WAITING TIME IS NEVER WASTED TIME

WAITING TIME IS NEVER WASTED TIME

By Doug Pierce

And, being assembled together  with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the  promise of the Father, which,  saith he, ye have heard of me. Acts 1:4

WAITING TIME IS NEVER WASTED TIME 

Without a doubt, one of the hardest things to do in the Christian life is to wait on the Lord. Yet we are commanded to do just that. David said in Psalm 27:14, Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the LORD.

We all tend to want God to be like a microwave oven. We want Him to provide His miracles or His answers to our prayers right away. The reality is this: God isn’t like a microwave oven. He is much more like a crock pot. If it feels like God is slow to answer your prayer and meet your needs, remember that God is at work when you and I are in the waiting room of our lives. He always uses those waiting times to help us grow. 

WHAT AM I TO DO WHILE I WAIT?  

After Jesus’ resurrection and just prior to His ascension (Acts 1), the disciples were told to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came upon them. They waited ten days until the timing was right on God’s calendar. But their waiting time was not wasted time. They did some important things that we need to hear, heed, and put into practice in our own lives. Let’s do what they did: 

• 1. BE ACTIVE: Waiting is active, not sitting and doing nothing. The disciples were asked by the angels, “…Why stand ye gazing up into heaven?” Acts 1:11 (they were staring into the sky as Jesus ascended from their sight on the Mount of Olives). Are you waiting for God to provide a job for you? As you wait, look for a job. Be proactive, energetic, and start beating the bushes. The Lord made it clear in Matthew 6 that He feeds the birds … but the birds don’t lay around in the nest all day either. As they look and scratch for food, God feeds them. Waiting time is not the same as wasting time. Be active.

• 2. BE OBEDIENT: The disciples were told to wait in Jerusalem. So when Jesus ascended, they went back to Jerusalem, just like He commanded them. As you wait on God, do the things He has commanded you to do. Recently, while out by the cross in front of our church, a young mom told me she was praying for her relationship with her live-in baby daddy to be able to get along better. I told her they first needed to get right with God and stop living together. Having sex with a man to whom you are not married is blatant disobedience and definitely not the formula to see God work miracles in your life. The Bible says clearly, “ “If I regard sin in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Ps. 66:18). I went on to tell her that if they would honor the Lord and His Word…and then if they felt they were meant for one another, they should marry and stop living together.  

• 3. BE UNIFIED: The disciples along with the other believers (about 120 persons) were in one accord, having the same passion and focus – to make the resurrected Christ known to the lost world around them. There is great power in unity. Couples, families, and churches that need a miracle need to come together unified in the Lord.  

• 4. BE PRAYING AND PRAISING: What did the disciples do during the 10 days before the coming of the Holy Spirit? They were continually devoting themselves to prayer (Acts 1:14) and praising God in the temple (Luke 23:53). There is tremendous power in unified prayer and praise. Are you praying and praising as you wait on God?  5. BE PREPARING. In Acts 1, the group prayed and selected a replacement apostle for Judas, the disciple who betrayed Jesus. Peter knew the Lord wanted twelve apostles to witness to the twelve tribes of Israel. Preparation needed to be made as they waited for the Holy Spirit. In your waiting, prepare yourself for what lies ahead. “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness” (1 Tim. 4:7). If you are single and waiting on God for the right person, then prepare by being the right person yourself. If you are waiting for doors to open in ministry, prepare yourself now by being faithful to do what the Lord has put right in front of you in your home church. Look over the opportunities to serve in your church and get involved. When young David killed Goliath in that famous battle, he was faithful to shepherd his dad’s sheep. He had been practicing with his slingshot, and he had already killed a lion and a bear. Preparation and participation is critical as we wait on God.

What is that issue in your life that you are waiting on God for? 

Will you wait His way? 

Waiting is never wasting time if it’s done the right way , , , the Lord’s way!

Think it over . . . 

Doug Pierce is a Church planter and a pastor. In 2003 he started, and continues to pastor First Independent Methodist Church in Madison, Mississippi. His #1 priority is to glorify God in all aspects of ministry. He does this through teaching his congregation to Love God, Love One Another, and Love Others to God. Prayer, outreach, and church growth through evangelism are vital parts of his ministry. He and his wife Suzanne live in Madison, Mississippi where they also enjoy their children and grandchildren. To find out more about Doug‘s ministry visit the FIMC Website

CGM wishes to thank Gerd Altmann  for granting permission for the use of our feature photo.