Living in southeastern Wisconsin, every winter I am reminded of the importance to learn to wait on God’s timing.
How to Learn to Wait on God’s Timing
Each year my big Mother’s Day gift is when my husband takes me on a shopping spree to pick out flowers for the hanging baskets in our entryway. When you live in a state that only has warm weather for 4 months or so, you grow to appreciate and cherish the limited time you get to enjoy the beautiful blooms.
This year the weather had been unseasonably warm in April, so I had been excitedly anticipating getting to purchase my plants a little earlier. However, as May approached the temperatures dipped back down to the 30’s and 40’s. I even woke up to frost several times.
Mother’s Day came and went, and still the weather refused to cooperate with my plans. In my frustration I have contemplated just going ahead and buying my new blossoms.
However, if I were to buy my plants now, every time there was a threat of frost, I would have to bring all five of my hanging baskets inside. Then I would have to find a place for them where the kids and dogs would not disturb them. I would also have to find a way to protect the flowers by our entryway by covering them.
If I were to be stubborn and buy the plants now, it would end up being a lot of work. A lot of frustration. And I would end up adding unnecessary stress to my life.
But if I could just wait.
Then the day would come when the threat of frost was finally gone, and my gorgeous blooms could be enjoyed without any added stress.
I hate to admit it, but it is in my best interest to learn to wait.
King David Learned to Wait on God’s Timing
King David of the Bible knew what it was like to wait. Samuel anointed him as king when he was just a teenager, but then he went right back to working for his father as a shepherd for many years.
Eventually, he was called upon to work under the current king, Saul. But then Saul attempted to kill David and he was forced to flee for his life.
In David’s years of wandering, many men decided to join his cause. And yet even though he had an army on his side, he was still left traveling the countryside just trying to preserve his life.
I am sure on more than one occasion David wondered, “Lord, why is this taking so long?”
And then came his moment of opportunity.
David was hiding in a cave when Saul came inside. Saul was completely exposed. David could take matters into his own hands. He could take out Saul and then the throne would finally be his.
And yet he chose not to.
David chose to let Saul go because he trusted that it was in his best interest to wait on God’s timing.
“He [David] said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the LORD’S anointed one, for the LORD himself has chosen him.”
1 Samuel 24:6 NLT
How we can Learn to Wait on God’s Timing
As I thought about my plans being delayed and felt the frustration of it all build up in my heart, God reminded me of this story and how David trusted God’s timing.
God invited me to take a deep breath and look for the good.
After all, waiting will inspire me to appreciate my flowers all the more when I finally do acquire them.
Here are five benefits of waiting on God’s timing:
- Waiting will nurture my gratitude, which is a good thing.
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV
- Waiting will help me let go of my perceived control and trust the One who never steps off His throne. It helps me to remember that while I may not understand the reasons why I must wait, God does.
- Waiting strengthens my trust in God, which is a good thing.
“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.”
Nahum 1:7 NIV
- Waiting helps me gain a new perspective of what is right in front of me. When I wake up and see frost covering the ground again, I can either get upset about it or I can notice how the sunlight sparkles and dances across its surface.
- Waiting helps me see the beauty to be found in the waiting, which is a good thing.
“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
Psalms 27:13-14 NIV
We Can Choose in our Season of Waiting on God
Whether it is waiting for something small like warmer weather for flowers or waiting for something big like a dream to be fulfilled, as King David experienced when we are faced with a season of waiting we have two choices.
—We can choose to let our frustration rule and try to hurry things up. To take matters into our own hands. To trust what we think is best.
And by doing so we may end up adding unnecessary stress to our lives.
—We can choose to trust that it is in our best interest to wait on God’s timing.
We can ask God to help us nurture our gratitude.
We can ask God to strengthen our trust in Him when we do not understand what is taking so long.
And we can ask God to show us the hidden beauty to be found in our season of waiting.
“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.”
Psalm 130:5 NIV
Faith in Your Season of Waiting on God
It can be difficult to wait. It can be frustrating and heartbreaking. But God would not be asking us to wait if He did not know that it was in our best interest to do so.
