The Beautiful Benefits of Waiting Upon the Lord
What’s Inside: Discover the spiritual benefits of waiting upon the Lord and how it can deepen your faith. Get insight on how to wait patiently on the Lord.
Sarah was a spoiled child who always got what she wanted, whenever she wanted it. Her parents would never say no to her demands, and they would immediately fulfill her wishes. As a result, Sarah never learned to wait for anything and expected everything to be given to her on a silver platter.
As Sarah matured, she encountered difficulties in life because of her impatience and discontent that spilled over into every aspect of her life. All because she could not wait.
Sweet Sister, Sarah’s isn’t a real person… but Sarah “could” be you or me. I say “could” because that story above is quite extreme… but you get the gyst.
We are women who are impatient and don’t want to wait. In this article, I want to share with you how waiting can be a very good thing. There are benefits of waiting on the Lord.
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What Does it Mean to Wait on the Lord?
What does it mean to wait on the Lord? Waiting upon God is an important part of our Christian faith, because- frankly speaking- we don’t want to be like Sarah.☺ When we wait on God we are allowing Him to take charge and believe that whatever He has in store for us is better than anything that we could ever ask for or imagine.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Ephesians 3;20
That might not look like anything you could imagine, but rest assured, God has benefits in store for those who wait upon Him.
Waiting upon the Lord means that you are trusting in God’s perfect timing for your life. We can trust that God is in control of His perfect will for us.
Waiting upon the Lord means that you are trusting in God’s perfect timing.
What Can we Learn from Waiting on the Lord?
When I find myself in the midst of a serious trial, I remind myself that God has brought me to this exact place and that there is something that I can learn from it. I might not find out the answers immediately, (or sometimes even in this life) but there is a purpose in learning to wait on god. Trusting god while you wait is part of the maturity process of our growth in the Lord Jesus.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
1 Timothy 1
Have you been plunged into the darkness of trials and temptation? Take heart and do not fear.
Fear will weaken your conviction to wait on God and it has no place in our hearts or minds. Remember that God has not given us the spirit of fear! As we embark upon our waiting journey, our faith identifies us as believers and trusters in Jesus Christ
We can eagerly wait, knowing His answer is far beyond our limited expectation. Keeping the faith during the hard times requires divine patience and trust knowing that good will come out of the waiting. He cares about us deeply and His timing works perfectly!
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31
What Does God Say About Waiting?
When we read the Bible, it looks like there are happenings and miracles back to back like an exciting roller coaster ride. If we look closely at the Bible timeline, there were years between many of the high points and miracles of the Bible. If we look closely, we can see there were beautiful seasons of waiting between those impactful miracles.
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Psalm 27:14
Waiting on the Lord requires faith, patience and practice. . Psalm 27:14 tells us to “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” We don’t know the background of Psalm 27 but we can see it talks about It speaks of trouble from David’s enemies, his adversaries, false witnesses, and violent men. Wow! Even in this, David wrote about how God’s children should take good courage and wait on God!
Biblical Examples of Waiting in the Bible
There are some beautiful biblical examples of waiting in the Bible by faithful men and women in the old and new testament. Here are a few that have experienced the benefit of waiting on God’s timing.
- Abraham – In the book of Genesis, God promised Abraham that he would have a son and become the father of many nations. Abraham had to wait many years before this promise was fulfilled, but remained faithful and trusted in God’s timing. Abraham had to wait many years before this promise was fulfilled, but he remained faithful and trusted in God’s timing.
- Joseph – Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and spent years in prison before being elevated to the second most powerful position of power in Egypt. Throughout his trials, he remained faithful to God and trusted in His plan.
- Moses – After fleeing from Egypt, Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness before God called him to lead the Israelites out of slavery. Moses had to wait on God’s timing and direction before he could fulfill his calling.
- David – David was anointed as king of Israel at a young age, but he had to wait many years before he became king. During that time, he faced many challenges and trials, but he remained faithful to God and trusted in His plan. David was anointed by Samuel and proclaimed King, yet did not actually become king until many years later. (1 Samuel 16-17)
- Mary – Mary, the mother of Jesus, had to wait for nine months before giving birth to Jesus, who was the Son of God. Imagine knowing you were going to give birth to the Messiah and would have to rely on God to bring His plan to fruition.
