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And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good. -2 Thessalonians 3:13

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. -Psalm 27:14

We do a lot of waiting, don’t we? We wait through each moment, we wait in expectation of looming good or bad outcomes, and we wait expectantly on our Savior.

I like to think we’re on field assignments, with a new assignment given us once we complete our current assignment. Some assignments fly by, while others move like molasses.

Is waiting agonizing to you? It definitely can be if it’s a tough season with no apparent end in sight. It’s even worse if we’re passively living through it.

The first verse at the top of this post is from Paul’s letter to the Christians in Thessalonica, following the warning against those who are idle. When we tirelessly do good instead of being idle, God is glorified, and we have spent our time actively and wisely. Additional glory and credit go to the Lord when you do this, because you have taken the focus off yourself and your flesh’s urge to feel self-pity, and instead rightly diverted your energies in a positive manner to accomplish things in His name.

How to make time fly

Do you know what helps pass the time as you wait? Doing all you can for the Lord where you’re at. When you have a busy day at work, it’s time to pack up before you know it. But if you’re twiddling your thumbs and idle, the day will creep glacially and excruciatingly by.

Let’s wait by actively serving God in our current stations, and before we know it, our next assignment will be upon us…which God specifically ordered to occur after your previous assignments, so you’d be properly equipped to handle the next.

The In Touch Ministries devotional “Requirements of Waiting” discusses four basic requirements for successful waiting:

  1. Faith in His ways and timing
  2. Humility to submit completely to His will
  3. Patience to remain in your current position
  4. Courage to wait in the face of pressure to act

Read the whole devotional, which expands on these points »

Keep climbing up to Him…His next assignment is waiting for you to reach it.

Today’s soundtrack

“While I’m Waiting” by John Waller praises God by proclaiming our trust in Him and His plans, and that we will serve in faith and obedience while we wait.