Waiting On God: How Long, O’ Lord?

Here is the devotional:

No one likes delays. And nothing diminishes the pain we feel as the days pass and we continue to struggle with our hopes and fears. Whether it’s the hours that throw off our plans, the days and weeks that cause uncertainty, or the years we spend wondering if God will ever fulfill His promises to us, it’s human to feel frustrated, anxious, and as if our hopes are dying within us.

Why? Because we lack control over our circumstances. Someone else seems to be impeding our progress—deciding how the scant moments we’ve been given in this life will be spent and preventing us from enjoying the one thing we think will truly make us happy.

Like David, we cry out, “How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?” (Ps.13:1).

I don’t know what it is you’re hoping for, but I do know that you’ve subscribed to this reading plan for a reason. I also know firsthand that waiting on God is one of the most difficult lessons to learn. I imagine that, like David, there’s a lot of pain in your heart as you wait. Perhaps you fear the Lord’s forgotten you. Maybe you can’t help but wonder, Why not me? What makes me so unworthy? Friend, though I know it hurts more deeply than words can express, please be assured that there’s always hope with our heavenly Father. As you go through your season of waiting, you must always remember that …

The Lord isn’t neglecting you and hasn’t forgotten you. He’s working in the unseen on your behalf (Isa. 64:4)—every single moment. Your responsibility is to set your heart on Him and trust that your life is safe in His all-powerful and loving hands.
You aren’t just waiting around, doing nothing. As you anticipate the Father’s instruction and intervention, continue serving Him as you carry out your daily business. Keep seeking, obeying, and having intimate fellowship with Him—even when circumstances don’t seem to be going your way.

You’re not missing worthwhile opportunities. It may seem as if you are. But if God says “No” or “Wait” about some possibility before you, trust Him. Don’t try to make it happen. Rather, count on His faultless wisdom to protect you from choices that would ultimately harm you.
You’re not alone. Everyone you know is facing a delay in some area or another. Yes, you may look around and see people enjoying the blessings you desire. You may think you’re the only one struggling with your particular issue—the only one the Father hasn’t provided for. But realize those thoughts of humiliation and defeat come from your enemy, who’s always trying to isolate and destroy you (1 Pet. 5:8-9).
In every nation, there are people just like you, waiting for similar blessings and experiencing the same feelings. In fact, throughout Scripture, there’s not a man or woman whom God used in a powerful way who didn’t first face a long and difficult time of waiting. So don’t despair … take it as the Father’s special favor and guidance in your life.

Here are the scriptures referenced:

How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
Psalm 13:1 KJV

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For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
Isaiah 64:4 KJV

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Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
1 Peter 5:8‭-‬9 KJV

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Here are Stu’s thoughts:

This reminds me of the post I wrote a few years back entitled How Long Lord?.

We all hate delays. I don’t know about you but being behind someone at a red light that turns green and they do not move irks the mess out of me. That is a small delay but an annoying one to say the least.

Some of the seasons/trials we run into can truly make us feel as if our lives are on hold. I know about this one all too well. But as I said yesterday I will wait for the Lord to move me in the direction of a car.

I will admit that there have been times in the last five years where I did feel that the Lord had sort of left me to wayside. Especially during my unemployment times. Get a job lose a job. Get a job lose a job. But you know what. God was moving me the whole time to be ready for the lumberyard. I was only seeing current events but God knew I would be where I am today.

God knew D, Drake, Teddy and I needed to be in each others lives and he made it happen. I see that NOW but the time between jobs was scary.

It is a little scary now but thank the Lord I am somehow managing to have all the bills paid barely.

I know the feeling of feeling lost and abandoned by the one who says he will never leave us nor forsake us. BUT….

He never left me. It was more of me leaving him because things were not happening on Stu’s time table. I wouldn’t pray as often as I felt he was not answering anyway. Yeah…the devil got me in the negative zone there for a bit.

I loved what Charles said above…

Your responsibility is to set your heart on Him and trust that your life is safe in His all-powerful and loving hands.
You aren’t just waiting around, doing nothing. As you anticipate the Father’s instruction and intervention, continue serving Him as you carry out your daily business. Keep seeking, obeying, and having intimate fellowship with Him—even when circumstances don’t seem to be going your way.

Let’s be honest…sometimes that is hard to do.

Some folks have been asking for a Godly partners for years and the Lord has not brought that person to them yet.

Some are trying and trying and trying and praying and praying and praying to get pregnant to no avail.

Some have been trying to get a car for a while and everything seems to come at them at once.

It’s hard to continue praying, asking, seeking him when things just do not seem to be moving in the right direction. But our direction is not God’s direction. We see things in the now. God sees past, present and future.

He may be withholding the desires we have because our heart is really in the wrong place.

Maybe instead of asking for a Godly partner we should be asking God to make us into a Godly partner. One can never be close enough to God!!

Maybe instead of trying and trying to get pregnant we should quit trying to get pregnant and just enjoy the act of making love with our partner. Stress can keep you from getting pregnant by the way. Just saying.

Those are just two examples I pulled out of thin air. But the point is maybe our prayers are not being answered in “our” timing because we are to concerned with the desire to have said thing instead of drawing closer to the one who will give said thing.

Let us consider these two verses in Pslams…

Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Psalm 37:4‭-‬5 KJV

And instead of doubting God and his timing we should have faith in things not seen yet and believe it will come to pass!