A Special Invitation to Wait on God's Timing & 5 Benefits of Waiting

Living in southeastern Wisconsin, every winter I am reminded of the importance to learn to wait on God’s timing.

How to Learn to Wait on God’s Timing

Each year my big Mother’s Day gift is when my husband takes me on a shopping spree to pick out flowers for the hanging baskets in our entryway. When you live in a state that only has warm weather for 4 months or so, you grow to appreciate and cherish the limited time you get to enjoy the beautiful blooms.

This year the weather had been unseasonably warm in April, so I had been excitedly anticipating getting to purchase my plants a little earlier. However, as May approached the temperatures dipped back down to the 30’s and 40’s. I even woke up to frost several times.

Mother’s Day came and went, and still the weather refused to cooperate with my plans. In my frustration I have contemplated just going ahead and buying my new blossoms.

However, if I were to buy my plants now, every time there was a threat of frost, I would have to bring all five of my hanging baskets inside. Then I would have to find a place for them where the kids and dogs would not disturb them. I would also have to find a way to protect the flowers by our entryway by covering them.

If I were to be stubborn and buy the plants now, it would end up being a lot of work. A lot of frustration. And I would end up adding unnecessary stress to my life.

But if I could just wait.

Then the day would come when the threat of frost was finally gone, and my gorgeous blooms could be enjoyed without any added stress.

I hate to admit it, but it is in my best interest to learn to wait.

King David Learned to Wait on God’s Timing

King David of the Bible knew what it was like to wait. Samuel anointed him as king when he was just a teenager, but then he went right back to working for his father as a shepherd for many years.

Eventually, he was called upon to work under the current king, Saul. But then Saul attempted to kill David and he was forced to flee for his life.

In David’s years of wandering, many men decided to join his cause. And yet even though he had an army on his side, he was still left traveling the countryside just trying to preserve his life.

I am sure on more than one occasion David wondered, “Lord, why is this taking so long?”

And then came his moment of opportunity.

David was hiding in a cave when Saul came inside. Saul was completely exposed. David could take matters into his own hands. He could take out Saul and then the throne would finally be his.

And yet he chose not to.

David chose to let Saul go because he trusted that it was in his best interest to wait on God’s timing.

“He [David] said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the LORD’S anointed one, for the LORD himself has chosen him.”  

1 Samuel 24:6 NLT

How we can Learn to Wait on God’s Timing

As I thought about my plans being delayed and felt the frustration of it all build up in my heart, God reminded me of this story and how David trusted God’s timing.

God invited me to take a deep breath and look for the good.

After all, waiting will inspire me to appreciate my flowers all the more when I finally do acquire them.

Here are five benefits of waiting on God’s timing:

• Waiting will nurture my gratitude, which is a good thing.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV

• Waiting will help me let go of my perceived control and trust the One who never steps off His throne. It helps me to remember that while I may not understand the reasons why I must wait, God does.

• Waiting strengthens my trust in God, which is a good thing.

“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.”

Nahum 1:7 NIV

• Waiting helps me gain a new perspective of what is right in front of me. When I wake up and see frost covering the ground again, I can either get upset about it or I can notice how the sunlight sparkles and dances across its surface.

• Waiting helps me see the beauty to be found in the waiting, which is a good thing.

“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

Psalms 27:13-14 NIV

We Can Choose in our Season of Waiting on God

Whether it is waiting for something small like warmer weather for flowers or waiting for something big like a dream to be fulfilled, as King David experienced when we are faced with a season of waiting we have two choices.

—We can choose to let our frustration rule and try to hurry things up. To take matters into our own hands. To trust what we think is best.

And by doing so we may end up adding unnecessary stress to our lives.

—We can choose to trust that it is in our best interest to wait on God’s timing.

We can ask God to help us nurture our gratitude.

We can ask God to strengthen our trust in Him when we do not understand what is taking so long.

And we can ask God to show us the hidden beauty to be found in our season of waiting.

“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.”

Psalm 130:5 NIV

Faith in Your Season of Waiting on God

It can be difficult to wait. It can be frustrating and heartbreaking. But God would not be asking us to wait if He did not know that it was in our best interest to do so.

God is good. And He has a good plan for your life.

Have faith in your season of waiting on God.

God’s timing is good. Even when He asks us to wait.

For more inspiring stories by Collene visit https://www.colleneborchardt.com

About the Author:

Collene is a wife and mother of three. She spends her days caring for her home, working part-time, and managing a chronic illness. In her spare time, she loves to write to encourage women to find rest in Jesus while facing the chaos of life. You can connect with Collene on her blog www.colleneborchardt.com or www.facebook.com/colleneborchardtwrites or www.Instagram.com/colleneborchardt.