A good spiritual waiter knows that God has the power to do anything. He can do “exceedingly, abundantly beyond all we can ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). Because we believe in His power, we know we are in capable hands as we wait on Him.

Most of us hate it. There are very few people who enjoy waiting. The closest I’ve found to good “waiters” are some farmers I’ve known who understand the laws of the harvest. They work incredibly hard but realize they can’t rush the ingathering. It will come in due time.

Our instant world doesn’t help. Everything has sped up. Instant news coverage, instant fast food, instant answers on the internet. We don’t even have to get dressed and go to the store. We can order immediately in our pajamas with the click of a button. We are in love with instant, and it makes waiting harder.
Maturity Breeds Patience
I waited patiently for the Lord and He inclined to me and heard my cry. (Psalm 40:1)
Over time, godly men and women have come to see that the Lord is never in a hurry but always on time. There are things that God accomplishes through time that cannot be done any faster. God molds us during seasons of waiting. He brings us to dependence. His promises become real and His presence precious. And God is preparing outcomes that are stunning … if we will wait.
Not Passive but Patient
Spiritual waiting is not a mindless, passive exercise. If you see it that way, you will become restless, worried, and bothered.

A seasoned believer knows that they are waiting not merely for something but for Someone. “I waited patiently for the Lord,” the Psalmist said. He had turned his trust heavenward and was content to leave the timing in God’s sovereign hands. Waiting in an exercise in dependency upon God Himself.

How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust. (Psalm 40:4)

An excellent spiritual waiter is like a veteran waiter in a fine restaurant. He stands at attention, actively looking toward those he serves. 

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God wants us to look to Him, hear from Him, and trust Him for all things, big things, continual things. In fact, every single moment and circumstance of our life is a call to faith. What you are facing right now—whatever it is—is about faith. God is trying to teach you to trust Him and use this moment to show you and those around you His reality. 

I recently saw a miracle. It came from God, of course, but it was activated by the faith of a godly leader. He felt led to believe God for something impossible and invited many of us to join Him in a massive faith step. Honestly, I thought there was no way. My faith was timid. The time came when the provision was needed, and it was not there in the time and way we anticipated.
But then, true to God’s ways, in perfect timing, God has provided and continues to provide far beyond what we could ever “ask or think.” There is absolutely no explanation for how and when this happened, but God. It’s a genuine, bonafide miracle.
The Reliability of Trusting God
A man had a son who was tortured by a demon who was hurting his son physically. “He often falls into the fire and often into the water. I brought him to your disciples, and they could not cure him,” the man said in desperation (Matthew 17:14).
Jesus called the boy to Himself, rebuked the demon and “he was cured at once.” And then, Jesus took the moment to give us all a lesson on the viability of faith.
Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not drive it out?” And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible to you.”(Matthew 17:19-20)
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He cried out to the Lord and then lay down and slept. “But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head. I was crying to the Lord with my voice, and He answered me from His holy mountain. (Selah … pause and think about that). I lay down and slept. I awoke, for the Lord sustains me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me round about.” (Psalm 3:3-6) If you’ve never been through a battle or been there and never trusted in God, this will seem foolish.

All of us face enemies in life. The immediate response if an enemy is strong enough and the siege long enough is to lose all hope. If we listen to the prognosticators, they all tell us it’s useless. And even if we are trusting in God, they will proclaim that trusting in Him is fine, but it will not deliver us.
The Veteran Warrior
David was an old man when his son, Absalom, came against him and drove him from his own home and city. While others were fearful and doubting, David was at peace. His prayer reflects what others thought about the situation.
O Lord, how my adversaries have increased! Many are rising up against me. Many are saying of my soul, “There is no deliverance for him in God.” (Psalm 3:1-2)
But they did not reckon with a wise warrior who’d been through many battles. He knew God was sufficient.
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He has come! Every moment of human history should overwhelm us with the love of Father, Son, and Spirit as He pursues us, desiring that we should know Him and be with Him. The greatest story in history is this pursuit, and the greatest tragedy is our rejection of His pursuing love.

