Would You Wait?

As I meditate on resurrection this year, my mind goes to the disciples and all that went through their being during the Holy Week. What a sequence of highs and lows this period was for them. They followed Jesus because they believed he was the Messiah and were looking forward to an EARTHLY kingdom. (Luke 24:21) 

That was why Peter confidently rebuked Jesus when he spoke about his death and resurrection. (Matthew 16:21-23; Mark 8:31-33) That was why James and John wanted to secure their positions ahead of time. (Mark 10:35-40) The climax of their expectation was Jesus's triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. (Matthew 11:1-11) 

Just how much they thought this was it. He was going to take the kingdom now. He was going to sit on David’s throne. Their deliverance from their Roman oppressors has finally come. Just how wrong they were. They were far from the truth. They were far off from God’s plan.

In the midst of their euphoria, God burst their bubble. What a bad dream it must have been for them the night Jesus was arrested. “Can it be?” they must have asked. “Can this be happening? He had all the signs of the prophet (Luke 24:19-21; John 6:68-69),” they must have said. “How can this be happening to him?” 

Just how much they longed to wake from this bad dream. Just how much they wished it was only but a dream. Imagine what was going through Peter's mind as he followed at a distance to the High Priest’s courtyard (Matthew 26:58). “This cannot be happening,” he must have told himself. 

“The Lord must have a plan in all of these. He surely cannot be helpless. I had seen him walk right through the crowd when they wanted to push him down a cliff. (Luke 4:28-30) He sure can save himself from this. Well, I am not going to miss out on the action”, he told himself. “There must be a hidden agenda in all of these.”

So you can imagine the circumstance under which he was challenged on his relationship with Christ. He surely knew what he was saying when he told the Lord he would never deny him. However, the ground around him had changed. His basic belief was being challenged. His whole world has just been turned upside down. 

The thing he based his whole life on was being questioned. His faith was being shaken. He was not sure what to believe. He was looking for something to hold on to. He was waiting, howbeit with shaky feet and shaky hands. Even though Peter denied the Lord three times (Matthew 26:69-75; Luke 22:54-61), that singular occurrence of Christ's prophecy coming to pass brought him back to life. 

He could finally see God’s handwriting on the wall. Even though Christ looked helpless, he could see that he was still in control. Even though he could not understand what was going on at this point in time, he was ready to wait for him. He could finally see there was a plan in all the seeming madness and chaos.

Peter went ahead to preach this message to the rest of the disciples in obedience to the Lord’s mandate. (Luke 22:32) He that seemingly fell was the one to strengthen those that seemingly never fell. When life hits you like a bad dream, will you, like Peter, seek God’s light and wait on Him? Or, will you reach an immediate decision to desert Him? 

The way of victory, the way of life, is to always wait on God. He is never out of control. Even amidst chaos, He has everything under control. Let God be true, but every man (circumstance, challenge, thing – visible or invisible) a liar (Romans 3:4). Weeping may endure for the night, but joy surely comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5) There is a resurrection for us, only if we wait. There is a resurrection on the other side of death.

Prayer: "God teaches us what it means to have faith in silence. When we face trials that are beyond our understanding, help us to find peace. Help me be joyful in hope, patient, in affliction, and faithful in prayer. You set all things in accordance with your time. Remind us to wait patiently, and find peace in your plan." (Dick Woodward)

Scriptures for Further Study: Lamentation 3:25-27; Isaiah 20:18, 40:30-31; Psalm 27:13-14, 37:7, 62:5, 123:2; Micah 7:7; James 1:2-4, 12; Romans 8:25

More Thoughts on Waiting:

“Father, teach us all how to wait.” (Andrew Murray)

“The only thing harder than waiting on God is wishing that you had!” (Steven Furtick)

“I am sure that God keeps no one waiting unless He sees that it is good for him to wait.” (C.S. Lewis)

“Our willingness to wait reveals the value we place on the object we’re waiting for.” (Charles F. Stanley)

