The more we learn to trust God, the more we’ll learn to be patient. David said, ‘Trust the LORD and live right! The land will be yours, and you will be safe. Do what the LORD wants, and he will give you your heart’s desire’ (v.3-4 CEV). We might be striving and struggling to achieve something now, but if we just trusted in God’s timing, it would come easily to us when the moment was right. Sometimes we’re not ready for the things we want, so God withholds them until we’re properly equipped (as long as they’re part of His plan for us). For example, we might want a better job, but God makes us wait until we’ve developed the skills and knowledge we need, and are ready for the extra responsibility, before giving us the opportunity. In the Amplified Bible, we read, ‘Put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper]’ (Colossians 3:12 AMP). God teaches us how to wait, and how to have a good attitude while we’re waiting. The Message paraphrases James’ words: ‘Don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed’ (James 1:4 MSG). The more we realise that God keeps His promises, the more we’ll be willing to trust His timing, however long it takes. God sometimes allows certain things to happen to teach us how to 1) maintain our faith when times get tough, 2) show grace under pressure by controlling our responses, and 3) develop new skills and better ways of thinking. We may think we know what we want and where we should be, but God really does know. So let’s ‘be patient and trust the LORD.’

What Now?

Ask yourself these two questions: What am I waiting for at the moment? and What is God teaching me and developing within me while I’m waiting? If you’re finding the second question difficult to answer, ask God to help you see he work He’s doing within you.