I Don't Mind Waiting
Many people like word puzzles and riddles. So, here’s a question. What’s a four-letter word that isn’t a curse word, but can sometimes feel like a curse? The answer: The word is “Wait”.
The answer: The word is "Wait."
Have you seen a child when they want something from their parents? They can get really impatient. Mommy. Mommy, Mommy. Daddy, Daddy, Daddy. Grandma, Grandpa. There are times when we say to them, “Wait. Just Wait.”
I have found that whether Children, Teens, or Adults, no one really likes to hear, “Wait.” Yet, there are times when we have to wait on some things.
Habakkuk 2:3 says, “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end, it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”
We receive prophetic words about things that God will do or manifest in our lives. God may even personally show you something wonderful and great that He’s going to do for you, to you or through you. It’s so exciting when you receive a word about your future, potential, purpose, destiny and blessings. But then the excitement can start fading away over time if it takes a long time to happen. Sometimes when we face a long or prolonged delay, there is a potential to give up on the dream altogether. If you are at that place today, I want to encourage you, “Don’t Give Up. Keep waiting on the Lord.” Things will happen sooner or later. How can I be sure? I’ve seen it happen many times.
In over 30 plus years of being born again, there have been many prophetic words given about things that God was going to do in my life that took some time to come to pass. There have been many things that I have desired and prayed for that eventually happened, but they didn’t happen quickly. The majority of the time, it required a period of waiting. The longer something takes to happen, we as humans have the tendency to get discouraged. Sometimes, the question of whether or not it was really of God may cross our minds. And that is a valid question to ask to make sure that it is something that is in line with the will of God. But, there are other things that we can learn to do.
We see several examples in the bible of those who received Prophetic Words, Promises and Dreams about things that God was going to do in their lives, but they went through a time of waiting before the things manifested. Joseph dreamed a dream about becoming a great and powerful man, but for 13 years his reality looked the opposite of what he dreamed. But, eventually, things turned around and the dream the Lord had shown him did come to pass. (See the story in the bible in Genesis chapters 37-50).
Abraham and Sarah wanted a child, but it looked like it would never happen. At 75 years of age, Abram (his name at that time) received a word from the Lord that he and his wife Sarai were going to have a son and they were to name him Isaac. This was something they wanted desperately but didn’t believe it would actually happen. They were in amazement that God was going to cause it to happen. They started believing it. You know they had to be excited. The thing that they wanted the most was going to finally happen. But, then time started ticking along and there was no child. It went from days to weeks, weeks to months, and months to years. No child. How would you feel if that were you?
Abraham and Sarah were getting older and older. Sarah got impatient and must have thought to herself, “maybe God didn’t mean that I was personally going to give birth to a child. Maybe He meant that I would have a child by using one of my servant girls as a surrogate.” (My words).
Sarah tried helping God out. She gave Abraham permission to have a baby with a young lady named Hagar. We know that was the action of a desperate person taking matters into her own hands. But, it was not a wise move. Abraham did have a baby boy by Hagar, but instead of it being a happy situation, it caused all kinds of additional issues and troubles.
Then God let Abraham know that He indeed meant what He said. Sarah was going to be the one to conceive and give birth to a baby boy. Still, it was 13 more years before Sarah actually gave birth to that promised child.
Abraham was 75 years old when God first promised him a child would be born to him by Sarah. He was 100 years old when Sarah gave birth to Isaac. So, it was actually a 25-year wait from the time the prophetic promise was given to the time the promise was fulfilled.
There are many other stories of prophetic words, dreams, and promises given by God that took many years before the manifestation. We talked about Joseph who was given a dream of becoming a great man of power. He experienced delays, setbacks, and adversity and it took 13 or so years from the time he had the dream to the manifestation of the dream.
David was another one. He was anointed to be king over Israel, but he experienced obstacles, opposition (even from his own family and friends) and setbacks. It took David about 15 or more years before he sat on the throne as King over the entire Kingdom as it had been prophesied.
Many people would have questioned, lost hope, and given up on the promise. Some people get discouraged to the point of becoming bitter and many times becoming doubtful and cynical. Some people want it to happen so badly that they come up with their own plan (like Sarah) to make it happen themselves.
There may even be a tendency to give up on the dream, goal, vision, and prayer. But, when it finally happens, you may feel ashamed or foolish for doubting. Therefore there are some things that I’ve learned along the way, from these and other examples in the scriptures and from my own experiences that I hope will be able to help and encourage you so that you will not give up during the wait, but you will know how to wait in a better way. (see “Waiting on the Lord” part 2 next time and the full story in my book, “Presence Dweller, Glory Carrier”).
Kingdom Blessings,
Dr. Altheresa Goode Howard
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