Last week, we ended with three “birds of prey” that come in to steal from us while we are waiting on God’s covenant promise to be fulfilled.  Those birds of prey were misunderstanding (God, His Word, and who we are in Him), being disconnected, and worry.

We were encouraged to be like Abram and to keep driving them away until God’s promise comes to pass.

Waiting is an interesting act.  Just take a quick look around while in any waiting room and you’ll observe some interesting habits. 

You’ll see those who came prepared for the wait like the lady with her ball of yarn knitting away or the man with his crossword puzzle.  You’ll see the tops of people’s heads as they distract themselves on their smartphones.  You’ll see those over-achievers reading or continuing to work with their laptop and Bluetooth headsets.

Then, you’ll see those waiting who have no patience at all.  Their leg is bouncing up and down, arms are crossed, and they keep peeking at the time.  Occasionally, they’ll make a comment to the others in the room grumbling and complaining about their wait.

I haven’t met anyone yet who enjoys being forced to wait.  However, waiting is a part of God’s plan for us.  God purposes seasons of waiting.  Waiting keeps us in step with the Spirit and within His perfect timing.

Psalm 27:13-14

13 I remain confident of this:

    I will see the goodness of the Lord

    in the land of the living.

14 Wait for the Lord;

    be strong and take heart

    and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 33:20

We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.

Psalm 37:7

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Psalm 38:15

Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God.

Psalm 130:5-6

5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,

    and in his word I put my hope.

6 I wait for the Lord

    more than watchmen wait for the morning,

    more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Psalm 40:1

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.

Isaiah 30:18

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

Lamentations 3:19-26 (NLT)

19 The thought of my suffering and homelessness

    is bitter beyond words.

20 I will never forget this awful time,

    as I grieve over my loss.

21 Yet I still dare to hope

    when I remember this:

22 The faithful love of the Lord never ends![b]

    His mercies never cease.

23 Great is his faithfulness;

    his mercies begin afresh each morning.

24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;

    therefore, I will hope in him!”

25 The Lord is good to those who depend on him,

    to those who search for him.

26 So it is good to wait quietly

    for salvation from the Lord.

Although written 605 BC, this next call to wait reads as if though it were a social media post written today.

Habakkuk 1:1-4 (NLT)

1 This is the message that the prophet Habakkuk received in a vision.

2 How long, O Lord, must I call for help?

    But you do not listen!

“Violence is everywhere!” I cry,

    but you do not come to save.

3 Must I forever see these evil deeds?

    Why must I watch all this misery?

Wherever I look,

    I see destruction and violence.

I am surrounded by people

    who love to argue and fight.

4 The law has become paralyzed,

    and there is no justice in the courts.

The wicked far outnumber the righteous,

    so that justice has become perverted.

The Lord answers Habakkuk’s prayers and cries for justice.

Habakkuk 2:2-3 (NLT)

2 Then the Lord said to me,

“Write my answer plainly on tablets,

    so that a runner can carry the correct message to others.

3 This vision is for a future time.

    It describes the end,