Are you praying for a situation and eagerly waiting for a breakthrough? Are you feeling like opportunities are slipping out of your grasp as time progresses? What do you do as you wait on the Lord?

Be it education matters, careers and job growth, business opportunities, relationships, personal health, or that of a loved one – we find ourselves facing different situations in the various areas of our lives, and present our petitions to God. When the answer takes a long time, we find ourselves wondering why.

Are You Waiting Passively Or Expectancy?

When waiting passively, you sit back, roll up your sleeves, and wait for it to happen. However, after a short time, you get up, tired of waiting since nothing has happened, thus giving up.

On the other hand, when waiting expectantly, you have a constant belief that God has your answer, and will give it to you at any time. You wake up each morning with a heart full of hope, anticipating that He will solve your issue at any moment. You may wait for a while, but suddenly, you get your answer.

Those Who Wait On The Lord Expectantly

Let’s look at pregnancy. A pregnant lady moves around with the child in her womb, with the promise of having a baby after the 9 months are over. While she doesn’t see the baby, she knows that she will deliver her bundle of joy and begins making arrangements for the baby’s arrival.

She goes out shopping, prepares the nursery, starts looking up names, and even finds a place where she will be able to raise the child comfortably. She knows that her promise of a baby will be fulfilled, it‘ll just take a while.

You should adopt a similar attitude in your Christian life. When waiting on the Lord to give you an answer, you should eagerly wait for it – but not just sit around passively.

In fact, in many cases, the waiting period is actually vital to prepare you for the answer. If many of us got the answers to our prayers immediately, we wouldn’t be well prepared to receive the solution.

A Case Of Paul And Silas

In Acts 16, we see how the crowds attacked Paul and Silas, they are beaten up and tossed into jail, imprisoned in the inner cell and their feet fastened with stocks, to ensure that they wouldn’t escape. At about midnight, God came through – and what were Paul and Silas doing through this time? Praying and singing hymns to God.

“About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once, all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.”

Acts 16:25-26

Ordinarily, one would have wanted God to show up earlier. However, with Paul and Silas, they didn’t mind the wait. They simply continued to worship the Lord in the midst of their predicament, showing us a good example of how to wait on the Lord and be of good courage.

Just as it is said in Psalm 27:13-14,

“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

And as it is put across in Isaiah 40:30-31,

“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Remember that God’s power is limitless. He understands our needs, and His timing will be perfect. So, keep believing, and don’t give up. Wait on the Lord with an expectant heart, and He will meet your needs.