How to Find Hope as You Wait on God
Have you ever been waiting for an answer to prayer for so long you were ready to give up? What does it really look like to wait on God in the way that He calls us to?
If you’re anything like me, you may be quite impatient when it comes to waiting. I really struggle to wait patiently no matter how much I pray or how hard I try.
But today I want to take a look at a few Psalms as an encouragement for you if you are struggling to wait on God.
Laying Your Requests Before God FIRST
How many of you direct your first waking thought to the Lord? I struggle with this!
I mean really, my first thought is that I want to go back to sleep. Once I get past that, I often check my phone to make sure there are no important texts or missed calls. Sometimes I end up scrolling through social media but if I’m lucky, I get up without falling into this trap. Even if I avoid social media, I find myself thinking of the things I need to do before I get to sit down with my Bible.
As a mom, I try to wake up earlier than the baby and get my devo in, but in all honesty, there are plenty of times that this just doesn’t happen.
In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. -Psalm 5:3
I love this reminder.
In the morning. First thing. Before the day begins. Before the to-do’s pile up. Before chaos ensues, we lay our requests before the Lord.
This changes our posture. Instead of getting sucked into the day we instead take hold of our hope in the Lord before all other things. All things fighting for our attention become subordinate to the One who has the power to bring us peace.
If you are waiting for something, this is such a powerful way to help you find that patience.
Wait Expectantly
...I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3
So often I forget this part. I pray and ask God for things. I lay my requests before Him and honestly try to surrender my heart and my mind. But as the day goes on, I forget to wait expectantly. I forget that God is the One who answers our prayers. He is the one who provides. He is faithful.
When we cling to these promises, we can wait expectantly.
Rejoice WHILE You Wait
How often do I wait more in a sense of agony than in peace? I mean if I’m really struggling and really praying hard for something, I tend to feel the hopelessness or burden or lack of peace that comes along with my situation. But Scripture tells us differently.
We wait in hope for the Lord, he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you. -Psalm 33:20-22
Not only do I love this verse as a reminder of the promises that the Lord is our help and our shield, but it reminds us that as we wait, we can rejoice. We can REJOICE even while our hearts are heavy.
If you are waiting for something, even if it is something painful and heartbreaking, you can rejoice because God is good. God is loving. God has your heart in His hands.
Rejoice in your salvation. God made a way for you. Rejoice in the hope you have in eternity. Rejoice in the restoration and redemption that God is working out within you. Rejoice in answered prayers from the past. Rejoice.
As you rejoice, you will discover that your heart finds peace and hope. It is a practical thing that we can do every day while we wait to help us wait on the Lord with patience and joy.
The Word as Your Hope
I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. Psalm 130:5
Our hope is in the Word. Turn to Scripture as you wait. Let it fill your whole being. Let it saturate your mind. This is essential to help you patiently wait on God.
Find Scriptures that you can memorize, hang around your home, store in your phone. Proclaim them out loud every time your hope falters.
You can download a printable of these verses to hang around your house as reminders below!
The Word is living and active. It is our sword, our offensive weapon against all of Satan’s attempts to drag us down.
If you are struggling to wait on the Lord, fill your mind and heart with Scripture and cling to that as your hope.
I just want to end with this verse as an encouragement to you in this time of waiting. When you do these three things, it aligns your posture towards the Lord and towards the hope and promise He has for you.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Love this post, and shared it on Pinterest!
Thank you ,I need prayer for my daughter joselynn she’s 13 and going to high school she’s dyslexic and I’m trying to put her into a school that has a reading specialist that can help her .I have a meeting with school feb 23 and this will determine what school the board of Ed will put her in or if my pick will be excepted . Please pray for a the school that will get her the proper help and she will fit in and be treated well she is a sweet quiet girl . In Jesus name May here our prayers
I’m waiting for some (more) inspiration for writing another book. I have the time, so I feel guilty not working on it. the house is currently empty (yea) and so I will buckle down as soon as I’m finished here. Thanks for praying. God teaches best as we wait.