Cultivating Trust in God's Sovereignty During Times Waiting
Cultivating trust in God's sovereignty during times of waiting is a recurring theme in biblical wisdom and theological reflection, emphasizing patience, hope, and perseverance. The concept of "waiting on the Lord" is central to this trust, encompassing various aspects of divine provision and intervention [2].
Biblical texts frequently exhort believers to wait patiently for God. The book of Sirach advises, "Wait on God with patience: join thyself to God, and endure, that thy life may be increased in the latter end" [1]. Similarly, the Psalmist declares, "Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!" [4]. This waiting is not passive idleness but an active posture of hope and reliance on God [10, 11]. It involves waiting for God as the God of providence and salvation, for temporal blessings, mercy, pardon, guidance, protection, and the fulfillment of His word and promises [2].
The New Testament further develops this theme, particularly in the context of enduring trials and awaiting Christ's return. James encourages believers to "be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it, until it receives the early and late rain" [3]. This agricultural metaphor illustrates the necessity of patient endurance while awaiting a promised outcome. James also connects trials to the development of patience, stating that "the proving of your faith works patience" [5]. This patience, in turn, produces experience, and experience fosters hope [13].
Theological traditions have expounded on the nature of this waiting. John Gill, commenting on Psalm 27:14, suggests that waiting on the Lord is appropriate for common blessings, the return of God's countenance, answers to prayer, and the fulfillment of promises [8]. He also notes that waiting on God implies a silent submission to His providences and a quiet resting in Him [9]. This waiting is an expression of hope, which itself is a gift of God's grace, implanted during regeneration and growing through experience [6, 13]. The Tyndale House commentary on Isaiah 26:8 highlights that waiting involves trust in the Lord and longing for His redemption, expressing commitment through obedience rather than mere lip service [10].
Waiting on God also requires perseverance, which is seen as an evidence of reconciliation with God and belonging to Christ [7]. This perseverance is manifested in seeking God, waiting upon Him, prayer, and continuing in faith and hope [7]. The prophet Habakkuk exemplifies this posture, declaring, "I will stand upon my watch... and watch to see what he will say unto me" [12]. This imagery portrays a vigilant and attentive waiting, eager to receive divine instruction and observe God's providential actions [12].
Sources
- Sirach “Sirach 2:3 (DRC) — Wait on God with patience: join thyself to God, and endure, that thy life may be increased in the latter end.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Waiting Upon God — As the God of providence -- Jer 14:22. As the God of salvation -- Ps 25:5. As the Giver of all temporal blessings -- Ps 104:27,28; Ps 145:15,16. For Mercy. -- Ps 123:2. Pardon. -- Ps 39:7,8. The consolation of Israel. -- Lu 2:25. Salvation. -- Ge 49:18; Ps 62:1,2. Guidance and teaching. -- Ps 25:5. Protection. -- Ps 33:20; 59:9,10. The fulfillment of His word. -- Hab 2:3. The fulfillment of His promises. -- Ac 1:4. Hope of righteous by faith. -- Ga 5:5. Coming of Christ. -- 1Co 1:7; 1Th 1:10. Is good -- Ps 52:9. God calls us to -- Zep 3:8. Exhortat”
- James “Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it, until it receives the early and late rain. -- James 5:7”
- Psalms “Psalms 27:14 (BSB) — Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!”
