The Duty of Waiting: Steps to Help you Wait on God

"Then I waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattered from him. So Saul said, "Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me." And he offered the burnt offering." I Samuel 13:8–9 NKJV

As I lay on my bed to sleep, my mind flashed back to the story of Saul and prophet Samuel. My submission from this passage has always been Saul's disobedience to the prophet's instructions until another explosive lesson dropped into my mind.

Prophet Samuel instructed Saul to wait at Gilgal for seven days. It's expected that, in return, he only did as he was told. However, it was recorded that when Saul saw that the troops were slipping away rapidly, he stopped waiting and asked that they bring the offerings to him.

From the narrative, one might be tempted to say that he did what he did to stop the troops from scattering. Nevertheless, waiting was the most crucial aspect of the instructions given, and there is no reason for him to do otherwise.

Waiting time is not always palatable. Sometimes, one tends to lose courage, get tired, or become weary. Moreover, if the instruction is to wait, all you have to do is wait.

When it appears that everyone is moving and you feel compelled to use your efforts to bring about the change you desire, failure to wait might cost you much more than you were scared of losing while waiting.

When it's taking longer than you think, wait. When it appears that the time is never going to come, wait.

When you're distracted or frustrated, take a new attitude towards waiting, and it will not be difficult for you.

If Saul had looked for another way to stop the troops from scattering, he would have remained faithful to the command of the Lord, and his kingdom over Israel would have been established forever.

Maybe you're currently in a phase, and the only instruction God has given you concerning that season is to wait. Do not try to do otherwise. Many people will come with different offers and advice. Some might even sound godly; so far, God has spoken to you, and the Word you've received is to wait. Please wait.

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While you wait, keep praying to know what God is saying each time. If it appears that you're not receiving any response, do not be so quick to assume that God’s silence means approval of your plans.

The sooner you realize that waiting is a major part of life, the more you will learn to enjoy where you are while you wait for where you should be. When you finally learn to enjoy waiting, you will realize that waiting is a catalyst that will help you deliver your dream.

Maybe Saul's dream was to be king forever, and the only action he needs to take to achieve that is to simply wait. His inability to wait made him lose a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Pastor Pauline Joyce Meyer said it very nicely: "When we finally learn to respect and appreciate the time of waiting, God goes to work in earnest." "And even though we cannot see what is happening, the things that will make us happy later on are happening right now behind the scenes."

I tell you again: If the instruction is to wait and you're doubly sure that you've heard well, wait patiently. If you've been waiting and you stop waiting, the step you take thereafter might be a miscalculated one. You might even miss out on God’s plan.

The good news, however, is that when you learn to wait and trust in God, you'll find the strength you need during this waiting period.

"But 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." Isaiah 40:31 NKJV

Have you ever waited on God and yet it looked as though God was not going to show up? Or probably you’re currently experiencing this and you begin to wonder why? 

Well, let me give you a clue from my personal experience and that clue is to simply erase the possible ways you have created in your head about how God would show up. I have learnt that you should just know that God won't show up in your own way, when you want him to show up and how you want him to show. God will show up just when he chooses to, and how He chooses to.

You see, waiting on God isn't for a short time. It's for as long as you live. So for example, if you wait in prayers for a beautiful home and it comes, your waiting doesn’t necessarily end. Waiting on God is a strategy for  continuous dwelling with God. Simply put, it is a strategy for strength because of course, you draw that strength when you dwell in God’s presence. Waiting is not you wasting time; it's you gaining time.

God's delay in showing up, is not him denying you of his presence. He's preparing you (your heart) for his presence.

At this point, it’s important to share  a  few reasons why it’s important for a believer to wait on God.

Reasons why we wait on God

1. To do God’s Will

We wait on God to do his will, 

2. To Seek His Face

If you need to collect a gift from an earthly king - say the Ooni of Ife, the Olu of Warri, or the Alaafin of Ibadan, you will patiently wait to receive his coming. Now, God isn’t just any (earthly) king. He is the King of Kings and the King of Glory, and as such should be waited upon his arrival. In other words we wait for his coming.

