Waiting on God: Shifting Our FocusSample

Like sheep, we are prone to wander during extended seasons of waiting on God. Days turn into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years. Drifting through life without purpose or direction, God begins to feel distant and confusing. Without purpose or direction, hopelessness begins to set in.

But God, in His mercy and grace, begins to shake us from our wandering, reminding us of His faithfulness. Looking back over our lives, we begin to see the countless times God has been faithful to His promises - faithful in every area of our lives. By the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us, we can be confident in the words of Hebrews 10:23, which says, "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful."

In seasons of waiting on God, we need to shift our focus from wandering to faithfulness.

Furthermore, Lamentations 3:22-24 directs our weary souls to the faithfulness of God that draws us out of our hopelessness, "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is [His] faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." And restored hope opens our eyes to a second aspect of faithfulness that we would do well to consider in seasons of waiting on God.

Does God often use this space and time to cultivate in you a heart of faithfulness for Him - to His ways, His mission, and the advancement of His Kingdom? Is the season of waiting that you find yourself in an opportunity to be faithful to what you have been given in the here and now - is it in your current relationships, job, or your current season of life?

As you go, consider the following prayer, "Lord, forgive me for allowing my heart to wander in this season of waiting on you. Remind me of all the ways you have been faithful to me throughout my life. And Lord, please open my eyes to see the opportunities right in front of me to be faithful to you and the advancement of your Kingdom here on earth in the daily and common of my life."