Are we there yet? Learning to wait on God's perfect timing

26 September 2020

Words Janine Donaldson

Those of you who have children will understand something of the agony of a long family road trip. It usually commences with feelings of excitement, anticipation, expectation – until reality hits! That is when you hear the cries of “Are we there yet?” coming from tired, frustrated, bored children in the back seat (and sometimes partners in the passenger seat!). Believe me, no amount of reasoning or assurance that the waiting will be worth it at our journey’s end seems to appease weary travellers – or satisfies their questions of how long that will take.

We live in a time like no other we have known, where the whole world has been put into a ‘holding pattern’. We all believe, or at least live in hope, that a vaccine will be developed to bring an end to this pandemic that has changed our lives, but waiting for this is anything but easy. Like my children used to do, I keep asking the question: “Are we there yet? How long do I have to wait?”

I certainly do not hold a master’s degree in ‘waiting’, and I confess that patience is not one of my finer virtues, but one thing I have come to realise is that waiting is an important part of life. As I look back over many circumstances in my own journey, while I did not appreciate it at the time, I am now so thankful for those times I was made to wait, rather than rush ahead.

We all want to make the most of every opportunity and we want good things to happen in our lives, but too often we want it all now, not later.

“Are we there yet?” might be the anxious cry of your heart right now. You just want to know that everything will turn out for the good; you want to know that your financial future is secure; you want answers concerning health issues; you want some assurance that your family will be okay; you want that broken relationship to be restored; you want that abuse to end; you want to be free of that addiction. Waiting can be painfully difficult, especially when you cannot see beyond the present.

The Bible gives the assurance and promise that, no matter what you might be facing, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you” (Deuteronomy chapter 31, verse 8).

You are not alone. Waiting is not ‘forever’ and God’s timing is perfect. So, in our waiting, let’s turn to God and wait on him.

As difficult as it may seem, we need to trust God. He is in control, he has our backs, and we must guard against jumping ahead of him. Waiting on the Lord is not always easy, but we can never go wrong by patiently letting him lead us according to his timing – and not ours. When we step ahead of him, trouble awaits us, but if we trust his guidance, he will lead us into his will and accomplish more than we had in mind.

“But God’s not finished. He’s waiting around to be gracious to you. He’s gathering strength to show mercy to you. God takes the time to do everything right – everything! Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones” (Isaiah chapter 30, verse 18 – The Message Bible translation).

Commissioner Janine Donaldson oversees Women’s Ministries and Gender Equity for The Salvation Army in Australia and, with her husband Robert, leads the organisation across the country.