Waiting is hard! Anyone who has had to wait on the Lord for anything will testify to this. It will test every confession of faith, trust, and hope in God you have ever professed. It is even more challenging when other seemingly good options are available, but you must still wait on God’s will and His perfect timing.

Sarah illustrated this very well in the book of Genesis in the Old Testament. She waited so many years for a promised son and eventually got tired. One day, an idea came to mind; she went to her husband, Abraham, and offered a solution for their barrenness. Instead of waiting indefinitely with no assurance, her maid Hagar would bring the promise of a son to fulfilment. “Maybe I can have children through her” (Genesis 16:2b), she said. Abraham, perhaps tired of the wait as well, listened to his wife, accepted the proposal, and went into Hagar; and thus, Ishmael was born. Genesis 16:3 “So he went into Hagar, and she conceived.” However, in God’s kingdom, the child recognised as the promised son was Isaac, who came after the wait.

It has been many years since Abraham and Sarah’s story; however, I believe there will always be someone waiting on the Lord in every generation. Waiting for different reasons: a job, a business, a breakthrough, healing, marriage, a child, ministry, the voice of God – the list is endless.

In my earlier post, I wrote about three things that cause delay: ignorance, the devil, and God. In this post, I focus on the last part: waiting on God. This is for those waiting on the lord. I will list three things we should do while we wait on the Lord.

1. Do not lose your joy

The thing about a promise is that when it is first given, there is excitement, awe, and thanksgiving. But over time, the promise becomes a painful memory as days turn into months and months into years – a reason to question your sanity and whether it was God whom you heard speaking. And life is cruel. It will constantly demand results, and at some point, those doing well will deem you a failure. All this can cause you to be angry and disappointed in God, leading to a loss of joy. We always try to justify it; stating the reasons for our lack of joy and the bitterness that follows afterwards. But remember that whatever the devil can steal, he will steal, even if it is your joy.

However, in this kingdom, joy is strength. The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. When the Spirit of God gives it, it is independent of your current circumstances. In Matthew, Jesus teaches us something. Matthew 6:31-32 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. While waiting, we can forget that God hears, knows, or He often responds in grand style, but God understands more than we think he does, and he is very determined to make glory come from our lives. The Bible calls him Faithful. Even with Ishmael already born, God still sent Isaac, the son of the promise. Therefore, while I wait, I do not lose my joy.

2. Remain in prayer

Luke 18:1 And He spoke a parable unto them to this end that men ought always to pray and not to faint. Prayer is a kingdom principle; there is no way around it. The German theologian and greatest force in the Protestant movement in Europe Martin Luther said, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” The results may not come after the first time that you say amen, but you press forward in prayer.

Sometimes there is an instruction to follow before the manifestation of what you have prayed for. You will receive this instruction only in the place of prayer. Notice the prophets in the Old Testament. The word of the Lord often came with instructions. Prayer is not just to talk to God but to hear what he has to say and listen for instruction.

Jeremiah 2:1-2 Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Go and cry in the hearing of Jerusalem, saying, “Thus says the Lord.”…

Isaiah 7:3 Then the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out now to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-Jashub, your son, at the end of the aqueduct from the upper pool, on the highway to the Fuller’s Field.”

Ezekiel 3:1-2 Moreover, He said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go speak to the house of Israel.” So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat that scroll.

1 Kings 19:15 Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazel as king over Syria.

All the verses above illustrate an instruction from the Lord for the prophets to carry on. Remember we are co-labourer’s with Christ therefore, we must know what role we play in that relationship. 1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. Prayer will guide us in the way to go. The gospel of Luke introduces a woman very briefly but her story carries an important message. Anna was a prophetess (Luke 2:36-38) who perceived that the savior would come in her time. While she waited for that appointed time, she dedicated her life to fasting and praying in the temple. Therefore, while I wait, I will pray.

3. Praise is comely

I have always wondered why every church service starts with praise and worship. I learnt that it is not just for singing and dancing; it is done in honour of our God. It is an acknowledgement of the one from whom all blessings flow. Sometimes he will place a song on your heart that will minister to you more than any other song in that season. It could be an old song or a new one that God is writing through you. While marching around the walls of Jericho, it was not prayer but blowing the trumpets and a loud shout that brought the wall of Jericho down. There is power in praise.

Consider David, the man God testifies about and says was a man after his own heart. Acts 13:22 And when He had removed him, He raised for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will. One of his greatest secrets was praise. In the cave of Adullam, when he was hiding from King Saul, waiting for the appointed time to be king, he praised. When he was repenting from the sin of killing an innocent man and taking his wife, he praised. When his son Absalom overthrew him and took over the kingdom and he was in great distress, he raised a psalm of praise to the Lord. Therefore, while I wait, I will praise.

My heartfelt prayer is that we will not grow weary in the season of waiting on the Lord, but we shall have joy unspeakable, we shall remain in prayer and our lips shall be full of praise. For he has promised in Isaiah 40:31 that 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.

Selah