I have been waiting for a diagnosis or explanation for my chemical sensitivity and Mast cell symptoms since November 2009. I entered a more felt season of waiting when finally saw a doctor on August 18, 2017 who understood my issues. I have been waiting for diagnosis, waiting for open registration on the insurance marketplace, waiting for January 1 and insurance to begin and now on January 15, 2018 I am still waiting for a referral from a PCP (who know little about me because my main doctor is out of network) so I can finally schedule a bone marrow biopsy to hopefully get a clear diagnosis.

Waiting, waiting and more waiting!! Patience is not something I have prayed for nor is waiting my strong suit. God is showing me that I need to only wait on Him. But how do I wait on God in the midst of a long season of waiting?

First I need to remember that God is Sovereign and has all my days numbered in His book before even a one began. In Psalms 139 we read:

14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! – Psalm 139:14-17

Another verse I often go to in this season is Psalms 27:14.

Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD! – Psalm 27:14

When looking up this verse in my favorite online Bible Study tool Bible hub, I did a word study on the word “wait” in Psalms 27:14.

So this word study shows me that waiting on God is something that is done eagerly, expectantly with hope and patience. I do have confidence in God’s sovereignty, His goodness, wisdom and faithfulness which can give me hope.

I then went on to look at the commentaries on Psalm 27:14 and hear are some snippets of insights from them.

Benson Commentary:

“wait on God by faith and prayer, and in an humble resignation to his will.”

“Keep up thy spirits in the midst of thy greatest dangers and difficulties: let thy heart be fixed, trusting in God, and thy mind stayed on him, and then none of these things will move thee.”

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary:

“Let us look unto the suffering Saviour, and pray in faith, not to be delivered into the hands of our enemies. Let us encourage each other to wait on the Lord, with patient expectation, and fervent prayer.”

Barnes’ Notes on the Bible:

“The object is to induce others, from the experience of the psalmist, to trust in the Lord; to rely upon Him; to come to Him in trouble and danger; to wait for His interposition when all other resources fail.”

“Be of good courage – The Hebrew word here means, “be strong.” That is, do not faint. Do not be dismayed. Still hope and trust in the Lord.

He shall strengthen thine heart – He will strengthen “thee.” He will enable you to perform your duties, and to triumph over your enemies.”

Treasury of David:

“Wait on the Lord.” Wait at his door with prayer; wait at his foot with humility; wait at his table with service; wait at his window with expectancy. Suitors often win nothing but the cold shoulder from earthly patrons after long and obsequious waiting; he speeds best whose patron is in the skies.”

Waiting on God is not passive, resigned or hopeless. It is actively fixing my heart on God, fervently praying to Him, serving Him while residing in the hallway of waiting and above all waiting with expectant hope in the God of all hope.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13

So while I continue to wait, I desire to continue to grow in my hopeful expectancy of my faithful God’s answers and care in His perfect time. May this season of waiting grow me in my faith, gratitude and Christ-likeness.

Would love to hear in the comments how God has met or taught you in seasons of waiting.

Blessings,

Deb