God is good. And He has a good plan for your life.
Have faith in your season of waiting on God.
God’s timing is good. Even when He asks us to wait.
For more inspiring stories by Collene visit https://colleneborchardt.com
About the Author:
Collene is a wife and mother of three. She spends her days caring for her home, working part-time, and managing a chronic illness. In her spare time, she loves to write to encourage women to find rest in Jesus while facing the chaos of life. You can connect with Collene on her blog www.colleneborchardt.com or www.facebook.com/colleneborchardtwrites or www.Instagram.com/colleneborchardt.
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We’ve been told that the longest word in the Bible is “wait” because usually, we don’t know how long it would take. But like you’ve reminded us here, it really is in our best interest to trust God, obey Him and wait when He tells us to. Thanks for sharing. Many blessings to you, Collene and Mary!
Boma, thank you for your wise words & for stopping by!
Yes, I agree that “wait” is the longest word! Glad this encouraged you!
Such a timely post for me in this season. I’m face to face with a decision to make and this piece was so helpful! Thank you!!
I am so happy that it helped you! Praying for you as you face this decision!
This is so good. God’s timing has been something I’ve become more aware of as I learned about the ways He protects me, even from myself. His timing helps things to flow and thrive where my timing can hinder or abort something. Beautiful post … â¤
Yes, it is great that God even protects us from ourselves! Great point! Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
I’ve always heard the phrases “Wait upon the Lord” and “God’s timing,” but I never thought about all of the spiritual (and even physical) results that are produced when we wait. This is an insightful article that really got me thinking, and not dreading my next season of “waiting.”
I am so glad that it inspired you to not dread the next season of waiting. It may not be fun but it is in our best interest. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Waiting is so hard to do, especially when its on something we’ve been praying over! I love your reminders of the benefits of waiting! Gods timing is perfect!
I can definitely relate to the weather. I’m in Canada so right after Christmas I am ready for spring…keep in mind, I don’t like winter. Waiting is hard. Especially when we don’t understand what we are waiting for. God’s time is perfect and we need to trust Him in that.
Amen! Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
God has used Psalm 27:14 many times in my life to teach me to wait. Currently, I have been tempted to be anxious about the sale of our house because, in my eyes, it’s taking too long, lol. This is a timely reminder that I need to wait on God’s perfect timing. Thank you, Collene! (and Mary!)
Thank you for sharing your thoughts! Will be praying over the sale of your house. That is a hard thing to wait for.
Great reminder, that there is a purpose in our waiting seasons! God uses them to shape us, teach us, and even mature us – we will be more appreciative of and thrustworthy with his blessings – then.
Yes! There is a purpose to our season of waiting. Thanks for sharing!
This post is just lovely to read! I wrote a scripture plan recently-31 scriptures for when you are waiting on God. Waiting is hard but such beauty can be found in the waiting. Your faith and trust in God , grows so much stronger. Thank you for this timely read!
Karen, thanks for your wise words & for reading!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
This blog is so timely! I’m having to postpone my wedding until the end of the year and waiting is so difficult! But I can make beauty from this season, as my beloved and I learn patience and lean on Him. Excellent post!
Candice, thanks for stopping by! Sorry your wedding is postponed..May waiting on God’s timing help it be extra special!
So sorry to hear that! It has to be so hard to wait especially for something like a wedding. Praying for God’s peace to comfort you during this hard season. Thank you for sharing!
So powerful! Thanks for this reminder to look for the good in the wait, to lean on God and be intentional with our thoughts.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
I’ve been seeing Collene’s writing everywhere lately and loving every single moment of it! Waiting on God’s timing has pretty much been my theme of this year (like a lot of people’s, LOL) and it is HARD. Saving this <3
Amen! Waiting is so hard. Thank you for your sweet words and for sharing your thoughts!
This is an excellent post and a great reminder to wait with patience and thanksgiving, even in hard times! I love the example of a biblical figure in David who waited for the Lord’s timing. I’ve also always thought that Sarah sending Hagar to Abraham was an example of NOT waiting on God’s timing and all the fallout from that :/ Thank you for sharing this!
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