There have been a lot of waiting. We are waiting now for the return of Jesus for an unknown amount of time. God’s people waited for hundreds of years for Jesus to first come. Israel waited generations to enter into the promised land. But there is so much blessing in waiting. Isaiah tells us that they who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary and not faint (Isaiah 40:31). Often, we need to wait on the Lord for our blessings, for that answer from Him, for healing or for our hearts’ desire.

But when we wait, it’s so easy to slip into discouragement and distraction. This impatience and frustration can become that weak link that the enemy is looking for to undermine us. To tell us that we should make things happened for ourselves, that we should take things into our own hands or that God will not bless us. But we need to stop listening to the lies and believe God.

There are so many examples of waiting and blessing in the Bible.

Abraham

Abraham waited for many years for his son.

Genesis 15:1-6

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.”And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

And the Lord counted it towards Abram as righteousness because He believed Him. God wants to believe in Him, to believe His promises, to believe in who He is and to believe that He wants good for us.

Abraham was 86 years when Ismael was born, which was some years after God’s promise that he would be blessed with a child (Genesis 16:16). He was 100 years when his promised son Isaac came (Genesis 21:5). So, Abraham waited more than 14 years, maybe even closer to 25 years for God’s promise (Genesis 16:3).

Jacob

Jacob waited and worked for 14 years for his wife, Rachel.

Genesis 29:18-20, 30

 Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.” So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.

 So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years.

So, Jacob was promised that Rachel would be his wife if he gave seven years of service to her father, but he deceived Jacob and gave him her older sister instead. But Jacob did not give up and he pledged another seven years for Rachel, the one he truly loved. So he waited for seven years and worked fourteen years for Rachel.

Joseph

Joseph waited on the Lord when he was unjustly imprisoned. He waited in prison for freedom for two years.

Genesis 39:11-20

But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house,she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, she called to the men of her household and said to them, “See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice.And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house.”  Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home,and she told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me. But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house.”

 As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. 

2 years later …they brought Joseph from the prison to interpret the Pharaoh’s dream and God gave him the interpretation and so he gained favor and was freed from prison and elevated again.

Genesis 41:37-41

This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants.  And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?”Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are.  You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” 

David

David waited many years after he was anointed King before he was placed on the throne.

1 Samuel 16:1-13

Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest,^[a] but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.”  And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

David was a boy when he was anointed by Samuel and the evidence of this lies in the account of Him and Goliath. When he fought Goliath, the Bible tells us he was yet a youth which means he less than 20 years old.

I Samuel 17:3

And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” 

2 Samuel 2:4

And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.

2 Samuel 5:1-5

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.'” So, all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

Therefore, David waited more than 13 years before he was actually on the throne.

These are just a few examples that remind us that God’s people sometimes had to wait on Him. We do not always have to wait, but it is sometimes required. But these examples show us that sometimes waiting can mean many years. Can you imagine waiting for a blessing for ten years? In these accounts, the realization that they waited this long can be easily overlooked, but this is such a significant truth. But the Bible tells us that waiting on the Lord is a blessing.

Lamentations says that the Lord is good to those who wait for him (Lamentation 3:25). James tells us to wait on the Lord patiently, and he compares it to how the farmer waits on the precious fruits of the earth in patience (James 5:7-8). He also says that those who remain steadfast are blessed and reminds us of Job’s steadfastness (James 5:11). They who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength (Isaiah 40:31), and they shall inherit the land (Psalms 37:7-9).

So why should we wait on Him? The Bible says we are blessed when we wait, but we should also wait because we know who our God is. We should wait because we know He loves us, He wants good for us, and He is faithful. So, we should wait on Him because we know that if we are good children to Him, He will bless us in the perfect timing. I would even challenge myself to think that I should be glad to have the opportunity to wait on the Lord, to show Him how much I trust Him and have faith in Him whenever that blessing comes.

Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to trust you!

We are waiting for the LORD, be strong and let our hearts take courage (Psalm 27:13-14)

All photos were taken by Kyle or Vani. These photos are from the many adventures we have been blessed to experience together. We are so grateful for every blessing from God. No filters were used nor were the photos edited except for an occasional crop. We hope you enjoy.