Wait for your change

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God” (Rom 8:28).

Today, many are at their wits’ end, having exhausted their strength, patience, and resources in trying to deal with the numerous challenges that life brings. We are all waiting, hoping for something or someone to change. In a world of technological advances and quick fixes, waiting can be a tedious exercise of patience and forbearance.

In a “warp zone” where things are not always what they seem to be, we must accurately rationalise our scenario to identify our role in facilitating its divine objective.

Waiting can sometimes resemble unconditional obedience. In 1 Kings chapter 17, a poor widow who waited for deliverance was instructed by God to provide food for the prophet, Elijah, during a severe famine. She only had a handful of flour and a drop of olive oil to prepare what would have been the last meal for herself and her son. However, upon arrival, Elijah asked her to first make him a small loaf of bread before looking after herself and her son. She did so and enjoyed miraculous provision for the duration of the famine. The jar of flour was not used up, nor did the jug of oil run dry (1 Kings 17:16).

Waiting may be accompanied by a sequence of unfortunate events. Imagine being Job, whose entire business was wiped out, quickly followed by the loss of all his children to a violent desert storm.

Afterwards, some painful sores broke out all over his body. The pressure was unrelenting, but Job resolved in his heart to keep the faith. He defiantly declared: “Though he slay me, yet will I trust him” (Job 13:15).

Waiting is persistence. The apostle John relates the frustrating experience of a man, sick for 38 years, who camped out at a pool in Jerusalem called Bethesda, trying to be the first among a multitude of sick people to get into the water and be healed whenever it was stirred up. As he explained, “While I am trying to get in, somebody else gets in ahead of me” (John 5:7). Thankfully, against the odds, he persevered long enough to encounter Jesus, who changed his story by healing him.

Waiting is about activating our faith so that we can discern and access our opportunity when it arrives. Bartimaeus, a blind man, was sitting by the roadside begging in Jericho when he heard that Jesus was nearby.

He began to scream, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:47). Many told him to be quiet, but he screamed even louder until he caught Jesus’ attention.

Jesus called Bartimaeus, healed him and said, “Go, your faith has made you whole” (Mark 10:52).

In the business of waiting, God’s provision is not dictated by positive or negative scenarios.

Situations or circumstances may change, but he is the same faithful God. He will not disappoint; he will never abandon you; he will deliver you.

Your temptation will always be to relent, but hang in there, your change is coming!