Out of all fruits of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23, patience is the one I struggle the most with. I’m not alone, am I? But what if I told you that waiting can be a gift? A setup for more than what we desire?
James 1:4 says, “Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing”. Perfection and completeness mean nothing missing, nothing broken, and enjoying walking in the fullness of God’s perfect will for us.
In this post, we’ll explore how waiting on God resulted in two biblical figures, Hannah and Abraham, being perfected and completed, lacking nothing.
Hannah and Abraham’s Waiting Journeys
Hannah, a barren woman, prayed fervently for a son and waited for years until God eventually answered her and “in due time” she conceived Samuel (1 Samuel 1:20).
Abraham and Sarah, who were well advanced in age, waited for years to have a child, and eventually God promised them a son, Isaac, despite their old age (Genesis 18:10-14). They still had to continue waiting patiently even after the promise of a son was made by God.
The Perfecting Power of Waiting
In 1 Samuel 1:11, we see Hannah making a vow to give her son to God if He blesses her with one. We then see her faithfulness to that vow when surrenders and brings Samuel to the temple and dedicates him to God’s service (1 Samuel 1:24-28). What’s remarkable about this is that she was willing to give up her only son, whom she had waited for years, to serve God – sacrificing time away from him so he could be dedicated to God’s service. This level of surrender showcases the depth of her trust in God.
We also see Abraham’s complete trust and surrender in his willingness to obey God’s command to sacrifice Isaac, his only son at that time whom he got at his old age (Genesis 22:1-14). The very blessing he had waited for years for and not even sure him and Sarah could still conceive and have more children. He must have really trusted God for him to be able to do that.
Their waiting seasons seem to have shifted and postured their hearts to a state of surrender, trust – one that pleases God. I can imagine that this is because their waiting involved actively trusting, having faith, and praying. As David writes in Psalm 40:1, “I waited patiently for the LORD’s help; then he listened to me and heard my cry.” This illustrates that waiting in a biblical context is not passive but involves persistent prayer and time with God.
What’s remarkable is Hannah had only asked for one son, but we see that after God saw her faithfulness, trust, and surrender, which were birthed from her waiting season, God trusted her with and blessed her with three more sons and two daughters (1 Samuel 2:21). Similarly, Abraham was promised a son, Isaac, and through his faithfulness, trust, and obedience, God made him the father of many nations (Genesis 22:15-18). This reminds us of what Jesus said, “He who is faithful with little, God will give much” (Luke 16:10).
It’s almost like the waiting season gave them an opportunity to allow God to refine our hearts to a state that pleases Him and consequently brings forth a bountiful harvest than what we desire and ask for.
Closing remarks
I encourage you to stop seeing your waiting season as punishment, but instead, as a gift and opportunity for God to transform you, bringing you closer to Him and deepening your trust in Him, which is a setup for more! Wait actively by cultivating a deeper relationship with God through prayer and immersing yourself in His word, allowing Him space to transform your heart.
With God, waiting is never wasted. Even when he seems silent, he is working. Let patience have its perfect work, leaving you perfect, complete, and lacking in nothing!
Stay blessed,
Katekisani