This morning in our Prayer and Practices group after praying for concerns in the world and for each other through those trials, we talked about waiting. We shared times we have waited for answers, many times for decades, and how we handled the many emotions that waiting for years can generate. Waiting isn’t easy. I loved when our Pastor who led our discussion reminded us that God is Sovereign…one definition being possessing supreme or ultimate power. He reminded us there is a power, the ruler of this world and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 1 John 5:19. Thus, the many tribulations in this present age in whatever age we live. And it is I who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc…Isaiah 54:16 We talked about what gives us hope through the struggles we face when we face uncertainty in waiting for God to answer prayer, realizing He doesn’t always answer when or how we want. One of our members shared what helped her…trust in the goodness of God; another offered waiting can be an act of worship.

The theme of waiting was echoed in Genesis 29. Jacob, finding family in Harran with his Uncle Laban, found the beautiful Rachel whom he loved, younger sister to Leah. Jacob offered to work for his Uncle for 7 years in return for his daughter Rachel. Laban agreed. 7 years later, Jacob took his bride not realizing until the next morning his bride was Leah. Laban tricked Jacob just as Jacob tricked his father Isaac. Jacob was able to marry Rachel after one bridal week with Leah but he had to work another 7 years for Laban.

We live our lives making choices and being impacted by the choices of others. We wonder why God doesn’t intervene. He doesn’t micromanage us as so many others in this world do…as I try to do if I am honest. But I am not in control. The evil one is not in control though he is wreaking havoc and hate in our hearts with great success.

To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again. Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with lapis lazuli. I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones. All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace. In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you. If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing; whoever attacks you will surrender to you. See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc; no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me, declares the Lord. Isaiah 54:9-17.

Seeing the Lord God as Sovereign opens the gift of hope and wings. He will redeem our mess and He will bring salvation. This is our heritage and with Him guiding us we can wait knowing our waiting is not in vain. We can trust in the goodness of our Sovereign Lord because He is working for our eternity. That brings hope and wings to live our lives secure in the knowledge that we will mess up, others will mess up just as mankind always has and always will, but that doesn’t throw God. Life and trials can be overwhelming at times and when we pray it seems like nothing happens and yet, God is working for our good. When I take His hand I’m not as fearful because no matter what happens around me, He is with me. He is Sovereign. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were the patriarchs of faith and they were flawed and lived lives full of problems but God’s will stood firm. Hold onto that when you can’t see your way forward. Take His hand…His love will give you genuine peace in your waiting.