Three months, 15 days, and counting. My husband is about to retire. And he’s looking forward to the two of us spending more time at our hunting camp—his “happy place.” It is not, however, my happy place. So I began praying about this some time ago.
At first nothing seemed to change. Then, gradually, some extended overtime at Dave’s job provided funds for updates, among them fresh curtains (including cheerful buffalo checks in the kitchen) and a bedroom getaway corner for quiet time and reading. In time I found myself actually looking forward to returning to camp. In time.
Whether praying about hunting camps or prodigal sons or spiritual formation or national crises, I find that God is a God of process. Yes, God occasionally answers immediately. But more often He asks us to wait with confidence that He’s at work.
Abraham didn’t wait, but instead took Hagar as his wife (Gen. 16). The Israelites didn’t wait. In Moses’ absence, they fashioned a golden calf to worship (Ex. 32). Instead of waiting, King Saul offered unauthorized sacrifice (1 Sam. 13:8–14).
But Habakkuk prayed and waited! “I will stand at my watch . . . I will look to see what he will say to me. . .” (Hab. 2:1). God warned that His answer would take time: “Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay” (2:3).
Habakkuk’s response? “Yet I will wait patiently . . . Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines . . . yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (3:16-18).
That’s waiting well.
So how can we wait well? We can:
- Expect the answer to unfold over time, expressing to God, “Take as much time as You need.”
- Avoid telling Him what the answer should be or how it should come.
- Remember the Holy Spirit is helping you by lifting your desires to the Father in perfect accord with His will (Rom. 8:26–27).
- Take notes and praise God for every incremental answer.
- Keep affirming trust in Him throughout the waiting.
- Bring every impatience and discouragement quickly to the Lord and to His Word.
- Soak in verses that encourage waiting and trust:
• “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (Ps. 27:14).
• “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him” (Ps. 37:7).
• “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry” (Ps. 40:1).
• “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him” (Is. 64:4).
If I become impatient with God’s seeming slowness, the little camp with the checkered curtains is a visual reminder of what happens when I wait for His answer to unfold.
Sandy Mayle is a freelance writer from Erie, PA.
