106, that is the number of times the word “wait” appears in the KJV Bible. This number represents the importance of why God makes His followers wait, and at the appointed time, He begins to move. When we wait upon the Lord, we are “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20). Yet, our first response as humans is not usually to wait. In a fast-paced world that changes daily and craves instant gratification, it is hard to have the willpower to sit, be still, and allow God to do the work while we wait.
All in God’s Timing
Whether it is a promise, a request for healing, direction, financial provision, salvation for a family member you have been praying for, or anything life throws at you, God is moving in the waiting. While you wait for Him, meditate on His truth and surrender your worries; He is making a way when it feels like there is no way. The fruits produced from the waiting are part of the inner work that God is doing in you and a part of the preparation needed for your specific calling. It is important to remember our timeline is not God’s, and every delay has a reason, even when we do not understand.
Biblical Examples
We can draw encouragement from faithful followers of God like Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Sarah, and many others in the Bible who had to learn to wait faithfully and expectantly. Throughout their unique lives, you can see the fruit of their waiting and what happened when they took matters into their own hands.
Joseph waited 13 years before he was set free and put on the throne. At age 17, he dreamed of being great one day and saw visions of others bowing down before him, including his family. Yet, because he did not wait to see God’s plans unravel and instead shared the dreams with his jealous brothers, the route to get to where he was promised took longer. Joseph was sold into slavery and ended up in the same environment that he would soon be exalted in, with his gifts of dream interpretations.
“Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, King of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went throughout all the land of Egypt. Now in the seven plentiful years the ground brought forth abundantly.” (Genesis 41: 46-47) Through his faithfulness and waiting on the right time to share his giftings, he became Egypt’s second most powerful man and saved Egypt during a famine.
Abraham became the father of many nations after his 25 years of waiting. At age 100, God’s promise came to fruition as his wife Sarah gave birth to Issac. “He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.” (Romans 4:20-21)
He Who Promises is Faithful
How long are we willing to wait on God? No matter what we are waiting on or how long we have been waiting, let us stand firmly and confidently that He who promised is faithful. Be encouraged and find renewed strength in this truth: that we serve a compassionate God wanting to give good gifts to His children, not withholding any good thing.
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