The Waiting Game

For when you can’t understand God and impatience threatens to overwhelm you...

Trust God

Even if it takes a long time. Keep trusting God. 

(Genesis 16:1-2) Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant (Sarah saud to her husband, Abraham); perhaps I can build a family through her.” Abram agreed to what Sarai said.

“Don’t complicate God’s promise with your solution.”

Even if it seems ridiculous.  Don't interrupt God's process. Keep trusting God.

(Genesis 18:10-14) Then the Lord said, “I will surely return to you (Abraham) about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son (not through Hagar).” 

Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 

So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” 


Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.”

Even if those around you don’t. Keep trusting God. 

(Genesis 21:6-7) Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

Sarah’s Words of Encouragement

(Hebrews 11:11) And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.

1.“Don’t try to get ahead of God when He isn’t moving fast enough for you.”

(2 Peter 3:9) The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient...

Don't let the wrong voices feed your mind.

(Psalm 37:7 NLT) Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.

The secret to patience is doing something else of value in the mean time. 

2.“When you must wait, focus on what’s happening  in you, not what’s happening to you.”

(Romans 8:24-25 MSG) That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don't see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.

Patience isn't the ability to wait, but how you act while you're waiting. 

(James 1:2-4) Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

God has a much better plan for your life than you can have for yourself. 

3.“Even our very best cannot possibly compare to anything God has in mind.”

(Isaiah 64:4 MSG) Since before time began no one has ever imagined, No ear heard, no eye seen, a God like you who works for those who wait for him.

All scripture is from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.

Chris Hodges, Church of the Highlands

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/sarah