And he was preaching and saying, “After me, One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. I baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1:7-8)
The great theme of the whole Bible is God’s relentless pursuit of us. Since our creation, God has made it clear that He desires to be with us and that we were made to be with Him. Each stroke of the God-inspired biblical writers’ pens reveals this amazing truth.
He came to our First Parents in the Garden, and they enjoyed His presence until God’s great enemy tempted them, and they succumbed.
He surrounded us with His presence in nature. Every bird, flower, and star is a manifestation of His presence. He spoke throughout the Old Testament days so we could hear Him. He came and dwelt in power with those who feared and loved Him.
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We are grateful for the men and women who serve in our government, but for every great leader, there are hundreds who are insufficient for the task and who cannot seem to find solutions to the problems within and the threats without. Many lead with devious agendas. Some are even diametrically opposed to Christ’s kingdom. But there is a King and a kingdom that has a Ruler sufficient for the task. And we are glad and grateful to let the government of this Kingdom “rest on His shoulders.”

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us and the government will rest on His shoulders. (Isaiah 9:6)
Have you ever seen a government with which you were completely pleased? We’re grateful for our government in America, as broken as it is, that was foundationally built on a Judeo-Christian base and has been led through the years by many noble, just, and, at times, even godly men and women. But any government of this world is most often the source of endless bickering and confusion: higher taxes, greater control and burdens, and increasing dissension.
 What if there was a government ruled by a perfect ruler, and it led to perfect peace?
A Perfect King
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
Isaiah prophesied of a coming King who would build a new Kingdom, and He came to build that new government 2,000 years ago. Those of us who know Christ and have, by God’s grace, chosen to place our lives under His ruling hand have found nothing but joy and satisfaction with His administration. He upholds His kingdom with “justice and righteousness.” He is a ruler who always makes the right choices at the right time in the right way for the right purpose. He is wonderful in His counsel, all-powerful in His leadership, fatherly in His rule, and a Prince whose ways always lead to peace.
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Jesus was often referred to as the Branch (Is 4:2; 11:1; Jer 23:5; 33:15; Zech 3:8). In this prophecy, we are reminded that He will build the temple of God. This reference is not to the physical temple but to the ultimate temple, which is His church. He will serve as our priest, “forever making intercession for us” before the Father (Hebrews 7:25). This priest understands us, was tempted in all points like us, is sympathetic to our needs, and performs the work necessary to make us right before God (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Does it feel like things are spinning out of control? That godless men are in charge of this earth, and there can be no good ending to this story? That there is no one in charge and we are in serious trouble?
 If you look merely from the manward side, this would be your constant evaluation. And not only yours but the observations of others throughout human history.
 The View from Above
… is far different. Seen from God’s perspective, things are in order. And this is one of the great purposes of the patriarchs and prophets and the biblical writings, which were inspired by God to help us see.
 Zechariah was a prophet from God who spoke 500 years before Christ. His prophecies gave the Israelites and all who would see great hope.
In Zechariah 6:1-8 he records the prophecy of four chariots with beautiful multi-colored horses. These are “the four spirits of heaven, going forth after standing before the Lord of all the earth” (Zech. 12:5). As such, they represent the mighty forces of God that come from heaven, constantly bringing both judgments and mercies to the people of the earth. The providence of God is seen in God’s work in this world—work done in perfect order and purpose.
 The Ruling Branch
But then we hear from heaven again through Zechariah. He is instructed (in his day) to go and place a crown upon the head of the High Priest. This priest was named “Joshua,” which in Greek is the name “Jesus.” Priests were not crowned in Zechariah’s day.
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God showed us His desire to be with us in the greatest possible way. He came to us in the person of His Son. He gave this promise of His coming decades before it happened so people would know He was coming—the Messiah, the Deliverer—and they would be assured that He intended to be with them. He gave a promise to King Ahaz through the prophet Isaiah when His enemies besieged him. “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)

The central theme of the Bible is the relational presence of God. God intends to be with us in real intimacy and vibrant, daily fellowship. This began in the Garden and will be consummated at the end of time with a “new heaven and new earth,” where the Garden will be restored, and those who know Him by faith will live with Him forever. “With you” is the consistent and glorious promise of God to man.

