The recorded voice on the line said that I was the 7th caller in the queue. I was seeking some information that the website did not have. After trying to reach a human voice several times, my call had been put on hold again. I have discovered that waiting is no fun at all. It is frustrating and seems like a big waste of time.
Many of God’s dear people had to wait before God answered them or delivered them. Joseph had to wait for two more years in prison before the cupbearer brought his case to Pharaoh. Abraham had to wait until he was 100 years old before God fulfilled his promise of a son. Moses was not allowed to lead the exodus until he was 80. Noah waited 120 years for the rain to come. Elijah waited beside a brook and Job waited on an ash heap. We may feel that our waiting time is wasted time. However, God knows what He is doing when in His sovereign plan He puts us on hold again. Job acknowledged God’s plans: “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).
God’s Word challenges us to exhibit the grace of waiting on the Lord. Psalm 27:14 calls us to: “Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD! Isaiah 40:31 informs us: “But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint”. I have learned that God is never late but seldom in a hurry. He doesn’t always explain why He puts us on hold. However, we can be assured that He is behind the scenes working out all things on our behalf.
Our prayers and God’s plans for our lives may not come to fruition on our timetable. We need to calm down and trust our Heavenly Father. He knows what He is doing. May we all acquire the grace of waiting on the Lord even when He puts us on hold again.