Waiting...

Waiting—staying in one place/condition for a period of time until something happens with the expectation that it will.

We find in the Bible many stories of people waiting. Joseph was one.

Joseph was imprisoned because some supposed he'd sinned. After helping the butler, he asked him in turn to remember him to Pharaoh when he was restored to his position. (Genesis 39-41)

But the butler forgot and Joseph had to wait two years for that to happen—for the perfectly orchestrated time to not only save Egypt but to save his own people through whom the Savior of all would come.

Another was the blind man who spent his days outside the Temple gates.

He was born blind, imprisoned in darkness and people supposed it was because of sin. He waited into adulthood for someone to help. (John 9)

But, at just the right time, the blind man was given sight to see the living Light of the world and to be a part on that day, and for centuries to come, of opening the eyes of others to see Him as well.

We don't know what may have happened if the butler had immediately kept his promise to Joseph. We don't know what would have happened if the blind man had been born with sight.

But we do know that our God, the sovereign Most High, who knows all things and to whom power belongs is not only righteous and holy but is also good and full of mercy and grace. His timing is perfect.

Reading these scriptures and others helps me to hope for what I don't see and wait for it. (Romans 8:25) In fact, it helps me rejoice in hope, be patient in trouble, and continue in prayer. (Romans 12:12)

Of Romans 12:12, the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary says:

Here it is more lively to retain the order and the verbs of the original: "In hope, rejoicing; in tribulation, enduring; in prayer, persevering." Each of these exercises helps the other. If our "hope" of glory is so assured that it is a rejoicing hope, we shall find the spirit of "endurance in tribulation" natural and easy; but since it is "prayer" which strengthens the faith that begets hope and lifts it up into an assured and joyful expectancy, and since our patience in tribulation is fed by this, it will be seen that all depends on our "perseverance in prayer."

Did you catch it?

Paul's encouragement in Romans 12:12 is like a spinning wheel that never stops—because it is energized by the Holy Spirit within us—hopeful rejoicing, patient waiting, persevering prayer, hopeful rejoicing, patient waiting, persevering prayer… One leads to the other and to the other and repeats itself. And, in the process, our faith is strengthened to wait for the Lord and His perfect timing.

Furthermore Isaiah reminds us of the result—

For from of old no one has heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen a God besides You, Who works and shows Himself active on behalf of him who [earnestly] waits for Him.

Isaiah 64:4 (AMP)

We may not see the answer to our prayers for our children immediately, but we can be assured that our God is at work while we wait. And as we wait, we can continue in prayer and rejoice in hope!