THE DIFFICULTY OF WAITING

Galatians 5:5

Morning Meditation 9/20/2012

"For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith."

One of the most difficult things a Christian does is wait. But waiting on God is taught throughout the Bible. Abraham had to wait a long time for the promise of Isaac until Sarah bare him. It was probably fifteen years from the time that Isaac was promised until he came. In the mean time, Ishmael was born in Abraham and Sarah's attempt to help God. There has been trouble ever since.

When God makes a promise and we pray and ask for the fulfillment of it and time seems to go on forever, it is man's nature to give up. God deals with this in a parable in Luke 18:1-8, "And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?"

Faith in God and His promises is no risk. God made it plain to Abraham that there is nothing too hard for the LORD: Genesis 18:14, "Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son."

Most of the time there is a period of time between the promise and its fulfillment. Hebrews 10:36, "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." That period of time for Abraham was approximately 15 years. The time may vary. But we are to pray and not faint. We are to endure the trial of faith. 1 Peter 1:6-7, "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:"

There are times that the words "though it be tried with fire" are really meaningful for the believer. It is hard to wait. What we need to remember is that we are on God's time schedule, not He ours. Impatience with God is NOT a good idea.

David said it right in Psalms 27:13-14, "I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."

David had the same problem that we have. He wanted to faint but his faith in the veracity of God wouldn't let him. He "believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." Then after having done it himself, he exhorts "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." David drives his point home. He says, "You wait." You say, "I can't, its been too long. He is not going to keep this promise to me." David says, "He will strengthen thine heart." Then he concludes with the repetition, "Wait I say on the LORD."

"For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith." The Holy Spirit enables the wait.

May the Lord bless these words to our hearts. It is difficult to wait, but there is no risk in waiting, just impatience!!!

In Christ

Bro. White