Impatiently Waiting

Posted on by Chris G Thelen

#10 2024 Top Ten Editors Note: Now through January 5 I am posting the Top Ten posts of 2024.

Sometimes the pressure of life is too much to bear. There may be people attacking you with criticism and false accusations, or someone pursuing you with hatred for no good reason. You pray to God for relief, but none comes. You become impatient, angry, and desire revenge. Yet David in the Old Testament demonstrates the need to patiently wait for God to work.

Under King Saul, David prospered. “So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and prospered; and Saul set him over the men of war (1 Samuel 18:5, NASB).” This prompted the woman to sing: “Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands (18:7).” Because of this saying, Saul became “very angry,” and “Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on (8-9).” Saul was so jealous of David, that he sought to kill him.

Saul’s seemingly endless pursuit of David greatly distressed him. We can hear his agony in Psalm 54:1-3: “Save me, O God, by Your name, And vindicate me by Your power. Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen against me And violent men have sought my life; They have not set God before them. Selah.”

Who could blame David if he wanted to stop Saul’s relentless desire to kill him. Yet David chooses to wait on God.

On two separate occasions, David had the opportunity to kill Saul and put an end to his manhunt (1 Samuel 24:1-7 & 26:1-12). His men encourage him to do it, yet David chooses to wait on God: “But David said to Abishai, ‘Do not destroy him, for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD’S anointed and be without guilt’” David also said, “As the LORD lives, surely the LORD will strike him, or his day will come that he dies, or he will go down into battle and perish (26:9-10).”

David was willing to wait on God. He knew there would be unintended consequences if he acted on his own, and he would be burdened with guilt for ignoring God. Even though he suffered during the period of waiting, he trusted God.

© 2024, Chris G. Thelen

I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear And will trust in the LORD. – Psalm 40:1-3, NASB

18 thoughts on “Impatiently Waiting”

  1. Chris, I appreciate your sharing of this testament again. I was putting the finishing touches on a recent poem with a theme of waiting and watching. As David discovered and we witness from our own journeys with Jesus, we will reach blessed peace when we are no longer waiting.

  2. If we are true followers of Jesus, we can expect to be hated by the world because the world hated Him. We have to learn to endure to the end and that means learn to suffer pain. It is part of our lot, and we are in good company. We can be thankful that we have been deemed worthy to suffer for His sake! Good Post that many need to hear!

    1. Good points. Thanks for sharing. Your comment makes me think of Revelation 21:7: “Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.” Blessings.

      1. That is an important one. I think of Rev. 12:14 that tells us we have also been given 2 wings of a giant eagle that we “might” fly away from the serpent. We need the wings of the Holy Spirit more and more as time goes by. I love talking about the book of Revelation. Blessings to you!

  3. This post hits the nail on the head for me. It feels like my life has been under attack since I was a child. The constant stress, pain, and anxieties wear a person thin. The past few years have not been as terrible as in the past but the waiting and the fears, while waiting for my disability case to be approved while going without income and the help that is needed has worn me thin. The only thing and the most important thing is that God is with me through it all. Thanks for this post.

    1. Thanks for sharing. Praise God for His steadfast love and caring. I pray that you will feel the peace of the Lord envelope you. May you be strengthened as you wait on God. Blessings to you.

    2. I came across this verse in my reading this morning and thought of you: “We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.” – James 5:11. You are in my prayers. Blessings.

  4. Pingback: Impatiently Waiting – QuietMomentsWithGod

  6. I think this is why God teaches us obedience starting very early. If we pay attention to the lessons, and learn obedience, then we learn that the wait is worth it. If we ignore His lessons and go our way, then we don’t learn the value of obedience and patience. I’m reminded of Luke 12.48 about being entrusted with God’s gifts. He starts with little lessons, and then teaches us more as we obediently learn.

    1. Good point. Thanks for sharing. God matures us in our faith, teaching us trust him in little things, as we learn to let God guide more and more of our life. I am reminded of the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30. Blessings.

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