Waiting is so much a part of our life. We wait for the coffee to brew. We wait at the stop light. There are big things we wait for like finding a spouse or having a child. We wait for the salvation of a loved one. Are you willing to wait?

David was willing to wait and do it God’s way even though the waiting was hard. David was anointed king in I Samuel 16. David had a promise of what to happen. Saul was still king but the Lord had rejected him as king. David was waiting for God’s timing.

While he was waiting, He serves Saul by playing his lyre to help calm him. He fought Goliath and won. David was willing to wait. This is shown clearly on two occasions. The first was in I Samuel 24 when David spares Saul’s life.

“The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my Lord, the LORD’s anointed, to put my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD’s anointed.” I Samuel 24:6

David recognised that even though he had been anointed Saul was still the LORD’s anointed and he was willing to wait.

David has another opportunity in I Samuel 26 and again the response is realising that Saul is the LORD’s anointed and he needs to wait. Remember that during this time Saul is chasing David. It would have been so easy to take care of what was standing in the way of what God has promised but that is not the way that God wants us to live.

God’s timing is perfect and we need to be ready to wait for that perfect time.

David’s character is seen throughout this time of waiting. Even when news comes of Saul and Jonathan’s death. David responds with lament.

Even in the hard times, David waited for God’s timing. As you read through the Psalms, there is so much about waiting, longing, and patiently.

Psalm 27:15 “Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”

Psalm 27:7 “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.”

Psalm 37:34 “Wait for the Lord and keep his way,”

Psalm 38:15 “But for you, O Lord, do I wait.

Are you willing to wait for God’s timing? God’s way is best. Do you trust that his way and his timing are perfect? There are times that we can look back and see how God’s way is perfect but there are other times that we might not know why but we can still trust that he is good in all that.

During that waiting, there were times that David was crying out to God wondering and asking, “how long”. In your waiting, cry out to God. Draw near to God in those times.

In Psalm 13 four times David says, “how long” but the Psalm ends with this confidence.

“But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me.”

David trusted. David knew God’s steadfast love and his heart rejoiced. He was able to sing evening in the waiting.

What are your waiting for?

Maybe it for the salvation of a family member or friend. Maybe it a need that you are waiting for God to provide. Maybe it for direction for the future. Are you willing to wait and do it God’s way?

Without going into the details we are waiting for something now. I have to say that it is comforting to know that God is in control. We are looking to him for direction in this waiting and trusting that he will guide us. That makes the waiting easier.

What are you waiting for?