After the Fast, What Next? Wait for God's Response

AFTER THE FAST, WHAT NEXT? WAIT FOR GOD’S RESPONSE

“And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me.”

Acts 1:4 (ESV)

Isaiah 40:31 (ESV) tells us, “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”. Waiting on the Lord, takes a lot of patience. Last year my wife got a job offer from another hospital to be their Manager in charge of operations. To me it was a good one, because the salary was at least much better than what she was earning at her current job. In addition, she had a good rapport with the CEO of the hospital because that was where our kids saw their pediatrician. We did all the background checks to ensure that the company was financially sound and the job was secured. However, Grace came back saying, Maurice, I don’t think I feel good about moving to this new job. I asked why, she said something within her doesn’t feel right. I tried to convince her that it was normal leaving your old company and starting all over at a new place. But she said, that isn’t the issue, I just don’t feel right in my spirit. In the end, she rejected the offer. I was disappointed, because she was the same person complaining each day about deteriorating standards and delay in payment of salaries at her job, but I had to let go.

God being so faithful, within two to three month later, she was recommended for another job opportunity. The position this time was for an Operations Director to a bigger hospital and this offer was twice bigger than the former. The interview went smoothly and the owners and board of directors all loved her. In fact, the CEO of the company called to checkup several time to ensure she had not changed her mind.

Brethren, it takes a lot of patience, courage and faith in God to say, ‘God, I will wait on you’. For example, consider a young lady or man waiting for the blessing of a marriage partner. The tendency to be promiscuous and even rush into wrong relationships is very high, if you do not seek the face of God diligently and wait on Him. In 1 Samuel 13:7-14, King Saul for fear of his men leaving the battle ground and also the delay by Samuel the Prophet, he decided to offer “the burnt offering and fellowship offerings”. Our bible tells us immediately when the offering was done, Samuel appeared and rebuked him. Saul lost the kingship of the kingdom of Israel from his household because of his disobedience.

Patience is a virtue which we all need to learn to grow by seeking God’s grace each day. Without it, we cannot ‘learn to wait’. The human self is always eager to move a step ahead of God, especially in this century of “fast things”. King Saul said “So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering” (1 Samuel 13:12). It can happen to any of us; you will feel like cutting corners to make extra money, take from your employer because you feel chattered, your friends are making it and you feel stagnant, etc. Brethren wait on God and continue to seek his face. “He has made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Therefore, learn to wait on God.

Shalom.