Periods of waiting are woven into our lives. Their length and intensity may vary, but we know we will experience them. I have been tempted to give up hope in some of these times. You may have as well. Here are four verses that will empower you to wait successfully.
Reflecting on Who God is Enables Us to Wait Successfully
One of the attributes of God is that He is good. God’s actions, creation, and provision always reflect the His goodness.[i]
No matter what I am waiting for, I can be assured that it will be good.
This verse is taken from Psalm 136, which is a song of praise, and remembrance of all the good the LORD had done.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1 (NLT)
These two lines remind me that God’s goodness is intertwined with His love.
This morning I read all of Psalm 136. The faithfulness of God to Israel was encouraging. But it also prompted me to remember the ways that God has blessed me – even after long periods of waiting.
Remembering God’s goodness and love in ways that may seem small or large in your life may encourage you as well.
You can listen to Hillsong’s King of Kings here to reflect more on God.
Encouragement for When You are Weary.
I grew weary when I was waiting for my son to recover. The wait was long, and I became drained.
Weariness is a natural reaction. But, in my case, and maybe yours, it can be dangerous.
Feeling depleted can cause me to feel hopeless – to give up. Or it can cause me to consider solutions that are not grounded in truth.
I keep this verse in my encouragement arsenal:
“He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.” Isaiah 40: 29 (NIV)
When I feel that weariness, I pray, explaining what I am experiencing. God answers me by giving me strength and power.
I was able to keep working, caring for my family, and serving in a ministry. Without a doubt, this was not through my strength or power, but His.
God will give you strength and power as well, specifically tailored to your needs.
Help When You are Feeling Afraid
When there are unknowns and circumstances beyond your control, you may grow afraid as you wait.
When that’s how I feel, this verse comforts me:
” Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8 (NLT)
I am encouraged because I am not alone. God, the loving creator, will go ahead of me. Therefore, He will know what I need and will provide it. He will be with me the entire time of my waiting and beyond.
He will do the same for you!
When You Think Your Problem is Just Too Big to Solve
When we are waiting for a problem to be solved, we can become overwhelmed by what we perceive as its enormity. Although we may not articulate this, our thoughts may be that even God will be unable to bring a solution.
People across the ages have struggled with that concern. Abraham and Sarah, in the Old Testament, had waited for the son God had promised them.
They waited for such an extended time, they believed that Sarah was past the age of having children. Even after God had re-iterated His promise to them. In fact, Sarah laughed.
Here is God’s response:
“Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Genesis 18:14 (NLT)
And the promise was fulfilled.
I remember “Is anything too hard for the LORD” when I am overwhelmed as I wait.
God’s solutions are not limited to what our minds can understand.
I hope you will find these verses help you wait successfully too!
You can read more about successful waiting here
[i] https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/tod/ps136.cfm?a=614001
Photo credit: Francesco Gallorotti on Unsplash