Waiting on God: Trusting His Timing and Promises
Summary
This morning, we reflected on the relentless goodness and faithfulness of God—a goodness that not only pursues us but also desires to flow through us to others, even in our most difficult moments. Each of us is called to be a vessel of God’s love, to let His mercy and kindness follow others through our actions, just as we have experienced His grace in our own lives. The vision for our church is to equip every believer to live a lifestyle of worship that brings about real change, not just within these walls but in every sphere of influence God has given us.
We explored the “pothole of desperation”—those moments when waiting on God feels unbearable, and we’re tempted to take matters into our own hands. Desperation, by definition, is a state of despair that often leads to rash or extreme decisions. It is the opposite of faith, which is rooted in hope and trust in God’s promises. Through the stories of Abraham and King Saul, we saw how acting out of desperation rather than faith leads to consequences that can be long-lasting and painful. Abraham, after waiting ten years for God’s promise of a son, listened to the wrong voice and tried to “help” God, resulting in strife that echoes through history. Saul, too, lost his anointing and legacy because he could not wait for God’s timing and acted foolishly in desperation.
Yet, even in our failures, God’s mercy is greater. He restores, reaffirms His promises, and invites us back into relationship with Him. The key is to seek God, listen to His voice, and obey—even when it means waiting longer than we’d like. Waiting is not passive; it is an act of faith that positions us to receive God’s best. As we learn to spot the pothole of desperation and swerve around it, we open ourselves to the fullness of God’s blessing and purpose for our lives. Let us be a people who wait on the Lord, trusting that His timing is perfect and His promises are sure.
Key Takeaways
- God’s goodness is not just something we receive; it’s something we are called to extend to others, even in moments of pain or injustice. When we allow God’s love to flow through us, we become living testimonies of His relentless pursuit and grace, sometimes impacting lives in ways we may never fully realize. [06:10]
- Desperation is the opposite of faith. When we lose hope and grow tired of waiting, we are tempted to make rash decisions that do not align with God’s will. True faith is sustained by hope and patience, trusting that God’s promises are worth the wait, even when circumstances seem stagnant or discouraging. [13:40]
- Acting in desperation often leads us to seek, listen to, and obey the wrong voices. Like Abraham and Saul, we may justify our actions by seeking advice that aligns with our impatience rather than God’s word, but this only leads us further from His best. Discernment and obedience are cultivated in the quiet, often uncomfortable, space of waiting. [17:52]
- Disobedience born out of desperation can have lasting consequences, even affecting generations. Saul’s impatience cost him his kingdom, and Abraham’s decision led to ongoing strife. Yet, God’s mercy is such that even when we fail, He offers restoration and reaffirms His promises if we return to Him in humility and repentance. [25:06]
- Waiting on God is an act of worship and trust. It is in the waiting that our strength is renewed, our character is shaped, and our faith is proven genuine. When we resist the urge to act in desperation and instead wait upon the Lord, we position ourselves to receive the fullness of His blessing and to avoid unnecessary detours and pain. [29:27]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Celebrating God’s Goodness in Everyday Life
[04:45] - The Call to Be a Blessing
[06:10] - God’s Goodness Chasing Us
[08:00] - Vision: Equipping for a Lifestyle of Worship
[09:30] - Introduction to the Potholes of Life Series
[11:00] - The Pothole of Desperation Defined
[13:40] - Desperation vs. Faith
[16:54] - Acting Out of Desperation: Abraham’s Story
[19:10] - Saul: Another Example of Desperation
[21:55] - Saul’s Disobedience and Its Consequences
[25:06] - The Cost of Acting in Desperation
[27:06] - God’s Restoration After Failure
[28:54] - The Challenge of Waiting
[29:27] - The Blessing of Waiting on God
[31:34] - Invitation to Relationship with God
[32:43] - Prayer of Surrender and Closing
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: The Pothole of Desperation
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### Bible Reading
- Genesis 15:1-6; 16:1-4 (God’s promise to Abraham and Abraham’s response in desperation)
- 1 Samuel 10:7-8; 13:7-14 (Saul’s instructions from God and his desperate disobedience)
- Isaiah 40:31 (“But those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength…”)
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### Observation Questions
1. In Genesis 16:1-4, what did Sarai suggest to Abram when they grew tired of waiting for God’s promise? What was Abram’s response?
2. According to 1 Samuel 13:7-14, what did Saul do when Samuel didn’t arrive as quickly as he expected? What was the consequence of his action?
