4 Tips for Waiting on Our God Who Moves Like a Steady, Slow Glacier

“We serve a God whose calendar moves by millennia, not minutes, and who thinks in terms of generations, not seasons. Unless we understand this about God-that He moves by millennia, not minutes-we will never understand His ways with us.”

“Abraham’s excruciating exercise of waiting marks the essence of the Christian life. The psalmist, though full of hope, recognizes that God’s blessings do not always come with the speed of a bullet, but rather with the slow, steady approach of a glacier.”

“I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His Word I put my hope. My soul waits for the LORD more than watchmen wait for the morning” (Psalm 130:5-6).

“One thing is clear: God won’t be rushed. Without a willingness to wait, we will be regularly frustrated with God and may become disillusioned with our faith. God never promises us that our present circumstances will always make sense. Sometimes, we’ll have to wait until the present becomes the past before what we are going through becomes even remotely understandable.”

Waiting has always been hard for me. My kiddos can attest to that. Of course God knows this. So, I appreciate words that help me put into perspective God’s perspective on waiting. The above comes from a chapter titled “That Excruciating Exercise: The Discipline of Waiting” in Gary Thomas’ book Authentic Faith.

I know God’s perspective in my head but not in impatient bones and fretful heart!  I gleaned the following from this chapter on how to wait well.

1. Pursue and do, on a regular basis, thoughts and activities that inspire you.
2. Pitch those activities and thoughts which numb you, zap your strength, foster a sense of rebellion or entitlement, or dulls your spiritual sensitivity.
3. Do what it takes to put your hope in God’s Word.
4. Remind yourself that God moves by millenia, not minutes.

“Waiting, for the believer, is not the futile and desperate act of those who have no other options, but rather a confident trust that eventually God will set things right” (Thomas, 40).

I’m listening to some music this morning to ready my soul as I get ready for my day.

• Praise You in the Storm by Casting Crowns.  (Lyrics here.) Lord, help me to prasie You when You give and when You take away.
• I Will Lift My Eyes by Bebo Norman. (Lyrics here.) I will life my eyes to the Maker of the mountains I can’t climb.
• Beauty for Ashes by Crystal Lewis. (Lyrics here.) I especially need to hear He gives peace for despair.
• There is a Reason by Caedmon’s Call (Lyrics here.) I’m holding onto that promise that there is a reason and that God is good.
• Miracle of the Moment by Steven Curtis Chapman. (Lyrics here.)  Breathe it in & breathe it out. Stay in the miracle of this moment.
• Stay Strong by The Newsboys. (Words on this vid.) Satan is calling my bluff: am I content with God ‘s hand in my life? I need to remember whose trip I ‘m on.
• In Christ Alone by Stuart Townend. (Lyrics here.) This whole hymn is quotable and inspiring. Definitely my hope can only be found in Christ.

Do you have other ideas about how to help me become a better wait-er?