This has been a hard week for our church and community.
We’ve lost a dear sister in Christ who decided to end her life six days ago, and many have struggled with some difficult questions in their private thoughts.
There are questions that we don’t dare to ask out loud, questions that sometimes we are scared to even think about too deeply.
But it is healthy to give voice to these questions. It is only when we give voice to them that we can hope to find the answers we need.
Questions:
- What if God’s love is not enough to carry me through times of depression, discouragement, and doubt?
- What if the peace of God is elusive or inadequate?
- What if God doesn’t answer my prayer? What if the Lord doesn’t help me through?
- What if I pray for peace, strength, and joy, but tomorrow is worse than today?
- What if God isn’t willing or able to help me?
- What if my faith doesn’t work?
The inability to answer these questions often leads to despair, suicidal thoughts, resignation, and a thousand sins meant to numb our senses and drown our sorrows.
There is a one-word answer that will not sound very helpful when you hear it, but that is because you may not know all the Bible means with this word.
What should we do? We should WAIT!
I know it doesn’t seem helpful, but there is much more to this than you may notice at first glance. This idea of waiting is a bigger theme in the Bible than you might expect.
Key Verses on Waiting
Genesis 49:18 | I wait for your salvation, Lord. (CSB)
Psalms 25:3 | No one who waits for you will be disgraced… (CSB)
Psalms 25:5 | … you are the God of my salvation; I wait for you all day long. (CSB)
Psalms 27:14 | Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart be courageous. Wait for the Lord. (CSB)
Psalms 33:20 | We wait for the Lord; he is our help and shield. (CSB)
Psalms 37:7 | Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for him… (CSB)
Psalms 40:1 | I waited patiently for the Lord, and he… heard my cry for help. (CSB)
Psalms 130:5 | I wait for the Lord; I wait and put my hope in his word. (CSB)
Psalms 130:6 | I wait for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning… (CSB)
Isaiah 8:17 | I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face… (CSB)
Isaiah 25:9 | … it will be said, “Look, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he has saved us… (CSB)
Isaiah 26:8 | Lord, we wait for you… Our desire is for your name and renown. (CSB)
Isaiah 33:2 | Lord, be gracious to us! We wait for you. Be our strength every morning and our salvation in time of trouble. (CSB)
Micah 7:7 | I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation… (CSB)
Isaiah 40:31 | They who wait for 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. (ESV)
Waiting is a Spiritual Discipline
Waiting is a means of grace, a tool for growth, and a pathway to peace. It is the nitrogen and fertilizer for the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 | The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. (CSB)
We will explore the biblical concept of waiting, its importance, and how to practice it as a spiritual discipline.
The Biblical Mandate to Wait
Waiting implies wanting. To wait means there is something you need or desire but do not have.
Waiting for dinner, payday, 5:00, retirement, or marriage reminds us that life is filled with moments of longing. The biblical mandate to wait alerts us to the fact that we will experience times when:
- We don’t feel the full presence of the Lord.
- We don’t have the full peace promised by the Lord.
- We don’t have the full victory or rest for the weary that the Lord has promised us.
Waiting is normal and activates faith.
Romans 1:17 | The righteous will live by faith. (CSB)
Faith grows strongest in seasons of waiting. It focuses on the journey and anticipates God’s goodness.
Romans 8:28 | We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. (CSB)
How to Wait
- Value Waiting:
Waiting on God is not wasting time. It builds strength, teaches lessons, and glorifies God.
Lamentations 3:26 | It is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord. (CSB) - Wait Actively:
Biblical waiting involves action—praying, worshiping, giving, and serving faithfully even in dark times.
Charles Spurgeon encouraged those in depression to “Pray and stay!” - Wait Together:
Seek community, share burdens, and grow stronger together as you wait on the Lord. - Wait Longer:
Waiting often lasts until the end of life. Hebrews 11 reminds us of saints who endured by faith, looking to the eternal promise.
Romans 8:18 | The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. (CSB)
Conclusion
Two ways to wait: anticipation or fear.
- Some wait with anticipation of the goodness, peace, and rest of the Lord.
- Others wait with the fear of death, judgment, and separation from God.
Which one will you choose?