- James “James 1:3 (LITV) — knowing that the proving of your faith works patience.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Hope — In God -- Ps 39:7; 1Pe 1:21. In Christ -- 1Co 15:19; 1Ti 1:1. In God's promises -- Ac 26:6,7; Tit 1:2. In the mercy of God -- Ps 33:18. Is the work of the Holy Spirit -- Ro 15:13; Ga 5:5. Obtained through Grace. -- 2Th 2:16. The word. -- Ps 119:81. Patience and comfort of the Scriptures. -- Ro 15:4. The gospel. -- Col 1:5,23. Faith. -- Ro 5:1,2; Ga 5:5. The result of experience -- Ro 5:4. A better hope brought in by Christ -- Heb 7:19. Described as Good. -- 2Th 2:16. Lively. -- 1Pe 1:3. Sure and steadfast. -- Heb 6:19. Gladdening. -- Pr 10:28. Blessed. -- Tit ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Perseverance — An evidence of reconciliation with God -- Col 1:21-23. An evidence of belonging to Christ -- Joh 8:31; Heb 3:6,14. A characteristic of saints -- Pr 4:18. To be manifested in Seeking God. -- 1Ch 16:11. Waiting upon god. -- Ho 12:6. Prayer. -- Ro 12:12; Eph 6:18. Well-doing. -- Ro 2:7; 2Th 3:13. Continuing in the faith. -- Ac 14:22; Col 1:23; 2Ti 4:7. Holding fast hope. -- Heb 3:6. Maintained through The power of God. -- Ps 37:24; Php 1:6. The power of Christ. -- Joh 10:28. The intercession of Christ. -- Lu 22:31,32; Joh 17:11. The fear of God. -- Jer 32”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 27:14: Wait on the Lord,.... This, with what follows, is spoken by the psalmist either to himself or to others, or it may be to both, upon the rich experience he declares in Psa 27:13, it becomes believers to wait on the Lord for the common blessings of life, for even the eyes of all wait upon him for their daily food; and for the light of his countenance, when it is withdrawn from them, for he will return again at the set time; and for answers of prayer, which will be given sooner or later; and for the performance of his promises, which are yea and amen in Christ: they sho”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 62:5: My soul, wait thou only upon God,.... Be silent and subject to him, acquiesce in his providences, rest in him patiently and quietly, wait for his salvation; See Gill on Psa 62:1; perhaps some new temptation might arise, and David's soul began to be uneasy and impatient; for frames are very changeable things; and therefore he encourages it to be still and quiet, and patiently wait on the Lord, and on him only: for my expectation is from him; or "my hope", as the Targum; the grace of hope is from the Lord, and the thing hoped for is from him; he is the author and the ”
- Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 26:8: 26:8 we show our trust (see 26:3-4; literally we wait for you): Waiting involves trust in the Lord and longing for his redemption. • People express their commitment to God by obeying his laws; mere lip service is not sufficient.”
- Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 8:17: 8:17 I will wait for the Lord . . . I will put my hope in him: Isaiah’s message against Syria, Israel, and Assyria would be proven true in the historical events that followed. The fulfillment would further encourage the godly to await the final downfall of all ungodly power structures (see 8:9-10). Waiting for the Lord requires submission, prayer, hope, and faith (see 25:9; 26:8; 33:2), resulting in a quiet spirit and a renewal of inner strength (40:31). The book of Hebrews applies these words to Jesus Christ (Heb 2:13). • God had turned away; the people of Israel”
- Habakkuk (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Habakkuk 2:1: Here, I. The prophet humbly gives his attendance upon God (Hab 2:1): "I will stand upon my watch, as a sentinel on the walls of a besieged city, or on the borders of an invaded country, that is very solicitous to gain intelligence. I will look up, will look round, will look within, and watch to see what he will say unto me, will listen attentively to the words of his mouth and carefully observe the steps of his providence, that I may not lose the least hint of instruction or direction. I will watch to see what he will say in me" (so it may be read), "what the Spi”
- Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 5:4: And patience experience,.... As tribulations tend to exercise and increase patience, so patience being exercised and increased, enlarges the saints' stock and fund of experience; of the love and grace of God communicated to them at such seasons; of his faithfulness in fulfilling his promises; of his power in supporting them; and of their own frailty and weakness; and so are taught humility, thankfulness, and resignation to the will of God: and experience, hope; hope is a gift of God's grace, and is implanted in regeneration, but abounds, increases, and becomes more s”