Waiting on God – Dealing with Impatience & Frustration

This verse may not seem to be about waiting on God, but bear with me. In the end it will make sense.

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God,which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7

What To Do When It’s Taking Too Long

Have you ever been in this situation?

You’ve taken some steps in faith toward that which God has led you… but things aren’t happening as fast as you expected them to.

Let me take a moment to be authentic and transparent here.

Waiting on God is difficult for me.

It always has been.
I imagine it always will be.
I hope you don’t think less of me for it, but there it is.

I want things to happen quickly.
I want to see the fruits of my labor.
I want the harvest.
I want God to show up and show out.
I’m busy. I don’t have time to be waiting on God.

Those are some of my thoughts and feelings I have during these times.

Then there is my mind.
Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me.

I begin to wonder if the direction I received from God was really from him… Maybe I heard it wrong.
Maybe I interpreted wrong.
Maybe this, maybe that.
Maybe, maybe, maybe.

(Or maybe…. could it be…. I’m impatient?)

Then there are times when my impatience leads me to shiny object syndrome.

I see what other people are doing and I think “hmm, that might be something I should be pursuing”.

The problem with following your own plans and going in your own direction is that our plans are never better than God’s plans.

It’s taken me a lot of trial and error for me to learn this lesson.

Truth be told, I’m still learning it day by day.
God’s timing is not our timing.

If God set you on a course, he will see you through until his purposes are accomplished.

Isaiah 55:8 states “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.”

We have to submit ourselves to His purposes, His ways, and His timing.

At these times of second guessing in my life, I lean into the verse below.

The times when you feel conflicted, worried, and stressed out because you’re not hitting goals as fast as you want are precisely the times you need to focus on this verse.

So instead of being anxious, do your best to turn everything over to God.

Be thankful for the things you have, while still turning over your desires and concerns to him.

Then his peace (which transcends understanding), will be on you and will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

At the end of the day, it’s his peace that you’re really after anyway.

If you stop and think about it, aren’t most of your desires tethered to what you think will give you peace and happiness?

Daniele and I recently sat up late talking about our hopes, dreams, and frustrations.

One of the things she said really resonated and stuck with me.

She said “Sometimes I feel like we’re so focused on the future that we’re missing out on the present”.

Wow. What a fantastic and insightful wife I have.

I share this not to brag about my awesome wife (she is pretty awesome though), but to share the insight with you in case you needed to hear it as much as I did.

If you’re so focused on the future that you’re missing out on the little, special moments in your life then you need to adjust your focus.

Take some time to step back and be grateful for where you are right now and for how far you’ve already come.

Look back at the journey of your life and be appreciative of what God’s already done in you.

Take some time this week to enjoy the little moments.
Make some simple memories with your kids.
Go to park, play a board game, or just take a walk.

It’s these special moments that we will be thinking about when we are old and wishing that we had more of.

In fact, I’m going to take my own advice and go play a game with my youngest kids right now.

Waiting on God Questions for Reflection/Action Steps

1. Where in your life do you experience frustration because you feel the outcome you want is taking too long?
2. What experiences, people, moments, or events in your life are you missing out on because you’re not taking the time to fully engage in them and enjoy them?
3. How can you get better at waiting on God?
4. If you haven’t already memorized it, memorize Philippians 4:6-7 this week. Write it down on a note card and carry it around until you have it memorized and can easily recall it. 

Prayer

Lord, thank you for all the blessings that I have. Specifically, thank you for… (start getting specific, thank God for specific things in your life).

I also want to bring some requests to you God that are heavy on my heart and turn them over to you.

Please take control of the following situations and give me guidance, wisdom, and patience (talk to God about your deepest concerns, fears, and worries- turn them over completely to him).

Give me your peace Lord God. A peace that transcends understanding.

Help me to trust you completely and to stop worrying about these things.

I know I cannot possibly understand everything you are trying to do in my heart and in my life.

Help me to be at peace without needing total understanding. Guard my heart and mind from the subtle lies of this world.

I Love You.
Amen.

I want to start a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.