Patience: Finding Joy in Waiting on the Lord

Patience

Patience conveys the idea of someone who is tremendously strong and able to withstand all assaults. -Oswald Chambers

The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. ~Ecclesiastes 7:8

This can hurt sometimes, doesn't it? We want to be all settled in, move to the next thing, aim for the next target, but God tells us to wait. We are in a go-go-go society that keeps moving so when God tells us to wait we go, "huh?" Maybe we think we are being irresponsible by waiting and not taking action. But really we allow God to set ourselves up for a blessing when we respond in obedience by waiting. We allow Him to move and act on our behalf:

Since ancient times no one has heard,
no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you,
who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
~Isaiah 64:4

What a joy it is to see God come through for us! So many times He wants to do something for us but we rush ahead of Him! We have forgotten to rest and "sit still" before the Lord when He tells us too:

Then she said, “Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day.” ~Ruth 3:18

I'm in a season of resting and sitting still before the Lord. It's been difficult for me to understand that I don't have to act because God is acting for me in ways that I don't see or understand. It is really a trust factor that comes into play here. But during this time of being patient, I've learned to find joy in waiting on the Lord. He is so sweet to us that He gives us rest when He knows we need it. He knows what our abilities are and are not so He will act when we cannot. He is our provider and takes care of all of our needs. He is working on providing for our needs long before we even have them! He really, really loves us! I've found so much joy in mediating on God's goodness, graciousness, and love for us while I sit still before Him. He never ceases to amaze me with His Glory!

So I pray for all of us that are in seasons of sitting still to be patient. To wait in Joy. After all, the Joy of the Lord is our strength and it is an honor and privilege to wait on the God who loves us in a way that is far beyond what we can even comprehend.

Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength. ~Nehemiah 8:10