Psalm 27:14

It may seem an easy thing to wait, but it is one of the postures a Christian soldier learns, and not without years of teaching. Marching and quick-marching are much easier for God’s warriors than standing still. There are hours of perplexity when the most willing spirit, anxiously desiring to serve the Lord, does not know what action to take.

Then what should it do? Should it vex itself with despair? Fly back in cowardice, turn to the right in fear, or rush forward in presumption? No, but simply wait. Wait in prayer, however. Call upon God, and spread the case before him; tell him your difficulty, and plead his promise of aid.

In dilemmas between one duty and another, it is sweet to be humble as a child and wait with simplicity of soul on the Lord. It is sure to be well with us when we feel and know our own folly, and are heartily willing to be guided by the will of God.

But wait in faith. Express your unwavering confidence in him, for unfaithful, untrusting waiting is merely an insult to the Lord. Believe that if he keeps you waiting even until midnight, he will still come at the right time; the vision will come and will not delay. Wait in quiet patience, not rebelling because you are under the affliction, but blessing your God for it.

Never murmur against the secondary cause, as the children of Israel did against Moses. Never wish you could go back to the world again, but accept the situation as it is, and put it as it stands, simply and with your whole heart, without any self-will, into the hand of your covenant God, saying, “Now, Lord, not my will, but Your will be done. I do not know what to do; I am brought to extremities, but I will wait until You part the waters, or drive back my foes. I will wait, if You keep me for many a day, for my heart is fixed on You alone, O God, and my spirit waits for You in the full conviction that You will yet be my joy and my salvation, my refuge and my strong tower.”