The Waiting Period

Season 2 Episode 17 - Are there examples in the Bible of people who experienced waiting periods in their life?  Can we learn anything from them that helps us in the waiting periods of our life?  Listen and find out!

"Reflect on This" is a once-weekly, short devotional podcast. In these devotionals, I share the things I am learning about living life with God-given purpose and meaning, through applying the Scriptures to life in practical and fulfilling ways. 
 
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Resources that inspired some episodes:

"Boundaries" by Henry Cloud and John Townsend

"The Pleasure of His Company" by Dutch Sheets

"Fresh Air" by Chris Hodges

“Dream Small:  The Secret Power of the Ordinary Christian Life” by Seth Lewis
 
 Blog by Seth Lewis:  https://sethlewis.ie/

“The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts” by Gary Chapman

"The Lies We Believe: Renew Your Mind and Transform Your Life" by Dr. Chris Thurman

Featured ministries and resources:
 
“Agape Puppets” (ministry)
This is an amazing world-wide ministry that uses puppet shows to reach children (and their parents) for Christ, in cultures that are generally not very open to the Gospel.  To learn more, go to: https://theagapepuppets.org/ 

"Manufacture Good" (ministry)
 Manufacture Good is a Christian ministry that offers 3-month paid apprenticeships to unemployed young men.  These apprentices learn valuable woodworking and metalworking skills which lead to employment opportunities.  The sale of the high-quality furniture they produce supports the ministry.  You can shop their catalog of fine home and office products, order a standard or custom piece of furniture, and learn more about this amazing ministry, at: https://manufacturegood.org/.

"The World and Everything in It" (podcast)
This is a weekday 35-minute podcast that presents headline news, in-depth news articles, media reviews, and opinion pieces from a Christian world view.  Their stated mission is "biblically objective journalism that informs, educates, and inspires."
 
“Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage” (podcast) 
This is a once a week 30-minute podcast hosted by Greg and Erin Smalley, who head up the marriage team at Focus on the Family.  Each episode addresses a different aspect of marriage, using biblical principles, featured guests, practical advice, and a mixture of humor and candidness.  
 
"Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope" (podcast)
This is a 4-minute weekday podcast, where Joni shares stories of her life and biblical applications.  One of the world's longest living quadriplegics, God has used her courage, determination, faithfulness, and love to inspire and minister in amazing ways to people around the world.    
 
"e-Sword" (Bible study software)
This study tool includes many free public domain resources (and many other resources for purchase), including Bibles, dictionaries, commentaries, devotionals, and maps.  You can simultaneously view multiple Bible translations, a dictionary, and a commentary.  
On your computer, go to e-sword.net
On your mobile device, go to your app store and search for “e-sword.” 

Music credits:
Beauty by MaxKoMusic | https://maxkomusic.com/
Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all 

Transcript

Last year, my wife and I heard an excellent Easter message.  The speaker talked about the fear-filled Friday when Jesus was crucified, as well as the glorious Sunday when it became clear that Jesus had risen from the grave.  But he also focused on what he called the silent Saturday of that weekend.  He helped us to imagine how the disciples were feeling on that Saturday.  God was silent as to the events of the previous day.  The disciples must have been thinking, “Did we misunderstand?  Was He really not the Messiah, the Son of God?  What do we do now?  He is dead.  Are we next?”  I am sure that Saturday was a long day of waiting for answers.

As I reflected upon that Saturday as a waiting period for the disciples, I realized that the Bible is full of examples of waiting periods for God’s people:

• God spoke to Abraham and told him that through his descendants all the peoples of the earth would be blessed.  Then Abraham waited for decades before God spoke to him again and foretold his wife’s Sarah’s pregnancy and delivery of their long-awaited son Isaac.
• Later God spoke again to Abraham and told him to journey to a place and sacrifice this son of promise.  There were 3 long days of waiting (and intense emotion) for Abraham, as they traveled to the spot.  Then God, at the last minute, provided a substitute sacrifice.
• Noah spent about 100 years building the ark as God had commanded, before the flood came.  Only then did he fully understand the need for this massive project.
• Noah and his family waited a total of 11 months on the ark, before God told them to disembark.
• Moses sensed God’s call on his life to lead the children of Israel.  But when he was 40 years old, he impulsively killed an Egyptian who was mistreating an Israelite, and he had to flee for his life to the wilderness of Midian.  There, he spent another 40 years of waiting for God to renew His call on his life.
• The children of Israel spent 400 years in slavery in Egypt, before God finally raised up Moses to lead His people to the promised land.
• There were centuries of God’s silence between the last of the OT prophets and the birth of Jesus, as the children of Israel waited for the promised Messiah.

In all of these examples, God’s people were in a waiting period.  Some were very long chronologically.  All were extremely hard.  What did God do in each of these waiting periods?

·         He strengthened their faith.

·         He taught them patience and dependence upon Him.

·         He prepared them for what was ahead.

·         He accomplished significant things in their hearts.

And God will do the same things for us in our waiting periods.

David is another good example.  He was anointed king long before he ever sat on the throne. Between the promise and the fulfillment, there were years of waiting, trials, and refining. But in that waiting, God was shaping him into the leader he needed to be.

And today is no different.  

Here’s the big idea:  God still sometimes uses a waiting period in our lives for His purposes.   In these waiting periods, God accomplishes significant things in our hearts.  I am reminded of this description of the righteous person:

Psalms 1:1-3 NASB  How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!  (2)  But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.  (3)  He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.

Notice that the righteous person is compared in verse 3 to a tree that “yields its fruit in its season.”  We all experience the seasons of life:  fall, winter, spring, and summer.  When we are in a waiting period of life (i.e., a winter season of life), it is comforting to remember that God will bring spring in due time.  During the winter He will bring things for our ultimate good.  Winter may seem dark, lifeless, cold, with little growth.  But spring is a time of warmth, sunshine, awakening, and fresh growth.  The coming spring is our hope to help us endure the challenges of winter.

What is the prerequisite for experiencing spring?  Delighting ourselves in the presence of God, and reflecting and meditating upon the Scriptures throughout the day (Psalm 1:2).  

And the most important time to reflect and meditate upon the Scriptures, and to enjoy the presence of God?  During the winter seasons (the waiting periods) of our lives.

Today, I encourage you to “Reflect on This.”