Why do we hate waiting so much?

April 3 - April 7, 2023 | Always Peachy Devotionals | Waiting Well Week 1

When was the last time you had to wait for something you wanted?

Maybe it wasn’t something you merely wanted. Maybe it was something you needed. We’ve all experienced it, haven’t we? Waiting is a normal part of everyday life, and there’s nothing fun about it.

But have you ever taken the time to sort out what you don’t like about waiting?

Why do we hate waiting? What is it about waiting that drives us mad? Do we feel like we’re wasting our time or not making the most of our time?

Do we not trust God to act in time? Do we not believe that He can work out everything that happens to us? Do we fear that He will miss opportunities? What about waiting makes us so unhappy?

That’s the tricky part about waiting for me. I struggle to tell the difference between contentment and complacency. If I’m supposed to be doing more, I don’t know when I should do it and when I should be still. And it’s really hard to know the difference sometimes.

So that’s what we’re going to be focusing on for the month of April: How not to waste your wait. If waiting for God to move is something you struggle with or something that stretches the borders of your attitude, this study is for you.

I used to hate waiting, and I can’t tell you that it’s my favorite thing now. But I’ve learned to see waiting in a new light, and I’m excited to share what the Lord has taught me about it. Waiting should be a time of worship and rest. If God asks us to wait, that means we can trust Him to work when He’s ready.

One resource I love very much is a little book by a guy named Andrew Murray called Waiting on God. I think it was originally written in 1890-something, so the language is a bit old fashioned. But if you need something to chew on, this is one of my favorite books.

This week, we’re going to take a good, hard look at the reasons why we hate waiting. Because if waiting is supposed to be an opportunity to worship and rest, why do we hate it so much? It’s time we come face to face with the motivations and the attitudes that define our waiting periods. I don’t know about you guys, but these are the reasons why I used to hate waiting:

• April 3 - We feel powerless

• April 4 - We feel out of control

• April 5 - We feel weak

• April 6 - We feel foolish

• April 7- We feel irresponsible

Any of those resonate with you? We’re going to talk about them this week. And, of course, we have a memory verse this week too, Isaiah 26:4.

One of the greatest issues I had with waiting was having to rely so totally on God. It’s all about having to trust Him for His timing and His resources and His plan. And I had to get to the point where I was willing to trust Him before I could learn to wait well.

That’s one of the great things about God. He is eternal. He is a rock, solid enough for a foundation where we can stand and build and grow. He can outlast our stubbornness. And He’s good enough to not hold a grudge.

I’m excited for this week. Praying for each of you.

Amy

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