Embracing Waiting: Finding Strength in Dependence on God
Summary
We live in a world that prizes self-sufficiency, speed, and strength. From the time we are young, we learn to say, “I know,” and to rely on our own ability to figure things out. Yet, as we walk with God, we discover that His ways are not our ways. The invitation of Psalm 27:14—“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”—runs counter to everything our culture and our instincts tell us. When we face impossible situations, our first impulse is to act, to fix, to move forward. But God often calls us to wait, to be still, and to trust Him in the ambiguity.
Waiting is not passive resignation; it is an active posture of prioritizing God’s presence over our own plans. The stories of Moses at the Red Sea, Joshua at Jericho, and Gideon with his dwindling army all reveal that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness. He asks us to lay down our weapons, our strategies, and our “binkies”—those things we cling to for comfort and control—and instead to embrace dependence on Him. True biblical strength is found in weakness, in admitting our need, and in allowing God to fight for us.
Our relentless pace, our anxiety, and our need for control rob us of the peace God offers. We are often out of pace with God, and therefore out of peace with Him. Intimacy with God is found not in our striving, but in slowing down, abiding, and letting Him set the pace. Jesus invites us to take His yoke, to let Him carry our burdens, but that means surrendering our timeline and our desire for glory. The easy yoke is only found at His pace, in His way, for His glory.
To wait on the Lord is to unlearn the survival strategies that have gotten us this far, and to relearn trust, dependence, and intimacy. It is to let go of the illusion of control, to take a breath, and to rest in the truth that God is present, loving, and faithful—even when life is confusing and hard. The journey of faith is not about doing more for God, but about being with Him, learning to abide, and letting Him transform us in the waiting.
Key Takeaways
- Waiting is an Invitation to Intimacy, Not Inactivity
God’s call to wait is not a command to do nothing, but an invitation to draw near, to prioritize His presence over our plans. In the waiting, we are challenged to trust that God is who He says He is, and that He will do what He has promised—even when we cannot see the outcome. Waiting exposes our need for control and invites us to deeper relationship with Him. [43:54]
- Biblical Strength is Found in Embracing Weakness
The world tells us to be strong, but God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. The stories of Joshua, Gideon, and the widow’s mite all point to a God who delights in using our insufficiency to display His sufficiency. True strength is not self-reliance, but humble dependence on God, even when His ways seem foolish or slow to us. [51:22]
- Pace Determines Peace
When we are out of pace with God, we are out of peace with God. Our hurried lives, our striving, and our anxiety are often symptoms of moving ahead of God’s timing. Intimacy and peace are found when we slow down, match our pace to His, and allow Him to lead—even if it means letting go of our agenda and embracing the discomfort of waiting. [45:14]
- Our “Binkies” and Blankets: The Illusion of Control
We all have grown-up versions of binkies and blankets—things we turn to for comfort, security, and control. Whether it’s financial stability, political outcomes, or personal achievements, these things can become substitutes for trusting God. The invitation is to recognize where we are self-soothing and to let God into our mess, allowing Him to be our true source of comfort and strength. [56:28]
- Abiding, Not Achieving, is the Heart of the Christian Life
Jesus calls us to abide in Him, not to achieve for Him. The fruitfulness and rest we long for come not from doing more, but from being with Him, letting Him carry our burdens, and learning to trust His pace. The journey of faith is about unlearning our survival strategies and relearning the way of dependence, patience, and intimacy with God. [02:38:59]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - The “I Know” Syndrome: Self-Sufficiency and Pride
[03:30] - The Challenge of Waiting on God
[07:10] - Moses at the Red Sea: Stillness in the Impossible
[11:00] - Be Still and Know: The Struggle with God’s Pace
[15:00] - Pace and Peace: Learning to Slow Down
[18:00] - Presence Over Solutions: The Priority of Relationship
[21:30] - Biblical Strength: Weakness as the Way
[25:00] - Binkies, Blankets, and the Illusion of Control
[28:30] - Receiving Help: Letting God Into Our Mess
[31:00] - Take Heart: Guarding Against Anxiety
[34:00] - Jesus’ Invitation: Rest for the Weary
[37:30] - The Cost of Intimacy: Surrendering Our Pace
[40:00] - Abiding and Unlearning: The True Path Forward
[43:00] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: “Waiting on the Lord: Pace, Peace, and Dependence”
---
### Bible Reading
Psalm 27:14 (ESV)
> Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV)
> But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)
> Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
---
### Observation Questions
1. In Psalm 27:14, what two actions does David repeat, and what does he say about the heart?
2. According to 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, what does Paul say about weakness and God’s power?
