Where to Wait While Waiting on God
In all seasons of life God directs our steps. Now made alive in Christ, God guides us along the paths he prearranged and prepared for us to walk in (Ephesians 2:10 AMP). He tells us where and when to depart from and enter a place. He also tells us when and where to wait in expectation—abide. Despite His divine guidance, we can choose to deviate from what God has in mind for us. The renowned love and kindness of God allows us free will—we have a choice. He will never force us to accept what is best for us. Waiting on God will stir up new battles over old grievances between the old man dead in sin and the new man alive in Christ Jesus. Aware of our propensity to fall short of His glory (Romans 3:23 NIV), God tells us to abide in places He knows will continuously sustain us until the appointed time of provision, healing, victory, restoration, etcetera. It is important to wait where He says to wait because only in that place will you find proper fuel to continue walking by the spirit and not gratify desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16 NIV). The place God directs us to wait will help us not grow weary in well doing (Galatians 6:9 KJV).
How to know whether you are waiting where God told you to wait on Him?
Assess whether the place you currently are conveys life like green pastures. As His sheep God will direct us to abide in green pastures or places with much grass. In Psalm 23, David the shepherd described how God is to him as he is to the sheep under his care—His Shepherd. He states, “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures” ( verse 2 KJV). This idea of grass appears again in saint John chapter 6 verse 10 after the lad with five loaves and two small fishes was mentioned to Jesus. Here Jesus says, “Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So, the men sat down, in number about five thousand” (KJV). After Jesus said this, He provided for all of them to eat with some left over.
Why would God direct His sheep to grass? God desires us to be kept and sustained while we wait on His will to be done. Green pastures and places with much grass is where God wants us to wait on Him. Where are the green pastures and places with much grass?They are found in God and all things concerning Him. What does abiding in the Lord God Almighty—green pastures— look like? It looks like abiding in His word, presence, and peace. It looks like abiding in prayer, worship, and the confidence of knowing the Lord God is who He says He is. In these places the Holy Spirit is welcomed and not grieved. We become aligned with God as we surrender to His will and ways. This helps us discern and become more receptive to what God has for us. For example, the thing you could be waiting on God for could come in a package that contradicts what you had in mind. However, abiding and resting in Him can help you discern things from him. Considering this we must choose not to abide in desolate rocky patches like fear, pain, impatience, disbelief, disappointment etc.
In all remain vigilant of the places you stay. If you begin drifting to desolate patches of fear recall and abide in God’s word—green pastures. For He can preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore (Psalm 121: 8 KJV). Our Lord God will always be an everlasting friend, refuge, strength, portion, and strong tower.
