Waiting on God Who Waits on Us

Theology Girl Reading Series Book:
Waiting On God! Rev. Andrew Murray

WAITING ON GOD: Who waits on us.

‘And therefore will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious unto you; and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for Him.’—Isa. 30:18

WE must not only think of our waiting upon God, but also of what is more wonderful still, of God’s waiting upon us. The vision of Him waiting on us, will give new impulse and inspiration to our waiting upon Him. It will give an unspeakable confidence that our waiting cannot be in vain. If He waits for us, then we may be sure that we are more than welcome; that He rejoices to find those He has been seeking for. Let us seek even now, at this moment, in the spirit of lowly waiting on God, to find out something of what it means: ‘Therefore will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious unto you.’ We shall accept and echo back the message: ‘Blessed are all they that wait for Him.’

Look up and see the great God upon His throne. He is Love—an unceasing and inexpressible desire to communicate His own goodness and blessedness to all His creatures. He longs and delights to bless. He has inconceivably glorious purposes concerning every one of His children, by the power of His Holy Spirit, to reveal in them His love and power. He waits with all the longings of a father’s heart. He waits that He may be gracious unto you. And each time you come to wait upon Him, or seek to maintain in daily life the holy habit of waiting, you may look up and see Him ready to meet you, waiting that He may be gracious unto you. Yes, connect every exercise, every breath of the life of waiting, with faith’s vision of your God waiting for you.

And if you ask, how is it, if He waits to be gracious, that even after I come and wait upon Him, He does not give the help I seek, but waits on longer and longer? There is a double answer. The one is this: God is a wise husbandman, ‘who waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it.’ He cannot gather the fruit until it is ripe. He knows when we are spiritually ready to receive the blessing to our profit and His glory. Waiting in the sunshine of His love is what will ripen the soul for His blessing. Waiting under the cloud of trial, that breaks in showers of blessing, is as needful. Be assured that if God waits longer than you could wish, it is only to make the blessing doubly precious. God waited four thousand years, until the fulness of time, before He sent His Son: our times are in His hands: He will avenge His elect speedily: He will make haste for our help, and not delay one hour too long.

The other answer points to what has been said before. The giver is more than the gift; God is more than the blessing; and our being kept waiting on Him is the only way for our learning to find our life and joy in Himself. Oh, if God’s children only knew what a glorious God they have, and what a privilege it is to be linked in fellowship with Himself, then they would rejoice in Him, even when He keeps them waiting. They would learn to understand better than ever; ‘Therefore will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious unto you.’ His waiting will be the highest proof of His graciousness.

‘Blessed are all they that wait for Him.’ Our queen has her ladies-in-waiting. The position is one of subordination and service, and yet it is considered one of the highest dignity and privilege, because a wise and gracious sovereign makes them companions and friends. What a dignity and blessedness to be attendants-in-waiting on the Everlasting God, ever on the watch for every indication of His will or favor, ever conscious of His nearness, His goodness, and His grace! ‘The Lord is good to them that wait for Him.’ ‘Blessed are all they that wait for Him.’ Yes, it is blessed when a waiting soul and a waiting God meet each other. God cannot do His work without His and our waiting His time: let waiting be our work, as it is His. And if His waiting be nothing but goodness and graciousness, let ours be nothing but a rejoicing in that goodness, and a confident expectancy of that grace. And let every thought of waiting become to us simply the expression of unmingled and unutterable blessedness, because it brings us to a God who waits that He may make Himself known to us perfectly as the Gracious One.

‘My soul, wait thou only upon God!’

Keeping Active in the Word of God is a daily exercise for our Mind and Soul — This should be written on our hearts and minds daily! Be encouraged to grow in the grace and knowledge of our God and Savior daily! Have a beautiful day! – JacyJoyPals-TheologyGirl.