3. In Matthew 11:28-30, what does Jesus invite people to do, and what does he promise in return?
4. The sermon described how our culture values self-sufficiency and speed. What are some examples the pastor gave of how we try to “fix” things ourselves instead of waiting? [[43:54]]
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think David repeats the command to “wait for the Lord” in Psalm 27:14? What does this repetition suggest about the difficulty or importance of waiting? [[02:34:48]]
2. The sermon says, “Biblical strength is found in weakness.” How does this idea challenge the way most people think about strength? [[51:22]]
3. Jesus offers rest for the weary in Matthew 11. According to the sermon, what does it mean to “take his yoke” and go at his pace? Why is this hard for us? [[01:07:20]]
4. The pastor talked about “binkies and blankets”—the things we use for comfort and control. What are some modern “binkies” people rely on, and why do we turn to them instead of God? [[56:28]]
---
### Application Questions
1. The sermon said, “Waiting is not passive resignation; it is an active posture of prioritizing God’s presence over our own plans.” What is one area of your life where you feel God might be asking you to wait instead of act? How can you actively seek his presence in that waiting? [[43:54]]
2. The pastor shared that “pace determines peace”—when we are out of pace with God, we are out of peace with God. Think about your current pace of life. Are you moving ahead of God, lagging behind, or walking with him? What would it look like to slow down and match your pace to his this week? [[45:14]]
3. The sermon challenged us to “lay down our weapons, our strategies, and our ‘binkies.’” What is one “binky” or comfort item (like financial security, control, or achievement) you tend to cling to? What would it look like to surrender that to God? [[56:28]]
4. The pastor said, “True biblical strength is found in weakness, in admitting our need, and in allowing God to fight for us.” Is there a situation where you need to admit your weakness and ask for help—from God or from others? What’s holding you back? [[51:22]]
5. Jesus invites us to “take his yoke” and let him carry our burdens. Is there a burden you’ve been carrying alone? What would it look like to invite Jesus into that burden and let him set the pace? [[01:07:20]]
6. The sermon talked about “abiding, not achieving” as the heart of the Christian life. What is one practical way you can focus more on being with God this week, rather than just doing things for him? [[02:38:59]]
7. The pastor mentioned that waiting on the Lord often means unlearning old survival strategies and relearning trust and dependence. What is one “survival strategy” you’ve relied on that you sense God wants you to unlearn? How can your group support you in this? [[02:40:46]]
---
Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for one another, especially for areas where waiting, weakness, or surrender are difficult. Ask God to help each person experience his presence, peace, and rest as they learn to walk at his pace.
Devotional
Day 1: Waiting on the Lord: The Pathway to Intimacy
Waiting on the Lord is not about passivity or laziness, but about prioritizing His presence over our own plans and timelines. In a world that values action and self-sufficiency, waiting feels counterintuitive, especially when we are desperate for answers or relief. Yet, it is in the waiting that God invites us into deeper relationship, teaching us to trust Him beyond our understanding and to find peace in His presence rather than in our circumstances. When we slow down and align our pace with His, we discover that intimacy with God is found not in doing, but in being with Him, even when life feels uncertain or out of control. [42:40]
Psalm 27:14 (ESV)
Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
Reflection: Where in your life are you rushing ahead, seeking answers or solutions, instead of waiting on God’s presence? What would it look like to intentionally slow down and seek intimacy with Him today?
Day 2: Biblical Strength: Embracing Weakness
True strength in the kingdom of God is found not in self-reliance or control, but in embracing our weakness and dependency on Him. The stories of Moses at the Red Sea, Joshua at Jericho, and Gideon’s dwindling army all reveal that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness, not our might. When we let go of our need to appear strong and surrender our “binkies and blankets”—the things we cling to for false security—we make space for God’s glory to be revealed in our lives. Admitting our need and vulnerability is not failure; it is the doorway to experiencing God’s sufficiency and faithfulness. [50:32]
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV)
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are trying to be strong on your own? How can you invite God into your weakness and trust Him to show His strength there?
Day 3: Take Heart: Guarding Your Heart and Finding Peace
In the midst of anxiety, stress, and the pressures of life, God calls us to “take heart”—to relax, breathe, and guard our hearts from the distractions that pull us away from trusting Him. Jesus points us to the birds and the flowers, reminding us that God cares for us even more than He does for creation, and that anxiety only distracts us from His love and provision. By learning to take a breath and trust that God is in control, we can break the cycle of stress and model a life of peace and trust for the next generation. [01:01:25]
Matthew 6:25-27 (ESV)
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?”
Reflection: When anxiety or stress rises today, what practical step can you take to pause, breathe, and remind your heart of God’s care and control?
Day 4: The Pace of Intimacy: Walking with Jesus, Not Ahead
God moves at the pace of intimacy, not urgency, and invites us to walk with Him rather than running ahead in our own strength. Like a yoke shared with Jesus, true rest and fruitfulness come when we allow Him to carry our burdens and set the pace, even if it feels slower than we would choose. Our resistance to His pace often reveals our impatience, our desire for control, and our struggle with dependency. Yet, it is only by abiding in Him—being with Him, not just doing for Him—that we experience the fullness of His love and the fruit He desires to produce in us. [01:07:20]
Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Reflection: In what area of your life are you resisting Jesus’ pace because it feels too slow or inconvenient? How might you surrender your timeline and walk in step with Him today?
Day 5: Unlearning Survival: Trusting God’s Presence Over Old Habits
Many of us have developed survival strategies—ways of coping, controlling, or self-protecting—that once helped us endure hardship but now keep us from experiencing the fullness of God’s kingdom. God invites us to unlearn these old habits and trust Him with our whole lives, not just for salvation but for daily living. This means letting go of self-sufficiency, embracing our need for help, and prioritizing relationship with Him above all else. As we do, we discover that His presence is enough, even in the midst of pain, confusion, or waiting. [02:40:46]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Reflection: What is one survival habit or self-protective pattern you sense God inviting you to unlearn? What step can you take today to trust Him more fully and invite Him into that area?
Quotes
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Jul 27, 2025. Do you have any questions about it?