“Hope is waiting for something to change. Faith is waiting for God’s promise to manifest. Live in Faith!” (Ray Popham)

"We will not grow weary of waiting upon God if we remember how long and how graciously He once waited on us." (C.H. Spurgeon)

"God does some of His best work in caves. Caves remind us that what we are becoming is more important than what we are accomplishing." (Anonymous)

"Waiting on God requires the willingness to bear uncertainty, to carry within oneself the unanswered question, lifting the heart to God about it whenever it intrudes upon one’s thoughts." (Elizabeth Elliot)

“A soul cannot seek close fellowship with God or attain the abiding consciousness of waiting on Him all the day, without a very honest and entire surrender to all His will.” (Andrew Murray)

“Spiritual transformation doesn’t take place when we get what we want. It takes place while we’re waiting. It is forged in us while we’re waiting, hoping, and trusting, even though we have yet to receive what we long for. Spiritual transformation happens in the waiting room.” (FaithGateway)

Link to Related Topic:

Actively Waiting

First Devotional Thoughts Platform (Part Six)

Questions and Answers (Twenty Seven): Trusting God

Will You Wait? (Part One)

Books For Further Reading:

Waiting on God (Wayne Stiles)

Waiting on God (Andrew Murray)

Waiting on God (Charles F. Stanley)

When the Darkness will not Lift (John Piper)

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Will You Wait? (Part Eight)

When life hits you like a bad dream, what will you do? Will you, like Peter, seek for God’s light and wait on Him? Or, will you reach an immediate decision to desert? Will you let life define your God? Or, will you define life by the truth of His person and His word? [Numbers 13:33, 14:9] Life happens to us all. It is never to defeat us. It is always to make us stronger. It is always to make us more focused. It is always to drive us in the direction of our destiny. It is always for us, never against us, if only we use it.

The way of victory, the way of life, is to ALWAYS wait on God. [Isaiah 40:31; 30:15] He never loses control. He reigns. He reigns in the affairs of men. [Daniel 4:17] Even in the midst of chaos, He has everything under control. And, not only that, He has already made every provision for our breakthrough. For, He never starts a thing until He has first finished it. He is NEVER CAUGHT UNAWARES. [Isaiah 46:10; Romans 4:17, 8:28-30; Ephesians 1:4; Hebrews 10:7]

Let God be true, but every man (circumstance, challenge, thing – visible or invisible) a liar [Romans 3:4] He’s got you. He’s got everything that concerns you under control. And, He is bringing you to your large wealthy place. [2 Samuel 22:20; John 10:10] Weeping may endure for the night, but joy surely comes in the morning [Psalm 30:5]. There is resurrection for us, only if we wait. There is life; there is resurrection on the other side of death.

Here is wishing you a very Happy Resurrection Sunday. He is Risen. Yes, He is risen indeed.

Will you let Him rise also in you?

Will You Wait? (Part Seven)


Experiencing the Cross (Henry Blackaby)

Will You Wait? (Part Seven)

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” ― Charles Dickens

Even though Peter denied the Lord three times [Matthew 26:69-75; Luke 22:54-61], that singular occurrence of Christ prophecy coming to pass brought him back to life. (God never leaves us without a light, no matter how small it might be.) Peter caught a glimpse of that light. He could finally see God’s handwriting on the wall.

God did not come the way he thought, or expected, but He came nevertheless. And, Peter was wise enough to catch it. Have you, or are you missing God because He is not appearing the way you want, or expect? Are you missing Him because He is not in “the great and strong wind,” “the earthquake” and “the fire?” Are you missing Him because He is coming in “a STILL SMALL voice?” [1 Kings 19:11-13]

Are you TRULY submitted to God, or creating one out of your own desires? Even thought Christ looked helpless, Peter could now see, He was still very much in control. Even though he could not understand what was going on at this point in time, Peter was ready to wait. He could finally see there was a plan in all the seeming madness and chaos.