CLOUDS

“Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens;
and thy faithfulness reaches unto the clouds.”
Psalm 36:5

CLOUDS

The “Why” Question and the Providence of God

The “Why?” Question and the Providence of God
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The “question” exposition bears a repost since its first posting in 2008. Tolle Lege…

As creatures, especially as women ministering to our children, we are well-familiar with the “why” question. Whether a question of life, death, illness, personal events in our lives or the details of history and life in our world as we know it, we have questions and those questions need answers. This is especially so when it comes to the questions of God’s providence in His universe and His “working all things for good” in the life of His people.  As women ministering to women, we are constantly responding to those questions as it relates to their personal lives in the every day events of work, home, family, personal history and gifts in the church. Often there is bewilderment marked by unhappiness and a resolve of discouragement because their “why” questions are not answered for them due to their lack of understanding of God’s providence in working in and through them for His glory and their good. They do not understand God’s sovereignty and providence from His Word and doctrine and thus have no comfort and peace about their lives. Their biggest question is “who’s in control” and when their theology is incorrect or they have no knowledge of what God’s Word says about His providential control of His world, they are tossed about and do not have that peace that passes understanding.  God is our “peace” and “gives peace” and that “peace” includes “all things” and when we know Him as He declares Himself in Scripture, His peace is ours and the foundation of the “why” question is answered.  No, we may not know what tomorrow will bring and God’s eternal purpose in His providence specifically for us but we are at peace in our hearts and minds that our God loves us with an everlasting love and that He has designed and ordained the “whatsoever” for us and that knowledge gives us “peace” with God now and forever. The Bible is filled with this wonderful doctrine and thus we must answer those “why” questions with God’s Word, study His providence, sovereignty and attributes and then we will experience peace and rest for our souls and be able to apply it in a practical way to daily life.

One of the most important books to read is Loraine Boettner’s “The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination” which is an easy read and will open your eyes and understanding. To whet your appetite, here is a snippet:*_TheologyGirl

“Throughout the Bible the laws of nature, the course of history, the varying fortunes of individuals, are ever attributed to God’s providential control. All things, both in heaven and earth, from the seraphim down to the tiny atom, are ordered by His never-failing providence. So intimate is His relationship with the whole creation that a careless reader might be led toward pantheistic conclusions. Yet individual personalities and second causes are fully recognized,—not as independent of God, but as having their proper place in His plan. And alongside of this doctrine of His Immanence the Scripture writers also present the kindred doctrine of His Transcendence, in which God is distinctly set forth as entirely separate from and above the whole creation.

Yet as regards God’s providence we are to understand that He is intimately concerned with every detail in the affairs of men and in the course of nature. “To suppose that anything is too great to be comprehended in His control,” says Dr. Charles Hodge, “or anything so minute as to escape His notice; or that the infinitude of particulars can distract His attention, is to forget that God is infinite . . . . The sun diffuses its light through all space as easily as upon any point. God is as much present everywhere, and with everything, as though He was only in one place, and had but one object of attention.” And again, “He is present in every blade of grass, yet guiding Arcturus in his course, marshalling the stars as a host, calling them by their names; present also in every human soul, giving it understanding, endowing it with gifts, working in it both to will and to do. The human heart is in His hands; and he turneth it even as the rivers of water are turned.”1414 Systematic Theology, II, pp. 583, 585.

It is almost universally admitted that God determines when, where, and under what circumstances, each individual of our race shall be born, live, and die, whether it shall be male or female, white or black, wise or foolish. God is no less sovereign in the distribution of His favors. He does what He will with His own. To some He gives riches, to others honor, to others health, to others certain talents for music, oratory, art, finance, statesmanship, etc. Others are poor, unknown, born in dishonor, the victims of disease, and live lives of wretchedness. Some are placed in Christian lands where they receive all the benefits of the Gospel; others live and die in the darkness of heathenism. Some are brought through faith unto salvation; others are left to perish in unbelief. And to a very large extent these external things, which are not the result of individual choice, decide the person’s life course and eternal destiny. Both Scripture and every day experience teach us that God gives to some what He withholds from others. If it be asked why He does this, or why he does not save all, the only available answer is found in the words of the Lord Jesus, “Yea, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in thy sight.” Only the Scripture doctrine of the fall and redemption will give us any light on what we see about us.” __Loraine Boettner**

“A man’s goings are established of Jehovah,” Psalm 37:23

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*TheologyGirl-ReformedWomen, Editor-Publisher Copyright: Heavenly Notes & Devotions From The Heart ©1984-2021
** “The Providence of God,” Chapter V, The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination, pp. 35,36