Bold In Christ Ministries

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2-4

Waiting is definitely a test of one’s faith and character. During the process of waiting, it’s where most growth happens or doesn’t happen. These times require trusting in God, patience and obedience. No one goes into it expecting it to be easy, but one’s attitude will determine the outcome. Often, trials can lead to either betterment or bitterness. Many assume the wrong heart posture during this process by just doing nothing to better themselves. Such challenging times require one to focus on daily growth no matter how minimal. Otherwise, it is quite easy to stop focusing on self growth and start grumbling, complaining and focusing on wrong things which hinder growth. As much as one is trusting God for a change, faith has to be exercised actively. The right posture in waiting always includes addressing one’s attitude towards God and their circumstances. This will help one to see the areas one needs to grow in so that one’s character can be refined.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Romans 5:3-5 NLT

Waiting on God can be a fruitful time or a very testing time, it definitely will reveal the hidden secrets of one’s heart and openly show one’s heart condition. This can be a good thing if looked at with the right mindset of course, since we have a creator who is Wise and has the ability to help us heal and grow. Of course key issues such as impatience, expectations, frustrations  and agitation often arise in the process of waiting, due to one’s presumed expectations towards God. This is a very serious condition that requires vulnerability, rawness and realness with God. One should be able to express his or her disappointments and emotions to God, for only He knows what’s the best way forward in such circumstances. God has the best intentions always for his children so there should never be anything that stops us from trusting in His timing, when He says Yes and when He says No we can always trust Him. While it’s normal to feel negative emotions as a believer, being consumed by emotions without properly addressing the underlying issues can lead to problems for one’s faith and general life. Basically, it is a recipe for disaster. First of all it endangers your health, mental well being, social awareness and generally you become unproductive. It is important to address the underlying issues and causes by taking all things to God in prayer. Many times Christians themselves are poor when it comes to believing the words in the Bible. It is written be not afraid, be anxious for nothing and many more reassuring words but yet believers are some of the most worried people in the world. Living in worry is definitely an issue and when these issues arise it usually points to a lack of faith, doubt, unbelief, fear, anxiety and stress which is a heart condition/posture that needs to be scripturally dealt with.

  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

We as believers cannot be slaves to our fluctuating emotions, our Faith has to be grounded in the word,  that’s why it’s important to read, study and meditate on God’s word so as to fill, saturate and speak God’s truth in our minds, thoughts and lives.

It is good to wait patiently for the LORD to save us. Lamentations 3:26 CEV

Does God expect us to be perfect? obviously not, but does God require us to trust in him? Yes. Isaiah 26:4ESV says Trust in the Lord forever,  for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. Many times our circumstances can make us feel like God has abandoned us or forsaken us when we concentrate on the emotions and the things that are falling apart, what’s not working, who has hurt us and so forth but biblically this is not true because the word of God says:

Hebrews13:5ESV “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”. 

The waiting period can be very hard especially if in your mind you have a certain desire that you would like God to make happen in a very specific way that only you can understand. This can always lead to bitterness if one is stuck in his or her own way, since God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours.
God does not always answer according to our schedules and our way of thinking. The bible says His ways are Higher and His Thoughts are Higher, so when things fail to workout as we perceive what’s our heart posture towards God?

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

We have to target the areas that cause frustrations and agitations and cancel them out with scriptural truth, because our truth has to be defined by what God says and not our challenges. That’s why it’s important to speak life into your circumstances and life even when you have not yet seen change (we walk by faith not by sight) and thank God for the blessings to come.

 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,    and those who love it will eat its fruits.  Proverbs 18:21

God can also use these seasons of waiting to test our Faith in him and also bring to our understanding our lack of faith in certain areas in our lives and it’s upon us to seek fellowship with the Holy spirit, so He can lead us to grow spiritually in all the areas we struggle in. Now it’s important to note that Faith requires wholehearted commitment.

Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]. Hebrews 11:1

To have faith in God requires us to truly trust what He has spoken in His word the Bible says  in Hebrews 11:6 KJV But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. His plans for you do not change even when certain doors are shut in front of your face. Trusting God requires you to be so bold and grounded in what his word says concerning you that even in the uncomfortable and uncertainties you still choose to rejoice and thank him for that’s his will for us.

1Thessalonians 5:16-18ESV Rejoice always,  pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 

Remember God’s word and promises never change. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

When we seek him in spirit and truth the Holy Spirit will reveal his heart to us through his word. May the Almighty and Faithful God, Father of Our LORD Jesus Christ bless you and keep you in peace that surpasses all standing through Christ Our Lord! 

Amen.