The Waiting is the Hardest Part

The last time we saw Rich and Patti Vreeland, we thought it would be months, or even a year, until we saw them again… God knew that wasn’t the case. God has/had bigger and better plans - which we are profiting from because it means we get to see Rich and Patty today (and again next week)! With that being said - in this waiting, God revealed this great message to Rich.

Rich started with words from the most encouraging book of the Bible (note sarcasm) - Lamentations. This book was written by Jeremiah, who is also known as the Weeping Prophet.

The Lord is good to those who wait [confidently] for Him, to those who seek Him. ~ Lamentations 3:25

Patiently wait for God. He will stop us for various reasons. He stops us to make us wait for His will to be done.

Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.” But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth. You have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir.” Then the Lord said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.” ~ Genesis 15:1-4

Abraham was 75 when God made this promise.

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal. So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as a wife. (This happened ten years after Abram had settled in the land of Canaan.) ~ Genesis 16:1-3

A decade had passed since God made His promise to Abram. Him and his wife, Sarai, became impatient… They took matters into their own hands and brought Hagar into the mix... Hagar then gave birth to Ishmael.

Ishmael was the birth of Islam... Mecca (where Muslims face to pray five times a day) was built by Ishmael...

When we get ahead of God, it's not good. 

Then God said to Abraham, “Regarding Sarai, your wife—her name will no longer be Sarai. From now on her name will be Sarah. And I will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will be among her descendants.”

Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. “How could I become a father at the age of 100?” he thought. “And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?” So Abraham said to God, “May Ishmael live under your special blessing!”

But God replied, “No—Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac, and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant. ~ Genesis 17:15-19

25 years after the promise... the wait is over.

Isaac was the birth of the Hebrew/Jewish people. He had the blessing of God.

God is ready to bless us if we wait on Him. Patience is important.

“This is what the dream means,” Joseph said. “The three branches represent three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift you up and restore you to your position as his chief cup-bearer. And please remember me and do me a favor when things go well for you. Mention me to Pharaoh, so he might let me out of this place. For I was kidnapped from my homeland, the land of the Hebrews, and now I’m here in prison, but I did nothing to deserve it.” ~ Genesis 40:12-15

Another great example of someone who patiently waited for God was Joseph… Time and time again, Joseph waited for his blessings and promises from God.

Joseph asked the cup-bearer to remember him when his position was restored, but it was two years later until the cup-bearer actually remembered Joseph (who was still in jail) and told Pharaoh about him...

Let’s not also forget that Joseph’s dream about his brothers bowing to him happened before they sold him into slavery. This didn’t come to fruition until the seven year famine was underway (which was 22 years after the time God gave Joseph the dream) and after Joseph earned his place as second in command under Pharaoh. In all of his waiting, God gave Joseph favor and provision.

Joseph was patient and waited on the Lord. 

And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. ~ Luke 2:6-7

Even Jesus had to wait. He was here when the world was created, He knew who He was and why He was here (as evident in His words to Mary at the wedding feast). Yet, had to wait.

The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.”

“Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” ~ John 2:1-4

He was the King of the world, and He still submitted to His earthly mother (setting an example for us). However, He said the time hadn't come... because He knew. 

He had to wait, and He knew the whole time...

When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left.

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” ~ Luke 23:33-34

For 33 years, Jesus knew what was coming. He waited. He knew it would be worth the wait.... not for Him, but for us. 

God's timing is perfect for us. 

Wait patiently for the Lord.

Be brave and courageous.

Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

~ Psalm 27:14

When David ran out ahead, he got in trouble... We need to be patient and wait for God’s appointed timings. He knows what is best. He sees the whole picture.

When we get saved, we become heirs of the most high King. We become His sons and daughters. We are family. 

We get to operate in God's will. Not our way, but Yahweh.

Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off. ~ Psalm 37:34

God always has our best interests at heart. We just need to wait and trust. Nothing good ever happened when we didn't trust Him. Don't get ahead of God; trust Him; even when the waiting is the hardest part.