HE IS IN THE WAITING

Devotional

Day 1: When Moses Dies, New Roads Begin

The end of one season often feels like death before new purpose emerges. Transitions demand courage to release what’s familiar and step into uncharted territory. Just as Joshua faced the Jordan after Moses’ death, God’s promises require us to let old identities, routines, or comforts die. These endings aren’t failures but divine invitations to trust His timeline. The ache of loss is real, but so is the land ahead. Growth happens when we stop clinging to expired chapters. [03:16]

“Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land that I am giving to them.” (Joshua 1:2, ESV)

Reflection: What “Moses” in your life needs to die for new obedience to begin? How might God be calling you to arise even while grief lingers?

Day 2: Seeds Don’t Harvest in Microwaves

A seed’s most vulnerable moment is the silent stretch between planting and sprouting. Like slow-cooked meals, God’s promises simmer in hidden seasons where roots deepen. Impatience tempts us to dig up seeds or demand instant results, but harvests require unseen work. The enemy targets this middle space with lies of abandonment, but God guards what He starts. Waiting isn’t punishment—it’s protection. [08:20]

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (John 12:24, ESV)

Reflection: Where are you tempted to distrust God’s timing? What seed feels buried in your life that needs patient tending today?

Day 3: Courage Is a Person in Your Boat

Storms reveal where we’ve anchored our hope. When waves threaten, Jesus doesn’t shout instructions from shore—He climbs into the chaos with us. “Take courage” (tharseo) means drawing boldness from His presence, not self-effort. Like Peter, we fixate on wind until His voice refocuses us. The I AM walks on your waves, silencing ghosts of fear. [20:36]

“But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.’” (Matthew 14:27, ESV)

Reflection: What storm makes you question God’s nearness? How would embracing “I AM here” shift your perspective today?

Day 4: Dig Deeper Than the Sand

Shallow faith crumbles under life’s pressures. Roots grow when we drill into Scripture, prayer, and community during dry spells. Like the wise builder, digging past surface-level sand to bedrock isn’t glamorous—it’s sweaty, repetitive work. But storms test foundations, not facades. What you do in the waiting determines how you weather the breaking. [35:11]

“He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.” (Luke 6:48, ESV)

Reflection: What spiritual discipline feels tedious but necessary? How can you “dig deeper” this week in one area?

Day 5: Saturday’s Silence Holds Resurrection

The tomb between Friday’s cross and Sunday’s dawn feels like God’s absence. Yet Saturday sanctifies our trust. Like Lazarus’ four-day wait or Habakkuk’s confusion, God works when we see nothing. His silence isn’t indifference—it’s incubation. Resurrection comes to those who worship while the stone still seals the cave. [45:22]

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines… yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” (Habakkuk 3:17–18, ESV)

Reflection: Where does God’s silence tempt you to despair? How can you choose joy in the “Saturday” of your waiting?

Sermon Summary

“Moses my servant is dead.” Joshua 1 opens by naming transition with a funeral, not a fanfare. Genesis 8:22 then supplies the rhythm that governs the whole movement: seed, time, harvest. In Hebrew that veh ties seed-time-harvest as a package deal, so harvest is guaranteed when God plants a seed, but that little word in the middle, time, is not a typo. God is a slow cooker kind of God. Joseph lives the time between pit and palace for ten to thirteen years. Lazarus receives a two-day delay from a Friend who loves him. Jesus walks through the “Silent Saturday” before resurrection. Delay is often intended, not punitive.

The enemy’s playground is the middle. The seed is most vulnerable when it’s buried and unseen, so the attack comes with lies and hurry. Into that exact middle God speaks to Joshua, not with hype but with presence: “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you… be strong and courageous.” Kazak veh amatz names a stance that is physically unyielding and internally brave. On the water Jesus says, “Take heart… it is I,” ego eimi, the I AM who stood in the bush now stands in the storm. Courage is not self-generated willpower. Tharseo is emboldened-from-within because the Creator is near. I AM is in the storm, in the waiting, in the gap between promise and fulfillment.

Then comes the call to dig deep. God anchors Joshua’s courage to practice: do not depart from the book, meditate day and night. The “fuzzies” fade and Monday arrives. The seed’s first move is not a leaf but a root, driving down and spreading out where nobody claps. The wise builder in a sandy land does not find exposed rock; he digs until he hits it. Digging is sweaty, unglamorous, and it does not stop the storm, but it keeps the house standing. So the disciple digs deep in the Word to handle the real until lies feel wrong, prays like Habakkuk who wrestles and then watches, and leans into community that says, “Take heart,” while the armor stays on and the saint stands.

Do not make the miracle the answer. Jesus is the answer and the prize, and the harvest becomes an awesome byproduct. Life will hand out many middles, and even Israel’s “green pastures” are rocky with small tufts. Build on His unchanging character so Saturday’s silence does not break faith. At the Table the covenant speaks again: “You are mine… I will never leave you.” Take courage. He is in the waiting, and He is never failing.

