At 14, I had been wandering from Jesus. But then I turned back to Him and went from a rebellious teenager to His passionately enthusiastic disciple. One night, I planned to stay up until God revealed Himself to me. This lasted about 3 hours before I succumbed to tired eyes and fell asleep. The next morning, I was deeply disappointed that a tangible experience with God didn’t take place. For I thought that He would surely respond to the eager expectations of a young girl. Over the years, however, God has revealed Himself to me in many unexpected ways as I’ve surrendered myself to Him.
The prophet Habakkuk also waited for God to reveal Himself (Habakkuk 2:1). Like us sometimes, he openly questioned the Lord’s timing as he became impatient with His seeming hesitation in dealing with injustice and evil (Habakkuk 1:2). Just as we might become frustrated at what we perceive as God’s slowness in dealing with all that’s wrong in our world, Habakkuk longed for God to reveal Himself and bring an end to the appalling injustices around him (Habakkuk 1:3-4).
But the Lord did answer Habakkuk and reminded him that the righteous live not by their circumstances but by their faithfulness to God (Habakkuk 2:4). He also reassured the prophet that even though it seemed to be slow in coming, justice would be realized at the right time (Habakkuk 2:6-19). And although nothing changed initially, Habakkuk’s faith was renewed by God’s Word and he waited patiently for Him to move (Habakkuk 2:3, Habakkuk 3:16).
At times we may feel that God is slow in His response to our prayers and meeting our needs. But as we wait patiently for Him to act, we can experience His presence and remember His faithfulness. We too can “rejoice in the LORD!” (Habakkuk 3:18).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: John 7:32-53
More:
Read Psalm 27:14 and Isaiah 40:31 to see more results of waiting on God.
Next:
Are you waiting for God to intervene in your life? What good things can take place as we wait for Him to move?
Gary Shultz on July 28, 2015 at 6:31 am
What a great passage. The question, are you waiting for God to intervene in your life, I suppose means in a marked large or different way? I must ask God to intervene in my life all the time because I often feel without His help and care I will be flushed away by my old human view point. I have found waiting to be a strategic time to build on the many things God has already given us to do. I find great use in the ordinary, in the waiting and the quite times. Thank you.
Ruth O'reilly-smith on July 28, 2015 at 1:45 pm
Hi Gary, it’s only when I quiet my racing thoughts and still my anxious and impatient heart, that I truly know God and His will for my life (Psalm 46:10). We live in a world with so many distractions though, it takes real discipline to draw myself away, to that quiet place with the Lord – it’s worth it though 🙂
Marlena Graves on July 28, 2015 at 9:45 pm
I too often get discouraged because of the problem of evil or because of what I perceive to be God’s slowness in answering prayers. Thank you for reminding us of God’s faithfulness. In the midst of doubt, or disappointment with God – I often ask myself, “Do I really believe that God will in the end right all wrongs and judge fairly?” I do, I really do. That helps me.
Winn Collier on August 1, 2015 at 6:51 pm
I once fasted for 3 days, in a desperate moment when I felt like I really needed to hear something explicit from God. At the end, I just really needed food. I think God gave me what I needed, though – a lot of stillness and silence.
neha_20 on August 19, 2015 at 5:02 am
As human beings, it inevitable for us to doubt God and His abilities. We begin to question God. Worse, we begin to doubt His will and wisdom. We end up disobeying and going to other places for supplies. The problem is these places are not God-ordained and you end up being in lack.
From; http://biblicalprophecies.net/waiting-on-god/