- Jacob – Imagine waiting 7 years for your beautiful bride, only to have your Father in law switch brides on you (with her sister!) and you had to serve another 7 years for your original bride. That was the case of Jacob in Genesis 29-30. Crazy, right?
- Ruth and Boaz- Ruth is another example of waiting on God. After her husband died, she chose to stay with her mother-in-law, Naomi, and follow God. Ruth was faithful and worked hard, and God blessed her by bringing her to Boaz, who became her husband. Ruth’s story shows us that when we wait on God, He can bring unexpected blessings into our lives.
- Job- Job is an example of waiting on God in the midst of trials and suffering. Job lost everything, but he remained faithful to God and trusted in His mercy and strength. In the end, God restored Job’s blessings and gave him even more than he had before. Job’s story reminds us that even in the darkest times, we can trust in God’s promises and His goodness.
All of the above examples show us the importance of waiting on God and trusting in His plan. When we doubt, we can look to these stories and find strength and hope.
Examples of Not Waiting on God in the Bible
We’ve read of some biblical examples of waiting in the Bible, now let me share some examples of some impatient people who were examples of not waiting in the Bible.
The Bible is full of the examples of people who wholeheartedly trusted God in their time of need. On the flip side, one account of someone who took matters into their own hands , instead of waiting for God is Sarah and Abraham.
Abraham and Sarah were promised a son by God, but they were growing impatient as years went by without any sign of a child. So, they decided to take matters into their own hands and have a child through Sarah’s handmaiden, Hagar. This decision led to the birth of Ishmael, who caused trouble for generations to come. Eventually, Sarah did give birth to Isaac, the son God had promised, but the consequences of not waiting on god brought sorrow to their lives that reverberated over time even until this day. (the rising of Islam and the fighting between the Jews and Islam today)
The Importance of Waiting Upon the Lord
Waiting upon the Lord is a crucial aspect of our spiritual journey. It involves patiently seeking God’s will and guidance through prayer, worship, and meditation on His Word. waiting upon the Lord has brought me so many personal benefits to my life:
- Helps us to develop a deeper relationship with Him. When we take the time to seek God’s will and listen to His voice, we become more accustomed to His presence in our lives. This leads to a greater sense of intimacy with God and a stronger faith in His goodness and faithfulness.
- Waiting upon the Lord helps us to discern His will for our lives. In a world filled with distractions and competing priorities, it can be difficult to discern what God is calling us to do. However, when we take the time to wait upon the Lord, we are better able to discern His voice and understand His plans for us.
- Waiting upon the Lord helps us to develop patience and perseverance. In a culture that values instant gratification and quick results, waiting upon the Lord can be a challenging discipline. However, as we learn to trust in God’s timing and provision, we develop a deeper sense of patience and perseverance that can sustain us through life’s challenges.
Waiting upon the Lord is an essential discipline for every believer. It helps us to deepen our relationship with God, discern His will for our lives, and develop patience and perseverance. As we wait upon the Lord, we can trust in His goodness and faithfulness to guide us on our spiritual journey.
Personal Benefits of Waiting Upon the Lord
Waiting upon the Lord has brought many personal benefits to my life. Here are a few that have been particularly impactful for me:
- Increased Patience: Waiting upon the Lord has taught me to be patient and trust in His timing. Rather than rushing ahead and trying to make things happen on my own, I’ve learned to wait for God’s guidance and direction. This has helped me to avoid making hasty decisions that I might later regret.
- Greater Faith: As I’ve waited upon the Lord, I’ve seen His faithfulness time and time again. This has strengthened my faith and given me confidence to trust in Him even when things seem uncertain or difficult.
- Deeper Relationship with God: Waiting upon the Lord has allowed me to draw closer to Him and deepen my relationship with Him. As I’ve spent time in prayer and meditation, I’ve come to know Him more intimately and understand His character and ways.