3. The sermon described desperation as “a state of despair, typically one which results in a rash or extreme behavior.” What examples did the pastor give from his own life or stories to illustrate this? [13:40]
4. What does Isaiah 40:31 say will happen to those who wait on the Lord?
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Abraham and Sarai, after ten years of waiting, decided to “help” God fulfill His promise? What does this reveal about human nature and faith? [16:54]
2. Saul was told to wait seven days for Samuel, but he acted out of desperation when Samuel was late. What does this story teach about the dangers of impatience and taking matters into our own hands? [21:55]
3. The sermon said, “Desperation is the opposite of faith.” In what ways does losing hope lead us to make decisions that are not aligned with God’s will? [13:40]
4. Even after Abraham and Saul’s failures, how did God respond? What does this show us about God’s character and His willingness to restore us? [27:06]
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### Application Questions
1. The pastor shared a story about blessing someone who wronged him, even in a painful moment. Can you think of a time when you had the opportunity to let God’s goodness flow through you to someone else, especially when it was hard? What happened, or what could you do differently next time? [06:10]
2. Are there areas in your life right now where you feel desperate or tired of waiting on God? What “voices” are you tempted to listen to in those moments—God’s, your own, or others’? [16:54]
3. When you look back, have you ever made a decision out of desperation that led to negative consequences? What did you learn from that experience? [25:06]
4. The sermon emphasized that waiting on God is not passive, but an act of faith and worship. What does “waiting on God” look like practically in your daily life? Is there something you need to surrender to Him and trust His timing for? [29:27]
5. The pastor said, “When we get desperate, we begin to seek, listen to, and obey the wrong advice.” How can you cultivate discernment and patience to avoid this trap? Are there specific steps you can take this week? [17:52]
6. God’s mercy restores us even after we fail. Is there an area where you need to return to God in humility and repentance? What would it look like to accept His restoration and move forward? [27:06]
7. The vision for our church is to equip every believer to live a lifestyle of worship that brings real change. What is one practical way you can be a vessel of God’s goodness and faithfulness in your home, workplace, or community this week? [08:00]
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Close in prayer, asking God for the strength to wait on Him, the courage to obey, and the grace to extend His goodness to others—even in difficult moments.
Devotional
Day 1: God’s Goodness Follows Us and Can Flow Through Us
God’s goodness and mercy are not just passive gifts we receive—they are active forces that pursue us, even in our lowest moments, and God desires to use us as vessels to extend His goodness to others, even those who may have wronged us. When we reflect on the times God’s love has chased after us, we are reminded that we are called to be agents of blessing, letting His kindness flow through us to impact the lives of those around us, no matter the circumstance. [07:40]
Psalm 23:6 (ESV)
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Reflection: Think of a time when someone wronged you or hurt you—how might you intentionally show them God’s goodness or pray a blessing over them this week?
Day 2: Desperation Leads to Rash Decisions and Listening to the Wrong Voice
Desperation often arises when we grow tired of waiting on God’s timing, leading us to seek shortcuts, listen to the wrong advice, and make choices that do not align with God’s will, as seen in Abraham and Sarah’s story. When we act out of impatience and try to “help” God fulfill His promises, we risk stepping outside of faith and into actions that bring unnecessary consequences, reminding us that faith and desperation are opposites—one rooted in hope, the other in lost hope. [16:54]
Genesis 16:1-2 (ESV)
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.
Reflection: Where in your life are you tempted to “help God out” because you’re tired of waiting? What would it look like to trust Him and wait on His timing instead?
Day 3: Acting in the Flesh Versus Walking in the Spirit
When we get desperate and act in our own strength, we operate “according to the flesh” rather than the Spirit, as Abraham did with Hagar, but God calls us to walk in the Spirit, displaying patience, self-control, and trust in His promises. The fruit of the Spirit is cultivated in seasons of waiting, and resisting the urge to take matters into our own hands allows God’s best to unfold in our lives. [17:52]
Galatians 4:23 (ESV)
But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise.
Reflection: In what area of your life do you sense you’re acting “in the flesh” rather than relying on the Spirit? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to help you wait and trust today?
Day 4: Acting in Desperation Is Foolish and Can Cost Us Greatly
The story of King Saul shows that acting in desperation—rather than waiting in obedience—can lead to foolish decisions and even the loss of God’s blessing or calling in our lives; obedience is what God desires most from us, even when waiting is hard. Saul’s impatience cost him his kingdom, reminding us that God values our trust and obedience above our sacrifices or attempts to control outcomes. [24:07]
1 Samuel 13:8-14 (ESV)
He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. So Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him. Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the Lord.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.” And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”
Reflection: Is there a decision you’re facing where you’re tempted to act out of fear or impatience? What would it look like to pause, seek God, and obey—even if it means waiting longer?
Day 5: God Restores and Reconfirms His Promises When We Return to Him
Even when we have acted rashly or missed the mark in our desperation, God is merciful and ready to restore us, reconfirming His promises and inviting us back into relationship and purpose if we will repent and turn to Him. No matter how far we’ve strayed or how foolish our choices, God’s goodness is still running after us, and He delights in forgiving, healing, and fulfilling His plans for our lives when we surrender anew. [28:18]
Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Reflection: Where do you need God’s restoration in your life? Take a moment to confess any area where you’ve acted in desperation, and ask God to renew your strength and hope as you wait on Him.
Quotes