3. To Learn of Him

If you do not

4. To Grow in God

Growth takes time and you must be patient enough to let that time pass. While in secondary school, I took classes in Agricultural science and I recall a practical classes where we were asked to bring maize and bean seeds to plant. On the first day of our practical, we filled some used beverages containers with loamy soil, watered the soil and carefully dipped the seeds in the centre. Then we watched to see the seeds germinate. We waited patiently for one whole day, checking at hourly intervals, yet we didn’t see anything - until the morning of the third day.

Now, that’s exactly how it is with God.  to grow in him. Also we wait on God because he's a king that

Waiting on God is not an idle posture, it's a sacred posture that demands our heart and eyes to be fixed on him.

We don't wait on God to run off, we wait on God to run more and better.

You're not waiting because he's afar off, you're waiting because he's to be waiting on. 

You can't rush God, you get his answer better while you're waiting.

Waiting on God, doesn't waste your time, it saves you more time. 

Hence, you need to know how to wait and that’s why this article is here. Now, let’s get into five steps to help you wait on God.

1. Wait in Prayer

There's no better way or better place to wait on God than in the place of prayer. Prayer helps you stay waiting on God, because in the place of prayer you're not wasting but growing and glowing. 

2. Wait like son will

You're in the house with your father. So he's there with you and he's never too busy for you. When you ask for something, you don't rush him to give you. You hear him promise, and wait till he gives it.

3. Learn from David

No body wait better as much as David did. In everything he was asking God and waiting for his response and he got results. He was never in hurry to hear from God. 

You don't have to hear from God to hear from God, you just have to be discerning enough, because he speaks through everything, his silence is more than words. His go is go enough, his no is for your protection, God doesn't have to speak many words to communicate to you, he just give you a word. And that word changes everything.

David's story teaches us to wait on God till he responds. 

4. Learn from Abraham

Having faith in God is a great strategy of waiting on God.

In Abraham story we saw how God delayed to give what he has promised, which was just an introduction to the best God had in mind for the world. And in everything Abraham trusted God and grow better and better in faith that even his aged body couldn't hinder the promise from coming. 

A lot more in Abraham story. (Genesis 13-21, Romans 4:20)

5. Learn from the Son of God (The Word of God)

He didn't start the work until God said it was time. The Bible didn't state this, but his life proved it that at the age of 30 he started the work he was created for to do, which is the work of God.

Remember he's The Word. So this step is introducing us to The Word of God which we ought to lean on whilst waiting on God. Before he came in person, God himself waited. 

If God can wait why can't you wait?

Waiting on God

Waiting is a more than a strategy for more strength. It is a sign of maturity. Waiting on God never wastes more time, but buy us more time.

Remember what the Bible says, those that wait upon the lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28 -31)

Also Isaiah 26:3 quotes, Thou wilt keep in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusted in thee.

Lastly remember Caleb and Joshua. But Caleb specifically. 

He said to Joshua I am as strong this day (at the age of 80) as the day (at the age of 40) Moses sent us to go spy the land of Canaan. (Joshua 14:11, Numbers 13:1-3)

Waiting on God has nothing to do with a man's ability without God. The ability is God built in and with the Holy Spirit we have today, Waiting on God is now more Joyce and our deepest desire.

Conclusion

For me, I just want to wait on God, and if like me, you’re interested in making the same personal decision yet it feels like you're struggling to get started, then let’s get started together right here.

Let us Pray

Lord, I need you. More than anything, I need you, 

You're everything. Come into my heart today, don't knock my heart is right open. Come sit at the forefront of my heart and help me in all I do to trust your presence with me. And thank you for I do not wait alone, you're with me. In Jesus Name I've prayed 🙏.