Peter went ahead to preach this same message to the rest of the disciples, in obedience to the Lord’s mandate. [Luke 22:32] He that seemingly fell was the one to strengthen those that seemingly never fell. Isn’t that rather strange? Isn't that so much like God? He chooses the things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chooses the things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. [1 Corinthians 1:27]

Are you going through any challenge today? Give thanks. [1 Thessalonians 5:18] God has entrusted you with it. He knows you can handle it. He knows you will overcome. He is making you. He is preparing you for your destiny. Live through it. Your resurrection is coming.

Wait! Wait on Him; wait for Him. You are an overcomer. That is the end of the matter.

Will You Wait? (Part Six)

Will You Wait? (Part Eight)


Experiencing the Cross Study Guide

Will You Wait? (Part Six)

Imagine what was going through the mind of Peter as he followed, at a distance, to the High Priest’s courtyard [Matthew 26:58]. “This cannot be happening”, he must have thought. “The Lord surely has a plan in all of these. He surely cannot be helpless. Or, can He be? I have seen him walk right through the crowd, when they thought they had him cornered. [Luke 4:28-30]”

“He sure can save himself from this. Can’t He? Well I am not going to miss out of the action,” he must have told himself. “There must be a hidden agenda in all of these.” So you can imagine the circumstances under which Peter was challenged on his relationship with Christ. [Luke 22:54-62; John 18:15-27] He surely knew what he was saying when he told the Lord, he would never deny him. [Matthew 26:31-35] However, the ground under him had changed.

The foundation of his belief was being challenged. His whole world was being turned upside down. The thing he based his faith and life on was being questioned. His faith was being shaken. He was not sure where he stood again. He was looking for something to hold on to. He was waiting, howbeit with shaky feet and shaky hands.

Have you ever been in such a place before, or could you possibly be there right now? Have you ever been where all your support systems and mechanisms were either gone, or questioned? Have you ever been brought to the end of yourself? Have you tried to rest on a “wall” that hitherto gave you support, but found it no more there? How did it make you feel? Have you been through those times of life when it seemed like God was not there? God was silent. How did you pull through? What did you learn from such?

In dying, He showed us the life-giving benefit of death. For to truly live, we must first die to self and all that limits us. In dying, He took our place, that in living we might live unto Him. [2 Corinthians 5:14; Galatians 2:20] Is that a reflection of your life? Did you die with Him? Or, are you still so much alive to yourself?

Here is wishing you a Sober Good Friday. Let us do this is remembrance of Christ. He is our victory.

Will You Wait? (Part Five)

Will You Wait? (Part Seven)

The Overcoming Life (D. L. Moody)

Will You Wait? (Part Five)

It was a Thursday – a Holy Thursday it was. The reality of the cross began to dawn on the disciples. Jesus had only recently ridden into Jerusalem; they were full of expectations, thinking the time of restoration of the kingdom was here. [Acts 1:6-7] Now he was talking about being betrayed and leaving. The disciples could not put it all together. [John 13 – 17]

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair. (Charles Dickens)

Jesus was arrested with phantom charges against him. [John 18] Just how much the disciples wished the arrest, crucifixion, dead and burial was only a dream, but it was not. “Can it be?” they must have asked. “Can this be happening? He had all the signs of the prophet” [Luke 24:19-21; John 6:68-69], they must have reasoned. “How can this be happening to Him? How can this be happening to us?”

Just how much they longed to wake from their seeming bad dream. Unknown to them, God had a much better plan. And, it was all for our greater good and benefit. They had to rein themselves in and trust God.

What about you? Can you trust Him when He is not making sense? Can you trust His heart, when you do not understand His hands, or His ways? That is the test of true faith. Do you believe?

Here is wishing you a Sober Holy Thursday. Let us reflect on Christ.

Can you see Him?