Key Takeaways

1. Seed, time, harvest is covenantal [07:17] God stitches seed and harvest together with that veh, yet leaves time sitting squarely in the middle. Intended delay is not divine disinterest but divine design. Joseph, Lazarus, and Jesus all pass through “Silent Saturday” before glory breaks. The disciple can trust that what God plants, God will raise. [07:17]
2. The middle is contested ground [14:22] The buried seed is fragile, so the enemy throws hurry, fear, and second-guessing at the soul. This is where formation or derailment happens. Guard the soil with presence, truth, and patience so the root can take hold. What looks like nothing is often the most important work God is doing. [14:22]
3. Courage is a person, I AM [21:14] “Take heart… it is I” announces presence before peace. Tharseo is not hype; it is emboldening that rises because ego eimi stands in the storm. Kazak veh amatz holds a body steady and a heart brave when circumstances refuse to change. Courage lasts when it is borrowed from the One who does not. [21:14]
4. Dig deep when nothing shows [34:46] The wise builder does not find rock; he digs to it. Meditation, obedience, and long prayer feel unglamorous, but they lay rebar into bedrock. When the storm arrives, the house reveals what was hidden. Roots grown in secret keep leaves standing in public. [34:46]
5. Do not idolize the breakthrough [44:46] If faith rests on the goosebumps of harvest, Saturday’s silence will crush it. Jesus is the prize; the miracle is a gift that serves the Giver’s glory. Holding Him as the answer frees the heart to endure many middles without losing love. Communion nails that confidence down with covenant blood. [44:46]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:50] - Cape Town impatience and waiting
[02:15] - Slow cooker God, not microwave
[02:56] - Joshua 1: Moses is dead
[05:30] - Seed, time, harvest covenant rhythm
[09:49] - Joseph and Lazarus: intended delay
[13:11] - Death, Silent Saturday, Resurrection
[14:02] - The enemy attacks the middle
[15:49] - Be strong and courageous, Joshua
[20:56] - Take heart: I AM in the storm
[27:50] - Dig deep: meditate and obey
[34:46] - Digging to the rock under sand
[38:23] - Habakkuk’s wrestle and watchtower
[39:56] - Community and standing in armor
[46:05] - Communion: covenant courage in waiting

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Joshua 1:2, 5-9 (ESV)
“Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them… No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them… This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Observation questions

In Genesis 8:22, God establishes a rhythm of “seed, time, harvest.” How does the Hebrew word veh (meaning “and”) tie these three elements together as a covenant promise?
What specific instructions does God give Joshua in Joshua 1:5-9 to anchor his courage during the transition after Moses’ death?
When Jesus says, “Take heart; it is I” (Matthew 14:27) in the storm, how does His use of “I AM” (ego eimi) connect to His identity and presence in difficult seasons? [21:14]
How does the parable of the wise builder digging to reach bedrock (Luke 6:47-48) illustrate the importance of hidden spiritual work during waiting periods? [34:46]

Interpretation questions

Why might God intentionally place “time” between seed and harvest, even though it creates vulnerability to doubt or attack? How does this design reflect His character?
The sermon describes courage as “emboldened-from-within” (tharseo) because of Jesus’ presence. How does this differ from self-generated willpower, and why does it matter in seasons of waiting? [24:14]
In John 11:5-6, Jesus delays responding to Lazarus’ sickness despite loving him. How does this story challenge common assumptions about God’s timing and His care for us?
The enemy attacks the “middle” phase of growth. What makes this season particularly vulnerable, and how does meditating on Scripture guard against lies or hurry? [14:22]

Application questions

What “middle” season are you currently navigating (e.g., waiting for healing, a promise, or direction)? How can you actively remind yourself of God’s presence in this phase instead of fixating on the outcome? [25:08]
The sermon compares spiritual growth to a seed growing roots before breaking the surface. What “unseen” practices (prayer, Scripture, community) could you prioritize this week to strengthen your foundation? [32:10]
When have you been tempted to view a breakthrough (healing, provision, etc.) as the ultimate answer instead of Jesus Himself? How might shifting your focus to His presence change your perspective on waiting? [44:46]
Habakkuk wrestled with God’s plan but chose to “watch and wait” (Habakkuk 2:1). What unanswered prayer or confusing circumstance could you bring to God in honest prayer while still choosing to trust His character? [38:23]
The parable of the wise builder required digging through sand to reach rock. What area of your life (relationships, faith, habits) needs “digging” even if progress isn’t visible yet?
How can your small group support one another in “standing unyielding” (kazak veh amatz) during trials? What practical encouragement or accountability would help? [17:49]
Communion reminds us of God’s covenant faithfulness. How might regularly reflecting on His promises (e.g., “I will never leave you”) reshape your response to delays or silence? [46:21]

Sermon Clips

28s

#FaithOverHype

“``If your faith is built on the hype of the seed, you will abandon ship when God seems silent. And if your faith is built on the goosebumps of the breakthrough, you can collapse under the weight of the Saturday, the time in the tomb, the waiting.”

31s

#KnowHimInWaiting

“Like the wise man who dug deep, that waiting period demands that you know him deeply. It forces you to build your foundation on his unchanging character and not your shifting circumstances. Goseo means that in the absolute dead silence of the Saturday, you can look at that sealed tomb and you can say,”

21s

#IKnowHim

“I don't see anything moving. I don't hear anything happening, but I know him. And because I know him, I know that he hasn't left the room.”

31s

#GodIsInTheMiddle

“I am is in the period between the seed and the harvest, between the death and the resurrection, between the promise and the promise fulfilled. I am is in the middle. He's in the but that's not stuck in the middle with you. He's stuck in the middle with you because he wants to be because when his presence is in is there, you can have courage and he says, take courage.”

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HE IS IN THE WAITING

Devotional

Day 1: When Moses Dies, New Roads Begin

Day 2: Seeds Don’t Harvest in Microwaves

Day 3: Courage Is a Person in Your Boat

Day 4: Dig Deeper Than the Sand

Day 5: Saturday’s Silence Holds Resurrection

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

HE IS IN THE WAITING

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