Strength in the Waiting • Sunday Service

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Waiting is one of the most challenging experiences in life, especially for believers who are often eager to see God's promises come to fruition. However, the waiting seasons are often the most important times for a Christian. It is during these moments of waiting that God shapes our character, deepens our faith, and fortifies us for the tasks ahead. These times of waiting are not wasted; they are moments of preparation for what’s to come.

Let’s explore how waiting builds character and strength, with examples from scripture and commentary on how we can apply this to our lives.

1. Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV) "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

2. Psalm 27:14 (NKJV) "Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!"*

3. James 1:2-4 (NKJV) “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

4. Romans 8:25 (NKJV) *"But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance."

5. Lamentations 3:25-26 (NKJV) "The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."

6. Psalm 37:7 (NKJV) "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass."

7. Galatians 6:9 (NKJV) "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."

8. Habakkuk 2:3 (NKJV) "For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry."

9. **Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

10. Psalm 130:5-6 (NKJV) "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning—yes, more than those who watch for the morning."

Waiting seasons are often the most formative periods in our lives. It’s in the waiting that God builds character, refines our faith, and strengthens our hearts. Just as a seed grows beneath the surface before breaking through the soil, God is doing a deep work in us during these times. Let us embrace the waiting, knowing that God is at work, and trust that in His perfect timing, we will see the fulfillment of His promises. Remember, strength is built in the waiting.