- Reduced Anxiety: Waiting upon the Lord has also helped to reduce my anxiety and stress levels. When I’m feeling overwhelmed or uncertain, I turn to God and trust in His plan for my life. This has given me a sense of peace and calm, even in the midst of challenging circumstances.
What Are The Practical Benefits of Waiting Upon the Lord
Those who wait on the Lord can reap so many blessings! It can help us have more patience, have more faith in God, and learn to surrender to His will. It can also help us remain composed and at peace in trying situations, preventing us from acting in a way that is contrary to God’s will for our lives or making rash decisions. Waiting on the Lord can ultimately result in a closer connection with Him and a better comprehension of His love and grace.
Waiting On God Helps Us Experience His Love
Waiting upon the Lord has been a transformative experience for me. One of the most significant benefits of waiting upon the Lord is experiencing His love in a deeper way. When we are in a season of waiting, it can be easy to feel forgotten or unloved. However, I have found that it is in these times that God’s love shines through the most.
Through waiting upon the Lord, I have come to understand that His love is not based on my performance or what I can do for Him. Instead, His love is unconditional and never-ending. It is a love that surpasses all human understanding and is always available to me, no matter what.
During times of waiting, I have experienced God’s love in many ways. Sometimes it comes through the encouragement of a friend or a timely word from Scripture. Other times, it is through the peace that surpasses all understanding that fills my heart. No matter how it comes, I am always reminded that God loves me and is with me every step of the way.
One of the most powerful ways that I have experienced God’s love during times of waiting is through prayer. When I come to God with my worries and fears, I am reminded that He cares for me deeply and wants the best for me. Through prayer, I am able to lay my burdens at His feet and trust that He will take care of me.
Waiting on the Lord brings God’s Perfect Will
Waiting is hard… but when we yield ourselves to waiting even when it’s hard, we allow God to work His perfect will in our life. We can easily spring into action. That’s the easy way- and the way I generally like to do things- but waiting deepens our relationship with God and helps us experience God’s perfect will.
Waiting on the Lord Gives Us Increased Faith
Faith means believing and trusting in God’s promises even when we can see no evidence of it’s existence. Faith goes far beyond what our earthly eyes can see. Faith is like a muscle that is developed as we use it and put it into practice. When we wait on the Lord, we have no control of external circumstances and ur faith is
Faith is believing and trusting in God and our faith muscle is developed as we wait and trust in God.
Waiting on the Lord Gives Us Greater patience
I wouldn’t recommend anyone praying for patience- if you do, you will most likely have an onslaught of trials coming your way. But the act of waiting on God does give us greater patience as we overcome hardships. We have to be willing to wait even though God’s timing is not our own timing. Waiting helps bring us peace because we are not stressing or worrying about things that are out of our control.
Waiting on the Lord Helps Us Trust
When we wait on the Lord in full trust, we are putting our trust in Him. Gone is the childlike impatience of times gone by. As we believe God’s plan for our life, we should yield our everything to His will and know that He will guide us in the way we should go.
Waiting on the Lord Gives Us Greater Peace
Waiting on the Lord can bring us greater peace by helping us to trust in God’s plan for our lives, developing patience as we wait for His timing, gaining a new perspective on our situations, and fostering communication with God through prayer. By relying on God in this way, we can find peace in knowing that we are not alone and that God is with us every step of the way.
Waiting upon the Lord has allowed me to experience God’s peace in my life. When we wait upon the Lord, we are acknowledging that He is in control. This brings a sense of peace and calm to our hearts, knowing that we don’t have to carry the burden of our problems alone.
Through waiting upon the Lord, I have learned to trust in His timing and His plans for my life. This trust has brought me a sense of peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). I no longer worry about what the future holds because I know that God has it all under control.
Waiting upon the Lord has also allowed me to focus on Him and His goodness. When we wait upon the Lord, we are forced to slow down and be still. This stillness allows us to reflect on God’s character and His promises. This reflection brings a sense of peace and comfort to our hearts.
Waiting on the Lord Builds Trust in God
Waiting on God helps me to build trust in Him. When I wait on God, I am acknowledging that He is in control and that His timing is perfect. This helps me to trust Him more and to have faith that He will work things out for my good. Waiting on God also helps me to develop a deeper relationship with Him. As I spend time waiting on Him, I am able to hear His voice more clearly and to discern His will for my life.
