Wait on the Lord — What does this mean?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The command to wait on the Lord is found multiple times in the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, the people of God and individuals were told to wait on the Lord, most of the time meaning to wait on God's providential care. This included times of individual trial, such as David experienced and for which he trusted and relied on God (Psalm 27:1–3; 34:4–7; 40:1–3). At other times, prophets comforted God’s people by advising them to wait for God’s deliverance (Isaiah 40:31; Lamentations 3:25–26). In the New Testament, waiting on the Lord often refers to Jesus's second coming. Jesus cautions believers to be prepared for His coming (Matthew 25:1–13; Luke 12:35). Other passages remind believers to be patient since our timing is not the same as God’s (Romans 8:24–25; 2 Peter 3:8–9). In nearly all biblical instances, waiting on the Lord is expectant trust and hope in God's movement and activity. The lesson of the Bible is for believers to patiently serve the Lord and trust in His timing.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Psalm 123:2 shows that our focus should be the Lord during times of trial: "Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he has mercy upon us." We should actively serve God and attune ourselves to Him while we patiently wait for Him to accomplish His plans.
• Isaiah 40:31 offered these comforting words to the Israelites during their Babylonian captivity: “but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” This passage reminded the exiles to trust in God to restore the nation in His perfect timing.
• In much of Lamentations, the writer grieves the destruction of Judah, whom God had allowed the Babylonians to defeat and capture. But chapter three verses 25–26 says, “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” These verses show that God’s punishment would end and that the exiles should trust in the Lord to deliver them—in His timing. We should do the same today.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• In Luke 12:35, Jesus offers these words of caution: “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning.” Waiting for the Lord doesn’t mean we are being passive. We are still to do the Lord’s work, as the parable in Luke 12 shows. Believers should prepare for the Lord’s coming by doing what the Lord has asked us to do: sharing the Gospel (Matthew 28:19–20), helping the needy (Luke 12:33), and doing everything to God’s glory (1 Corinthians 10:31).
• Romans 8:24–25 discusses the hope we have in Christ: “For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” We may not fully know what God is doing behind the scenes, but we must wait in confident expectation, knowing He works all things for our good (Romans 8:28). We’re to be patient, rejoicing in and trusting the promises of God (Romans 12:12).
• In 2 Peter 3:8–9, the apostle Peter reminds us that God’s timing is not always ours: “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” God will fulfill His promises—but in His timing.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Maybe it’s the person at self-checkout who isn’t scanning fast enough, or it could be the driver ahead of you who takes a couple of seconds to move when the light changes. Or it could even be the slice of bread that’s taking forever to toast. Waiting on someone or something isn’t fun. But waiting is even more challenging for believers because the delays are usually for major life circumstances to change and for the Lord’s return. We often want our prayers answered according to our schedule, but the Bible tells us to wait on the Lord (Lamentations 3:25–26; Romans 8:24–25; 2 Peter 3:8–9). Our timing isn’t perfect, but God’s is. We might pray for God to resolve a problem, but the problem persists. We shouldn’t become discouraged, though. Our Heavenly Father has promised to work all things for our ultimate good (Romans 8:28). Besides waiting in trusting anticipation for the Lord to work in our lives, we need to be patient with His promises for all His children throughout time. Jesus will return—at the perfect time. Too many false “prophets” pinpoint dates the world will end, but the Bible tells us only the Father knows that date (Mark 13:32). What seems “too long” to us is really brief in the scope of human history (2 Peter 3:8–9). We’re not to lose faith, but to keep doing the Father’s will, knowing that even if the Lord doesn’t come before we die, we will be with Him (2 Corinthians 5:8). The lesson of the Bible is for believers to patiently serve the Lord and trust in His timing.

UNDERSTAND

• Waiting on the Lord means trusting in His timing and promises.
• Waiting on the Lord requires active service and obedience while we wait.
• We wait with patience, knowing God works all things for our good.

REFLECT

• How can you actively serve God while waiting for Him to answer your prayers?
• When faced with delays or trials, how can you remind yourself to trust in God’s perfect timing?
• What does it mean to you personally to wait with patience, especially in circumstances you don’t fully understand?

ENGAGE

• How can we encourage one another to trust in God's timing during seasons of waiting?
• What are some practical ways we can stay focused on God’s work while waiting for His answers?
• How can we help each other manage frustration when it feels like God's promises are taking too long to be fulfilled?