Have you ever been in God’s waiting room? Do you find yourself asking, “When, Lord, when?” Maybe you’re hoping for those two little lines on a pregnancy test. Or, perhaps you’re anticipating a job promotion that’s been lingering for a while now. Or, it could be you’re eager to see resolution in a strained relationship.
We’re so used to drive-throughs, instant messaging, and on-demand media, aren’t we? The reality is that “with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” (2 Peter 3:8) He doesn’t follow our agenda or our timetable. (But doesn’t He know what I had written down in my planner? 😉 )
If God is making you wait, you’re in good company. So many Bible characters endured years of trials, heartache, and disappointment before seeing God’s plan come to fruition. Here are some examples:
- Joseph waited 13 years from being sold into slavery to entering Pharaoh’s service. He then waited another nine years to be reconciled to his family.
- Sarah waited 25 years to bear her promised son Isaac. During that time she was mistreated by Hagar and aged to 90 years old.
- Moses wandered in the desert for decades with the grumbling Israelites on the way to the Promised Land. And—spoiler alert—he got to see Canaan, but never entered on foot.
- Noah took up to about 70-80 years to build the ark. Once in the boat, he and his family sloshed around for a little over a year.
- Jacob worked seven years to marry Laban’s daughter Rachel, only to be tricked into marrying Leah instead. He then consented to working another seven years to marry Rachel.
Now, let me be clear that we are not promised wealth, power, a spouse, children, etc. Jesus didn’t come to make sure we had worldly happiness. We are told in Colossians 3:2: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
What comfort and encouragement, then, can we glean from these biblical figures and their stories? To answer that question, let’s explore their dos and don’ts when it comes to waiting well.
1. Joseph – He was one upstanding dude. When Potiphar’s wife threw herself at him, he fled (Genesis 39:8-10). Joseph used his God-given gift of interpreting dreams to help others (Genesis 40; 41). He showed mercy to his brothers (who sold him into slavery!) by supplying them with food during a famine (Genesis 42). In spite of everything his family put him through, he trusted God’s plan: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20).
2. Sarah – Though listed in the “Faith Hall of Fame” in Hebrews 11, Sarah had some infamous moments. She became impatient to have children, and thus ran ahead of God and proposed Abram sleep with Hagar (Genesis 16:2). When God promised that she would bear a son in her old age, she laughed and then lied about it (Genesis 18:12, 15). Finally, Sarah went along with Abraham’s deceptive plan, claiming to be his sister—twice (Genesis 12; 20).
3. Moses – He’s a bit of a mixed bag. Moses made excuses why he couldn’t follow God’s plan of freeing the Israelites from oppression in Egypt (Exodus 3; 4). He questioned God/complained to him while wandering on the journey to the Promised Land (Exodus 5:23; Numbers 11:10-15). Yet, he was faithful to gather the Israelites for the giving of the Ten Commandments—likely unpopular, as humans hate rules (Exodus 19; 20). He later prayed for the Israelites in their sin of creating the golden calf, and deterred God’s anger (Exodus 32:11-14).
4. Noah – This guy had some serious patience and trust in God. First off, it had never rained up until this point, as streams came up from the ground to water the earth pre-flood (Genesis 2:5-6). Can you imagine how much he was made fun of by people when he told them why he was building the ark? No doubt, this was arduous work, too. We don’t know if he built it all himself, but we do know there were at least tools available in his day (Genesis 4:22). Once the skies broke loose (decades later!) and he and his family made it into the wooden boat, they were in there for a good year among animals that prooooobably didn’t smell the greatest. And yet we don’t see Noah complaining about any of this in Scripture.
5. Jacob – He had a legit work ethic! Laban asked him what he wanted his wages to be for his work, and Jacob offered seven years of service to have his daughter, Rachel, as his wife (Genesis 29:15-18). I don’t know about you, but I think I would have chosen about a year rather than seven! Scripture tells us that those seven years seemed but days to Jacob because of his love for Rachel (Genesis 29:20). After those seven years, Laban deceived Jacob by giving him his first-born daughter, Leah, instead (Genesis 29:23). Laban then offered up Rachel, but Jacob had to work another seven years after their wedding. He consented and labored for 14 years total to have the hand of his beloved (Genesis 29:27-28).
So, as you wait, here are some questions to ponder:
- Are you fleeing temptation?
- Are you running ahead of God?
- Are you praying about it?
- Are you complaining to God and questioning His goodness?
- Are you focused on others or yourself?
- Are you working hard and using your God-given gifts?
Allow me to leave you with two truths: God delights in giving His children good gifts (Matthew 7:11), and He works all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). But, let’s define “good” with a more long-term perspective. What does trusting God’s plan for this life and the next look like to you? In what ways is God making you more like your Savior during trying times?
P.S. I know the story of Noah seems fantastical and can be difficult to explain. Believe me, it was hard to write about! If you’re interested in learning more about the ark and flood, I suggest checking out answersingenesis.org and arkencounter.com.
