Transformative Waiting: Embracing Faith in Seasons of Delay
Summary
In the sermon, I was reminded of the importance of patience and surrender in our spiritual journey. I was encouraged to go to the Lord every day and ask for a reminder that it's not about the destination, but about the transformation that occurs within us. The Lord revealed to me that I've waited well when I come out looking more like Him. This was a profound realization for me, as I had been under the false impression that getting out of my waiting season was the prize, rather than meeting God in it. I was also reminded that we cannot earn the gospel or His kindness, love, and favor on our lives.
In the second part of the sermon, I was reminded of the importance of how we talk about God and our own lives during waiting seasons. It's crucial to be careful about the words we use about God and His character. It's also important to be honest about our grief, pain, doubt, and fear during these seasons. I was reminded that even in the darkest times, we can still bless God and ourselves. I was also encouraged to surrender to God's timing and not my own, as His timing is perfect.
Key Takeaways:
- Waiting well means coming out looking more like God. This is a sign of spiritual growth and transformation. ([15:51])
- We cannot earn the gospel or God's kindness, love, and favor. These are gifts from God, not rewards for good behavior or patience. ([16:53])
- It's important to be careful about the words we use about God and His character, especially during waiting seasons. ([01:12])
- Even in the darkest times, we can still bless God and ourselves. This is a powerful act of faith and trust in God's goodness and love. ([02:25])
- We are called to be patient and passionate in every season of our lives, not just during waiting seasons. ([11:06])
Study Guide
Takeaways from the sermon:
1. In seasons of waiting, it's crucial to be mindful of how we speak about God and ourselves. We must remember that God is not a grumpy grandpa waiting for us to figure things out, but a loving Father teaching us many things at once. We should also be honest about our feelings of grief, pain, doubt, and fear during these seasons. (source: [01:12])
2. The ultimate longing and waiting is to be with God. We often think that if we achieve certain things, we will feel fulfilled. However, the ultimate satisfaction and peace can only be found in Jesus. (source: [13:00])
3. Waiting is not a passive state but an active one. It involves living in obedience to what God has already called us to do and growing deeper in intimacy with Him. Even in the waiting, we can still grow deeper in our foundations with Jesus. (source: [05:12])
Bible Reading:
1. Psalm 16
2. Isaiah 61
3. Matthew 16:24-26
Observation Questions:
1. In Psalm 16, what does the psalmist say about God's presence and guidance during difficult times?
2. In Isaiah 61, what promises does God make to those who are waiting?
3. In Matthew 16:24-26, what does Jesus say about following Him and self-sacrifice?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Psalm 16 relate to our discussion about speaking positively about God and ourselves during waiting seasons?
2. How does Isaiah 61 provide hope and encouragement for those in a season of waiting?
3. How does Jesus' teaching in Matthew 16:24-26 challenge our natural inclinations during waiting seasons?
Application Questions:
1. How can you speak more positively about God and yourself during your current season of waiting?
2. What is one way you can grow deeper in your relationship with God during this time?
3. How can you apply Jesus' teaching about self-sacrifice in your current situation?
4. When was the last time you felt like you were in a season of waiting? How did you see God working in that time?
5. How can you encourage someone else who is currently in a season of waiting?
Devotional
Day 1: Transformation in Waiting
Waiting seasons are not idle times but transformative periods where we grow to resemble Christ more. It's not about reaching the destination but about who we become in the process. The true measure of waiting well is emerging more like Jesus, reflecting His joy and bearing His fruit even in the midst of waiting ([15:51]).
Romans 5:3-4 - "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent season of waiting. How did it transform you to look more like Jesus?
Day 2: The False Gospel of Waiting
We often fall into the trap of believing that if we wait well, we'll get what we want. This is a false gospel. We cannot earn God's kindness, love, and favor. The true victory in waiting is becoming more like Him, realizing that we have God right now ([16:53]).
Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast."
Reflection: Have you ever fallen into the trap of the false gospel of waiting? How can you shift your focus from getting what you want to becoming more like God?
Day 3: Surrendering to God's Timing
Our natural tendency is to control and plan, but God calls us to surrender to His timing. His timing is perfect, and we must learn to lay our desires on the altar and trust His plan ([09:07]).
Proverbs 19:21 - "Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails."
Reflection: What are some areas in your life where you need to surrender to God's timing?
Day 4: Patience and Passion
We are called to be both patient and passionate in every season of our lives. Patience is a declaration that only God can move us, and passion is a bold stance that we take in every season, even in waiting ([11:06]).
Galatians 5:22-23 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
Reflection: How can you cultivate both patience and passion in your current season?
Day 5: Blessing in Waiting
Even in dark seasons of waiting, we can bless God and bless ourselves. We can acknowledge our grief and pain, but also recognize that God is with us, preparing us and working mightily in us ([03:01]).
Psalm 16:6 - "The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance."
Reflection: How can you find blessing in your current season of waiting?
Quotes
1. "You've waited well when you come out looking more like me. When you're in the middle of your waiting and people don't even know it because the joy of the Lord is your strength. You are bearing witness to my fruit even in that." - 16:22
2. "We live in a culture that just kind of pushes us to get things done, to accomplish things, to have a one-year plan, a five-year plan. But sometimes as believers, as passionate followers of Christ, we realize that his timing is not our timing." - 09:07
3. "Waiting is a declaration that only God can move me. When we demonstrate that patience, it's not a lack of activity, it's a powerful stance to say that only the Holy Spirit will move me in this hour." - 10:30
4. "Even in Waiting Seasons, make space for our grief and our pain and also to say God's right here, God's right there. I see you in that waiting season, I see him preparing you but he's mighty in you right now." - 03:01
5. "Abiding in God in our season of waiting looks like multiple things. Number one, it's living in obedience to what he's already called you to do. Waiting in the Lord is not just doing nothing, it's not passive but it's actively stewarding what he's called you to do in that season and living in obedience." - 05:12
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?