Sunday School Lesson

Why Must We Wait on God?
An article by Cedric Fisher
Posted by Joey Kelly

Have you realized how much we must wait on the Lord? We put our money into a machine and something happens instantly. We click the remote, the channel changes. Press the gas pedal and the car moves. There are numerous instant reactions to our actions in life. However, God often makes us wait. Why?

First, just so no one thinks I that I am writing superciliously, I feel that I must testify about my deeply personal experience with waiting. Cheryl and I waited for deliverance during a very harsh and demanding 10-year trial. No matter how much we prayed, all either of us heard was the word Wait. I went on 7-day fasts. Although I heard it clearer, I heard the same word, Wait.

That trial of waiting became the foundation experience of my ministry today. Although I had always prayed, I learned how to pray much more effectively. There is no school of prayer like the School of Suffering. I discovered things about me that needed changing. I discovered attributes of God that I had skimmed over when reading His word. I learned to hear spiritually. I also learned that God moves on His own timetable.

God often purposely avoids responding lest we get the mistaken impression that we control Him. I will state emphatically and conclusively that faith does not control or manipulate God. Consider the biblical definition of faith: the Greek word is pistis, which means, trust, confidence, belief in the truthfulness of God. True faith does not control God, as the materialistic, heretical, prosperity false teachers claim. It causes us to surrender to His sovereignty. True faith always expresses as Not my will but Thine be done.

No matter how hot it is or how much the bread reacts, a good cook knows when to remove it from the oven. Likewise, God knows when and how to deliver us. The time and method of deliverance is not in our power. The worst thing is to leave a fiery trial half-done. Any price paid up to that point is wasted. Furthermore, one will not progress spiritually until that grade level is passed. We will go through it repeatedly until we finish properly.

The squealing and complaining of my flesh eventually ceased during my long trial. It was replaced by a complete surrender. I imagined myself as totally crushed and overwhelmed by the trial. My inherent strong will to not be defeated was broken. I admitted that I was broken and powerless with no way or means to recover from my defeat. During the lowest point I walked out the back door in a deep and painful stupor. I struggled half-way down the steps of the porch and sat down. All I could say was, God, I hurt. Not long afterward I began to know God as never before possible.

I am convinced that there is no substitute for the experience of looking up from the great purging fire and realizing that God is pulling us out. I was a helpless man in the hands of my helpful God. Although I knew Him before, and had experienced His love, grace, and power, too much of me remained. Like drifting fog it gave me only glimpses of His glory. The waiting trial changed me. I will never be the same.