10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

Hebrews 6:17-18 KJV

17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Hebrews 11:1 KJV

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Romans 8:24-25 KJV

24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Psalm 27:14 KJV

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say on the Lord.

Romans 4:20-21 KJV

20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

Hebrews 12:1-3 KJV

1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

James 1:3-4 KJV

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Psalm 84:11 KJV

11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

· Abraham believed God, God did not withhold His promise from him.

· God cannot lie.

Numbers 23:19 KJV

19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

· If God has told you something it must come to pass. You just have to wait patiently for it.

Isaiah 55:10-12 KJV

10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands

Galatians 5:22-23 KJV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23 New Living Translation (NLT)

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

· NLT shows patience in long suffering. Some are waiting to be healed or receive different blessings that God has promised. Longsuffering produces endurance.

James 1:2-4 KJV

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Hebrews 11:6 KJV

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

· Have Faith

· Believe

· Wait with patience