What God is Doing While You are Waiting
“Until the time came to fulfill his dreams the Lord tested Joseph’s character.”
Psalm 105:19 (NLT)
Another year is about to pass and maybe you’re wondering when God will ever fulfill your dream. You’ve prayed and he has you in a holding pattern. You keep waiting and wondering how long? Does God even hear my prayer? Sometimes you may even be tempted to give up. What is God doing while we are waiting on Him? In Isaiah 64:4b (NIV) the Bible says, “God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.” One thing I’m learning about waiting on God is this: God may be silent, but He is never still! He is always at work even while I am waiting.
Joseph is a great example among many. He is one of my favorite characters in all the Bible. There are more chapters committed to his life than any other character in Genesis. Genesis 30 through 50 cover the events of his life. Joseph was a dreamer, overconfident and self-assured. He was favored by his father, more than his ten older brothers, which no doubt made him cocky. Despite his favored position, and perhaps because of it, Joseph had to suffer a number of painful hardships that God would use to shape his character and prepare him for greatness as he waited on God to fulfill his dreams. God gave Joseph a dream. But God was more concerned with Joseph’s character than his comfort.
As with so many other great men and women of the Bible, and throughout history, it seems to be a pattern that they will experience hardships and setbacks that cause their dreams to fade over time. David was anointed to be the next king, but he spent over a decade in obscurity hiding from Saul until God had prepared his character for the position. Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness alone before he was ready for the job to deliver Israel from Egypt. Abraham was promised a child, only to wait 25 years, wondering how it could even be possible by the time Isaac was born.
When we encounter painful setbacks and hardships that overshadow our dreams and cause us to lose hope of them ever becoming reality, we need to consider Psalm 105:19 (NLT). It says, “Until the time came to fulfill his dreams the Lord tested Joseph’s character.”
Perhaps the right question to ask is not “Will my dreams ever come true?” but “In what ways is God shaping my character to prepare me for His assignment?” Then, yield to His hands as they mold you into the vessel that He can use. Take heart! The next verse in Psalm 105 says, “Then Pharaoh sent for (Joseph) and set him free…”
Don’t give up! God always writes the last chapter! Just don’t take the pen from His Sovereign hand and try to write your own. Wait on the Lord.
Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.
Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.