Will You Wait? (Part Four)

Will You Wait? (Part Six)

Holiness (Henry Blackaby)

Will You Wait? (Part Four)

Jesus did not promise He would come in our lifetime. Neither has He guaranteed He will not come in our lifetime. When exactly He comes is not the focus of the church. The focus of the church is being about the Father’s (Kingdom) business. It is occupying. [Luke 19:13] It is being a witness to His person and glory. [Acts 1:8; John 14:12-14] It is showing forth the manifold wisdom of God. [Ephesians 3:10]

When we lose sight of our calling that is when we begin to dabble into the non-essentials. That is when we begin to seek for entertainment rather than impartation. That is when we begin to seek for the approval of men, rather than that of God. That is when we begin to lose our saltiness. That is when our light and glory begin to fade away.

It’s time to get back to our calling. It is time to get back to the Father’s business. For when we are about the Father’s business we need no prophet telling us about that day. That day will not come to us unawares. [1 Thessalonians 5:4-6] For, we will be an essential and integral part of ushering it in.

It is time to break up our fallow grounds. It is time to seek the Lord. [Hosea 10:12]

Will you?

Will You Wait? (Part Three)

Will You Wait? (Part Five)

Created to be God's Friend (Henry Blackaby)

Will You Wait? (Part Three)

Today we have various people and sect making predictions and statements about the end of the world. Some say it is eminent. Others say several events still have to take place. Which do we believe? Which do you follow?

A certain sect predicted the world would end in 1975. Others, not learning from the error of their ways, and in their foolishness and pride, have since predicted other dates.

Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. (Matthew 24:4, 36, NLT)

Rather than live our lives to be ready for His coming, ANY TIME – both in the short and long term, we get ourselves busy chasing after shadows. We get ourselves busy trying to time God. Rather than seek to have extra oil, we, like sheep meant for the slaughter, follow after the examples of the foolish virgins. [Matthew 25:1-13] In our presumption, we think we can out smart God.

Our call is to rest, trust and wait on God. Will you?

Will You Wait? (Part Two)

Will You Wait? (Part Four)

Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross

Will You Wait? (Part Two)

Just how special the disciples must have felt associating with royalty. Yet, unknown to them, it was also going to be their seeming worst of times. A rude shock awaited them. In the midst of their euphoria, God burst their bubble. They had missed a vital part of the story. They had missed a vital part of the plan. A sacrificial lamb was needed.

The way to the throne is the way of the cross. No cross, no elevation and no coronation. [Luke 24:13-35]

“Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:25-27, NLT)

Has God ever had to burst your bubble? Have you been so confident you know how God will do a thing, yet you missed out on a vital part of the plan? How did it make you feel? Did you learn anything from such? Did it tell you He is God and you are not? Did it teach you to trust and rest in His hands, rather than be presumptuous? Did you learn to wait for Him?

Are you waiting for/on Him? He is God and we are not.

Will You Wait? (Part One)

Will You Wait? (Part Three)

Experiencing The Cross (Henry Blackaby)

Will You Wait? (Part One)

My mind reminiscences on the disciples and all they went through in the course of the Holy Week (Starting from today, straight on into Resurrection Weekend). What a sequence of highs and lows this period was. It reminds me of Charles Dickens classic, “The Tale of Two Cities.” My favorite quote, from the book, being,

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” (Charles Dickens)

How so apt this was in describing the Holy Week, all the disciples went through, and seasons in our own lives. They had followed Jesus, because they believed he was the Messiah. In their understanding, they were looking forward to an EARTHLY kingdom. (Luke 24:21) No wonder Peter could not understand Jesus going to the cross. (Matthew 16:21-23; Mark 8:31-33) No wonder James and John wanted to secure their positions ahead of time. (Mark 10:35-40)

The climax of their expectation was Jesus triumphant entrance into Jerusalem (which we celebrate today). (Matthew 21:1-11) Just how much they thought this was it. He was finally going to take the kingdom back. He was going to sit on David’s royal throne. Deliverance has finally come. How epic it was for them? It was their best of times. Just how proud they must have felt being associated with Jesus.

What about you? How proud are you associating with Jesus?

Here is wishing you a very Happy Palm Sunday.

Will You Wait? (Part Two)


Called and Accountable 52-Week Devotional