Waiting on the Lord Helps Us Avoid Costly Mistakes
Another benefit of waiting on God is that it helps me to avoid costly mistakes. When I rush ahead of God, I am more likely to make decisions that are not in line with His will for my life. This can lead to consequences that could have been avoided if I had waited on Him. By waiting on God, I am able to make better decisions that are in line with His plan for my life.
Waiting on God Helps Us Develop Character
Waiting on the Lord has a way of developing our character. As I wait on God, I learn to trust Him more and more. This trust grows as I see Him come through for me time and time again. I learning day by day to depend on Him and not on my own strength.
Another way that waiting on the Lord develops my character is by teaching me humility. As I wait on God, I realize that I am not in control. I must submit to His will and trust that He knows what is best for me. This humility helps me to be a better servant of God and to serve others with a humble heart.
Waiting on the Lord Helps Us Receive God’s Promises
Waiting upon the Lord is not only about building endurance and character, but it is also about receiving God’s promises. When we wait upon the Lord, we position ourselves to receive what God has for us.
In my own life, I have experienced the fulfillment of God’s promises when I have waited upon Him.
Through my many experiences as a Christian first and also as a pastor’s wife, I learned that waiting upon the Lord is not passive. It requires active trust and obedience. When we wait upon the Lord, we must continue to seek Him and His will for our lives. We must also be willing to take action when He leads us.
Waiting Helps Us Develop Patience
Finally, waiting on God helps me to develop patience. In a world where everything is instant, waiting can be difficult. However, when I wait on God, I am able to develop patience and to learn to trust His timing. This helps me to grow as a person and to become more like Christ.
It might seem contrary that waiting brings God’s children peace. Waiting on the Lord helps us to:
- helps us trust God
- helps us wait for God’s timing
- helps us trust in God’s plan
How to Wait on the Lord Patiently
When we wait on the Lord, how can we do so patiently? Psalm 37:7 says,
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Let’s look to the Hebrew to dive a little deeper into how to wait on the Lord patiently.
In the Hebrew, the words for rest and be still are transliterated, or transcribed/translated as seen below.
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him; -Psalm 37:7a
Rest– דּ֤וֹם ׀ (dō·wm) Be still, to be dumb, to be astonished, to stop, to perish
wait patiently– וְהִתְח֪וֹלֵ֫ל (wə·hiṯ·ḥō·w·lêl) To twist, whirl, to dance, to writhe in pain, fear, to wait
Psalm 37:7a tells us to rest in the Lord. Rest is to be still, to be dumb, to be astonished, to stop and to perish. Our knowledge pales in comparison to God’s and we literally stand dumb before Him. Being astonished means to look upon God in amazement. Stopping before the Lord means to do nothing. In our age of 24/7 digital entertainment, God calls us to stop before Him. The last word, perish, is quite a mystery, but without God we would perish.
The second portion of Psalm 37:7a says to wait patiently before Him. To twist, whirl, to dance, to writhe in pain, fear and to wait. The Jews traditionally dance at festivals and feasts, so I think that can account for twisting, whirling and dancing before God,
The last three translations speak to how difficult waiting on God is. It can sometimes feel like writhing in pain.
Practical Steps to Waiting on the Lord
When it comes to waiting on God, it can be challenging to know what to do or how to do it. However, there are a few things that I have found helpful in my own experience.
Pray and Seek Him
One of the most important things to do when waiting on God is to pray and seek Him. Spend time in prayer, asking God for guidance and direction. Seek Him in His Word, seeking wisdom and understanding. As Lamentations 3:25 says, “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.”
Trust in Him
Another essential aspect of waiting on God is to trust in Him. Trust that He has a plan for your life and that He knows what is best for you. Rest in His providence, knowing that He is in control of all things. As Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Obey His Word
Lastly, when waiting on God, it is crucial to obey His Word. Follow His commands and live a life of virtue. Serve others in ministry, and use your gifts and talents to glorify Him. As Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Benefits of Waiting Upon the Lord PDF
I’ve created this beautiful benefits of waiting upon the Lord PDF for you to print for your personal use. All you need to do is right click on the image below and save the pdf to your desktop (or other folder) to print.
