The Longer We Wait

The More God Can Do!

We live in a world that worships the "now." We have high-speed internet, same-day delivery, and instant coffee. When we have a problem, we want a solution before we’ve even finished explaining the situation.

But God often operates on a different clock. For many of us, the "waiting room" of life feels like a place of stagnation or forgotten prayers. However, throughout Scripture, we see a consistent, beautiful pattern: The length of the wait is often proportional to the magnitude of the miracle.

The Difference Between a Delay and a Denial

It is easy to mistake God’s "not yet" for a "no." But in the Kingdom of God, waiting is never wasted time. It is preparation time. Think of Joseph. He spent years in a dungeon for a crime he didn’t commit. To the observer, it looked like a life wasted. But God was using those years to develop the character, wisdom, and administrative skills Joseph would need to save entire nations from famine. If Joseph had been released a year early, he might have just gone home to his father. Because he waited, he became the second most powerful man in Egypt.

"But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."

— Romans 8:25

The "Lazarus Principle"

Perhaps the most profound example of "the longer the wait, the bigger the glory" is the story of Lazarus in John 11. When Jesus heard His friend was sick, He didn't rush to his side. He stayed where He was for two more days.

By the time Jesus arrived, Lazarus wasn't just sick; he had been dead for four days. From a human perspective, the "delay" had ruined everything. Martha even told Him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

But Jesus had a bigger plan:

 * A quick arrival would have resulted in a healing.

 * A long delay resulted in a resurrection.

Jesus waited so that the miracle would be undeniable and God’s glory would be unmistakable. If you feel like your situation has gone from "bad" to "impossible," you might just be a candidate for a resurrection-level miracle.

Why Does God Make Us Wait?

If God can do anything instantly, why the pause? Here are three reasons why the wait is actually a gift:

 * Character Development: Waiting produces endurance. It strips away our self-reliance and forces us to lean entirely on Him.

 * Correct Alignment: Sometimes we are ready for the blessing, but the environment around us isn't. God is moving pieces on the chessboard that we can't see.

 * Greater Glory: When the breakthrough finally comes after a long season of waiting, there is no doubt who gets the credit. It wasn't luck; it was the Lord.

How to Wait Well

Waiting isn't about sitting on your hands; it's about positioning your heart. If you are in a season of waiting today, try these three things:

 * Serve where you are: Joseph was a model prisoner before he was a model ruler.

 * Recall past faithfulness: Remind yourself of the times God came through before.

 * Trust His heart when you can't see His hand: God’s silence is not His absence.

The Bottom Line: Your wait is not a sign that God has forgotten you. It is a sign that He is doing something so big, it requires more time to prepare you—and the world—for it.