Waiting on God's Time: Mercy in the Waiting

“That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:14–19 ESV).

Waiting on God’s Time

Are you in that dreaded “waiting season”? (Did a shiver just run down your spine?) Waiting on that breakthrough—a miracle, a spouse, a new work opportunity. As time passes, it can feel like decades fly by without a hint of the answers we’re looking for.

In the waiting time, we may throw a tantrum. We want it to happen now! (Can you remember your kids saying that? “I want it now!”) After all, God promised He would follow through on His Word! He’s shown us the vision, so where is it?

Purpose in the Waiting

While we’re busy screaming and crying and wanting to throw things in frustration, we don’t always see the lessons we’re learning and the training we’re getting to become stronger, more faithful, and more ready for what’s to come.

Imagine, for a moment, me trying to enter a weightlifting competition tomorrow. As strong as I think I am, I haven’t trained! I would be humiliated at best and crushed at worst!

Same goes for running a marathon, swimming in the Olympics, or trying my hand at football. If I threw myself in there, the chances are high that I would get seriously injured.

If the Lord gave us what we wanted right here, right now, we might get crushed under the weight. We might run from our purpose. We may quit and never come back.

Looking Back with Clarity

Honestly, if God had shown me fifty years ago all that Greg and I would be doing now, I might have refused. How intimidating it would have been to a new believer! Yes, I was ready to run straight into the deep end, but imagining speaking in front of thousands about Jesus? No way!

Let me be very clear . . . God is not holding out on you. He’s holding back in mercy, knowing that you’re not quite ready. He knows us better than we know ourselves, and thank goodness He does! He’s the ultimate trainer, the best coach, and the only One who truly knows what’s best for us. So the question is . . .  are you going to trust the process?

Have Faith in God

Your promise is coming. Your breakthrough is imminent. Your triumph is just around the corner. It’s just not time yet. . . and there’s a reason for it.

You may have new skills to learn. You may have to practice consistent faith that you’ll carry into the next season. He might need you fully dependent on Him so that when that breakthrough comes, you’ll have the strongest possible foundation in place.

It’s coming, and when it does, you’ll be ready. Let’s turn our tantrums into praise and give thanks to the Lord, who loves us so much that He won’t let anything come into our lives if we’re not ready for it. And when He does bring it, He will give us all the strength we need to face all that’s to come.

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Cathe Laurie is the founder and director of the Virtue women’s ministry. She is also a featured speaker on The Virtue Podcast, at Harvest events, and the author of As I See It. You can find her weekly articles here on harvest.org.