 
The Promise Until Then

All along the way in human history, God has made ways for us to be with Him, and He with us. He came to the Patriarchs and spoke through the Prophets, calling us back to Himself. The building of a tabernacle, a “tent of meeting,” was a sign that He was present, as was the temple in Jerusalem, filled with the Holy of Holies. Through a great sacrifice, He will be with us.

Immanuel

God showed us His desire to be with us in the greatest possible way. He came to us in the person of His Son. He gave this promise of His coming decades before it happened so people would know He was coming—the Messiah, the Deliverer—and they would be assured that He intended to be with them.

He gave a promise to King Ahaz through the prophet Isaiah when His enemies besieged him.

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To listen to the chaotic, nonsensical ramblings of many in our society (many of which reside in our “highest” institutions of learning and who are currently rioting in our streets) is a study in Isaiah 5 and Romans 1. Any man or woman, any family, any nation who, in their pride, reject God’s Word will fall into a dramatically deluded mind and depraved behavior.

Forgive me for some reminiscent rambling. I don’t do it often, but I digress to highlight a comparison and a tragedy. In my lifetime, I remember when…

Most churches were filled on Sunday morning and night.
All businesses were closed on Sunday.
Every day at public school began with a prayer over the intercom or in the classroom.
Children in almost any neighborhood could play or walk to school with no threat of harm.
Most children had zero thought or confusion about their gender identity and happily embraced who they were.
There was a general understanding of many undeniable, universally accepted moral values across the nation.
Certain sins and behaviors were generally condemned, not accepted and applauded.
And on and on…

What has happened? Don’t think I am naive enough to believe that our society was altogether righteous and I am not advocating a return to the 50s. We were rampant with our own brand of iniquity. But to compare our nation in the past to the current highlights a major moral declension.
It’s Beginnings
In Isaiah’s day, the prophet speaks for God to His people…people to whom He had shown great mercy, blessing, and favor. Somewhere they had made a turn, best described in a few verses. It didn’t take many words from God and His prophet to identify what had happened.
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.Isaiah 5:21
A fall away from God always begins with pride. We think we know better and are wiser than God, and this pride leads to a further disastrous decision.
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Hold nothing back from God. Hear His voice and follow His every instruction, surrender all to Him to the smallest details. The more you know God, the more you realize He sees what is ahead. He has every provision in place … more than you can think or dream. He may ask for increasingly challenging steps of obedience but see this for your good and His glory. 

Everything in the life that God has designed for man is about faith. We were made to live on God and no other. Drawn away from this dependency, we flounder in useless pursuits, our lives missing the whole point of our existence.
The Father of Our Faith
Abraham was a man uniquely chosen by God to teach us this. God took his beloved servant through various faith tests so that Abraham would grow in his belief in God—His nature, character, and goodness. God was developing a father for us, a model of unwavering faith, illustrating for all time how we must live.
Abraham was told to go into a land he did not know. In faith, He obeyed, and God prospered him beyond comprehension. To this day, thousands of years later, the land stands intact, filled with the descendants of Abraham, and the whole world has been blessed by his seed, just as God promised. David came from this line, and most beautifully, Jesus.
God told Abraham he would have a son in his old age. He “wavered not” in his faith, even though he and his wife were in their 90’s. And at the age of 100, his son, Isaac, was born.
The Greatest Test
The final exam came when God told His old warrior to take his son and sacrifice him on a hill called Moriah. (The same hill upon which the temple would one day stand and where, outside the gate, his descendant, Jesus, would be crucified.
Now it came about after these things that God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.” (Genesis 22:1-2)
Almost as if it were a familiar step on a normal day, without a word of objection or doubt, the Bible records that “Abraham rose early in the morning” and headed there.
The Question of the Unbelieving
On the way up Mt. Moriah—fire, wood, and knife in hand—Isaac asks his father the ultimate question of faith, to which Abraham gives the ultimate answer.
Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” And he said, “Behold, the fire, and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” (Verse 7)
Isaac wanted to see the lamb and then he would believe. Abraham already saw the provision by faith and answers without pausing a step.
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