Don’t WORRY, TRUST God! How To WAIT When God Seems SLOW, Pt. 1

Psa. 13:1-6; Selected Scriptures By D.Z. Cofield, Th.M., D.Min. February 7, 2021 Scripture Reading: Isaiah 31-40:28 NKJV – “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on 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.” NKJV 31-40:28 Isaiah How To WAIT When God Seems SLOW 1. Realize your TIMING is not The LORD’s timing (vv. 1-2). Psalm 13:1-2 (NKJV) – How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? 2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? A. FORGOTTEN – to mislay, i.e. to be oblivious of, to not remember or give attention to. Psalm 13:1a (NKJV) – How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? B. FORSAKEN – to hide (by covering), be absent, conceal, hide (self), (keep) secret. Psalm 13:1b (NKJV) – How long will You hide Your face from me? C. FRAGILE/FRAIL – advice; by implication plan; also prudence :- advice, advisement, counsel ([-lor]), purpose. Psalm 13:2a (NKJV) – How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart daily? D. FALLEN – to see others high active, to be raised or brought up, so conversely I see myself low and down. Psalm 13:2b (NKJV) – How long will my enemy be exalted over me? Habakkuk 1:2 (ESV) – O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save? 2. You need to REQUEST The LORD’s HELP (vv. 3-4) Psalm 13:3-4 (NKJV) – Consider and hear me, O LORD my God; Enlighten my eyes, Lest I sleep the sleep of death; 4 Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed against him”; Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved. Consider – to scan, i.e. look intently at; by implication to regard with pleasure, favor or care: – (cause to) behold, consider, look (down), regard, have respect, see. Hear – properly to eye or (general) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify, announce: – give account, afflict Enlighten – to be (causative make) luminous (literal and metaphorical) :- × break of day, glorious, kindle, (be, en-, give, show) light (-en, -ened), set on fire, shine. Questions to Consider 1. What’s the longest time you had to wait for something or someone? 2. What makes waiting hard? 3. What are some questions that go through your mind as you wait for The Lord to answer to your prayer? 4. What are some of the emotions you feel when you have to wait? 5. What are some of the techniques you use to combat waiting? 6. How can remembering God’s character (vv. 5-6) and the blessings of your past help you when you feel like The LORD is moving too slow? 7. What role should honesty play in your prayers to The LORD, especially when you are being impatient? 8. How do difficult situations affect your walk with The LORD? 9. How can remembering The LORD’s patience with you help you to become more patient with others? 10. What is one thing you can this week to help you deal with impatience?