The Power of Waiting Upon the Lord
Many will talk about the power of prayer or that you can pray this powerful prayer to have a specific outcome. By the grace of God, I don’t want to have that type of content on my blog. The reason is because I would deem it unbiblical. The power of waiting upon the Lord does not come from your waiting. It comes from God working behind the scenes. The only power we can witness is in what HE does. The issue I have with these scenarios is that it makes the power about you and not about God.
The power isn’t about us. It’s about GOD!
We are Waiting for a Heavenly Citizenship
We must NEVER forget our heavenly goal of citizenship in the place that God is preparing for those that love Him! We are looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13)
Our conversation (literally citizenship) is in heaven and we are looking for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
May we never forget our heavenly home!
How to Know When God Ways No or Wait
Every Christian ponders the question of how to know when God says no or wait. What do you do when the heavens seem like a brass ceiling, that your prayers are bouncing back down to earth and you haven’t had an answer for a very long time
What do you DO?
So many times I have seen answers to prayers delayed for years, sometimes for decades, but the longer the delay, the more glorious and supernatural and wonderful the answer. The wait is well worth it! Plus, we grow and learn to trust in the process.
Michael L. Brown
The waiting comes hard Sis. I know. By the grace of God- the only encouragement I can offer you, is to not allow yourself to become bitter, to trust in God’s magnificent plan for your life and to wait for as long as God needs you to wait. You might have an answer on this side of earth or you might not have the answer for eternity, but God’s plan far outweighs any of our earthly knowledge.
He truly knows what is best for us and sometimes God wants us to wait to build our character and trust in Him.
When Waiting on God Becomes Difficult
Sometimes waiting on God becomes difficult and there is no answer. Sometimes the answer comes quickly and sometimes it never comes. It’s hard to have blind faith, but God has carried us through to this exact time and place- for the benefit and welfare of our soul, We must be Christians who rely on the importance of waiting on god’s timing no matter how hard it gets.
Sweet Sis, I am praying for you!
As I write this to you, I am also in a state of waiting. I have recently finished my first round of chemo and am currently on maintanance chemo. I am praying and waiting on my strength and health to get better and would appreciate your prayers!
Scriptures About Waiting on the Lord
How many times is the word wait in the bible? The word wait occurs 154 times in the KJV of the Bible! Hard to believe, right?
I can’t include all 154 times Scriptures about waiting on the Lord is used but here are 9 of my favorite wait on the lord scriptures that I have carefully curated for you.
Oh- and by the way- many ask if there is such a thing as a ‘good things come to those who wait’ bible verse. I hate to break it to you… but there isn’t one. And there isn’t a ‘god has perfect timing bible verse
Here are those waiting Bible verses for you-
I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD
Genesis 49:18
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Psalm 27:14
Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
Psalm 33:20
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Psalm 37:7
My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
Psalm 62:5
I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.
Psalm 130:5
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31
It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
Lamentations 3:26
Understanding the Meaning of “Those Who Wait Upon the Lord” Scripture
Isaiah 40:31 says:
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
God’s truth says that when you wait upon the Lord, your strength will be renewed, you will mount up like an eagle you will not be weary, will walk and not faint! That’s so many promises to those who wait on ur God!
Waiting on the Lord Songs
I’ve compiled a blog post with worship songs that would definitely be helpful in the season of waiting. Here, you can find my carefully curated of what I call “waiting on the Lord songs“.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the benefits of waiting patiently on the Lord are:
- God’s perfect will
- Increased faith
- Have greater patience
- Have more trust
- Have Greater Peace
Remember that fictional Sarah I wrote about at the beginning of the blog post? We can choose to be a Sarah who pouts and screams because she want to have everything immediately or choose to allow God to have His divine will in our lives as He lovingly guides and allows what He wills.
Which will you choose?
May God bless you as you reap the benefits of waiting Upon the Lord like only He can!
