Hurry up and Wait

Today’s Rick Warrens devotion is about waiting. I hate waiting, especially if it’s tied to a medical condition or medical procedure. For me, waiting can feel like a form of torture as it leaves me feeling dependent, helpless and often wondering. Not fun! The term “Hurry up and Wait” comes to mind and is the title of today’s devotion. I think of those who have served and prepare for going into battle. Many of us find ourselves preparing for and engaged in various types of battles.

Wikipedia describes ….

"Hurry up and wait" as a phrase used to refer to the situation in which one is forced to hurry in order to complete a certain task, or arrive at a certain destination, by a specified time; only for nothing to happen at that time, often because other required tasks are still awaiting completion. The phrase may have originated in the United States Military in the 1940s. Many U.S. military veterans, in particular, consider this phrase to be synonymous with military culture.

Todays Devotion

By Rick Warren — 05/11/2024

Five Things to Do While You Wait

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”

Matthew 7:7 (NLT)

Do you ever feel like you’re waiting on God? Maybe you can’t relate to the Israelites, who wandered in the desert for 40 years while they were waiting on God to deliver them. But you feel like God has you on hold. He hasn’t given you the answer or the deliverance you wanted or expected.

God still makes us wander in the desert sometimes—but there is always a purpose to the wait.

When God has you in a waiting period, don’t put your life on hold. Instead, imitate the habits that grow strong faith.

The Bible says there are five things you should keep on doing in the waiting period.

1. Keep on praying.Matthew 7:7 says, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you” (NLT). Keep on praying, and you will get your answer.

2. Keep on serving.The Bible says in Romans 12:11, “Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically”(NLT). Don’t worry about having a significant ministry. Just make your ministry significant.

3. Keep on going to small group.“Let us not give up the habit of meeting together . . . Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer”(Hebrews 10:25 GNT).

4. Keep on sowing.Ecclesiastes 11:6 says, “Keep on sowing your seed, for you never know which will grow—perhaps it all will” (TLB). You never know what God will do with the seeds you plant while you’re waiting.

5. Keep on believing.The Bible says, “You must keep on believing the things you have been taught. You know they are true” (2 Timothy 3:14 TLB).

While you wait, stay active. Don’t be passive. God cannot steer a parked car!

Don’t tell God you’re waiting on him. Turn on the ignition, and just start driving. Where? Anywhere! Get involved in a ministry. Get involved in service. Get involved with small group. Do the things you know you could be doing to develop your skills and habits and become more like Jesus.

Talk It Over

• How do you tend to react when God has you in a waiting period?

• In what ways does a small group help you become more like Jesus, especially in the waiting periods of life?

• What steps can you take today to be more active about your faith?