Waiting for Promises: Navigating the Wilderness of Faith

Waiting for Promises: The Wilderness of Faith

Waiting is hard. Waiting for something we long for can be excruciating, especially when it seems like the promise will never come. Waiting for God’s promises can feel like wandering in a desert of uncertainty and doubt. But the Bible is full of stories of people who waited for God’s promises to be fulfilled, and their faith can inspire us in our own waiting.

The Wilderness of Waiting

Abraham is one of the great examples of waiting for God’s promises. God promised him that he would have a son and that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky (Genesis 15:5). But Abraham and his wife Sarah were old and had no children. They had to wait for years before God fulfilled his promise. Abraham’s faith was tested in the wilderness of waiting.

The wilderness of waiting is a place of uncertainty and doubt. It’s a place where we can’t see the end of the tunnel, and we wonder if God has forgotten us. It’s a place where our faith is tested, and we have to trust that God is faithful even when we can’t see it. But it’s also a place of growth and transformation. In the wilderness of waiting, we learn to rely on God and to surrender our plans to his will.

Waiting for God’s Timing

Abraham and Sarah had to wait for years for God’s promise to be fulfilled. They tried to take matters into their own hands and had a son through Hagar, Sarah’s maidservant (Genesis 16). But this was not the son God had promised, and it only caused more problems. Finally, when Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90, God fulfilled his promise and gave them a son, Isaac (Genesis 21:1-7).

God’s timing is not always our timing. We may want God to fulfill his promises right away, but he often asks us to wait. Waiting can be frustrating, but it’s also an opportunity to trust God’s timing and to grow in faith. We may not understand why we have to wait, but we can trust that God has a plan and that his timing is perfect.

The Faith of Waiting

Abraham’s faith was tested in the wilderness of waiting. He had to trust that God would fulfill his promise even when it seemed impossible. He had to believe that God was faithful even when he couldn’t see it. His faith was not based on his circumstances but on his trust in God’s character.

Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Faith is not blind belief; it’s a deep conviction that God is who he says he is and that he will do what he has promised. Faith is the anchor that holds us steady in the storm of waiting.

The Promises of God

God’s promises are a source of hope and encouragement in the wilderness of waiting. The Bible is full of promises that we can cling to in our times of waiting. Here are just a few:

God is with us

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

God is faithful

“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.” (Deuteronomy 7:9)

God works for our good

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

God’s plans are for our welfare

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

God gives us strength

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

The Fruit of Waiting

Waiting is not easy, but it can bear fruit in our lives. When we wait for God’s promises, we learn to rely on him and to trust his timing. We grow in faith and character. We learn to surrender our plans to his will and to seek his kingdom first (Matthew 6:33). We become more like Christ.

James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Waiting is a trial, but it produces perseverance and maturity. It’s a refining fire that burns away our impurities and makes us more like Christ. When we wait for God’s promises, we are not wasting our time. We are investing in our eternal future.

Conclusion

Waiting is hard, but it can be a time of growth and transformation. When we wait for God’s promises, we learn to rely on him and to trust his timing. We grow in faith and character. We become more like Christ.

The wilderness of waiting is a place of uncertainty and doubt, but it’s also a place of hope and faith. We can cling to God’s promises and trust that he is faithful. We can wait with confidence, knowing that God is with us and that his plans are for our good.

May we be like Abraham, who waited for years for God’s promise to be fulfilled but never lost faith. May we trust in God’s character and cling to his promises as we wait for him to fulfill his plans for our lives.