Jul. 13, 2025

Background:

• Sometimes we can wait patiently and still not get what we want
• God is trying to teach us something even in everything that we encounter
• In all of us, what we go through there is a lesson...we just need to look for it
• We see God at work in people's life
• Sometimes God acts in a mysterious way
• Sometimes God will do things instantly (e.g. parting the Red Sea) and other times where it seems like He won't show up (e.g. showing up for Lazarus, Martha, and Mary)

Key Sermon Points:

1. Waiting creates time during which we can trust God

• David knew what it meant to wait on God - he was anointed at 16, but didn't become king until he was 30 (1 Samuel 16:11)
• David was on the run from his rebellious son
• Waiting for God is not easy
• Joseph was Jacob's son and was sold into slavery...and his brothers hated him
• But God has a purpose for everything...even if we don't understand it
• The spirit of waiting allows for spiritual growth as we must wait on his timing...not our own timeline
• Sometimes waiting for God patiently means we have to cry because we don't always understand what we are going through

2. Waiting on God prepares us to have our real needs met

• Sometimes we go ahead of God and end up with plan C when we could have waited on God to get plan A to meet our real need
• Benefits from waiting:
  • He was lifted up out of his despair
  • He set his foot on a firm path
  • He stabilized his walk & gave him a stable place to stand
  • He gave David a new song of praise
• Sometimes benefits can't be received until we go through trials (1 Samuel 1:8-20)
• We can't blame our environment on how we will turn out (e.g. Samuel)

3. Waiting gives us opportunity to work on our own faith

• Waiting on God helps our readiness on God's timing...instead of trying to control the narrative
• Waiting on God acknowledges his sovereignty
• Waiting on God can draw us closer to God as we learn to lean on Him
• When we wait on God, we will experience His faithfulness and love in a different way
• As we seek God patiently, he will show us things we haven't seen before (Genesis 15:4-5)
• We may have affected others in the short-term and long-term by not waiting on God (e.g. Abraham and Sarah)
• How to develop patience:
  • Ask God for the grace and strength to wait patiently for his timing (Psalm 27:13-14)
  • Study God's Word and reflect on his Word as we wait (Psalm 1:2-3)
  • Trust God's timing and recognize that His plans are perfect and He will work everything out for the good (Romans 8:28)
  • Seek God's presence in activities that draw us closer to God
  • Serve others