- Genesis 12:2 - And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
- Genesis 16:4-6 - And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the Lord judge between me and thee. But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.
- Genesis 21:9-10 - And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
- Isaiah 40:31 - But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Waiting for God's 'yes' develops our patience and strengthens our trust in Him. God answers our prayers in three ways: 'yes', 'no', and 'not yet'. The latter is perhaps the one we fear the most — and for good reason. Waiting requires trusting God and His plan, even when we cannot yet see it. But patience is a vital quality for a believer, and Scripture teaches this repeatedly through stories, parables, psalms, and letters. It is always wiser to wait for God to open a door than to try to open it ourselves. Abraham and Sarah were human, too, and eventually began to make their own plans to have an heir. But the results were painful. Our patience is not for God's benefit — He does not need time. Rather, waiting deepens our trust in Him and prepares us for what He has prepared on the other side of that door. Even when waiting is particularly difficult, God's timing is worth trusting.
Reflection
In what area of your life are you currently waiting for God's 'not yet', and how can you maintain your trust in Him during this period?
