Reflections on Waiting

If you have your Bible, I want to invite you to open it with me to the next book in the New Testament, Romans 8:13–30. If you’re taking notes, I want to briefly share five reminders that our souls need in seasons of waiting, as I reflect on these three and a half years of waiting in my life. I say briefly because any one of these reminders could easily be a stand-alone sermon. This will be a bit unique because all five of these reminders don’t even come directly from this passage in Romans 8, although they’re summarized here. However, they definitely do come straight from God’s Word in ways I’ve seen and studied over the last three and a half years.

I would recommend a book that has been a constant companion to me over this time written by Andrew Murray: Waiting on God. It’s short and simple, yet not intended to be read in one sitting. It’s intended to be walked through slowly. Every chapter is a couple of pages, picking a place in the Bible that talks about waiting and meditating on it. It’s been super helpful for me, pointing me to God’s Word.

That leads to Romans 8:18–30. While I read this passage, notice three times where it mentions waiting. This is God’s Word. 

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Isn’t it interesting that the Bible links waiting with adoption? As followers of Jesus, we are waiting for our adoption as children of God which actually then makes the entire Christian life a life of waiting. You might think, “Well, aren’t we already adopted? Aren’t we already children of God?” The biblical answer is yes. All who have repented and believed in Jesus as Lord are adopted as sons and daughters of God. However, we are waiting to be fully united with our Father and family in heaven.

In many ways, this is like the situation our family has been walking through for the last three and a half years. The match had been made, the relationship was real, JD was our son, but we weren’t together yet. Now we’re together. His adoption is complete. 

This is what we’re waiting for as followers of Jesus. We have a real relationship with God as our Father, but we’re waiting to be with him fully, which means we’re longing, groaning, and hoping—to use language from Romans 8—for the day when our adoption will be complete and we’re home. 

So the question is how do you not lose heart in the waiting? How do you hold fast to faith in the waiting? Here are five reminders I want to encourage you with today, based on what God has reminded me of over these last three and a half years, specifically the last few weeks.

Remember that God is Sovereign Over Everyone and Everything

When you’re waiting, remember God is sovereign. This word means he has all authority over everyone and everything. In other words, he is ultimately in control, meaning that circumstances are never out of control—even hard things. 

Did you notice in Romans 8:20 how the “creation was subjected to futility”? That’s in the passive voice—was subjected—Which begs the question who subjected creation to futility? Did Satan do that? Well, look at the rest of the verse: “because of him who subjected it in hope.” Satan doesn’t do anything in hope that the creation will be “set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the children of God.” God is sovereign over this whole picture, over everyone and everything in creation. 

The rest of this passage makes this both clear and personal to us. Verse 28, one of the most well-known verses in the book of Romans, states, “For those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” 

Do you know what the Greek word translated “all things” there means? It means all things. Everything. Without exception. Even hard things. Even the worst things God will work together for good, because God is sovereign over all things. God has a purpose in all things, which leads right into verses 29 and 30 in the big picture of God conforming us into the image of his Son Jesus and ultimately glorifying us with him.

Do you realize what this passage is telling us? What God is saying to us right now? He is always working all things together for his purpose that is far bigger than any one thing. This is so important to remember. This morning here at Tysons we sang a song named “Never Lost” about how God doesn’t lose battles. I remember one day a few years ago singing in the car—more like yelling—that song as it looked like maybe we were going to get to go. Then it didn’t happen. I remember struggling, looking back at that moment. “God, you never lose. So why are we still here? Why are we still waiting?” The problem was I was only seeing part of the picture; God sees it all. Sometimes God gives us glimpses of the bigger picture. 

Let me show you a picture from the last few weeks when we were overseas. It’s not that great a scene; it’s just walking through a hotel hallway. But I snapped this picture because I was so struck by the scene. On the left, you’ll see our daughter, Mara, who came home from China 12 years ago—after God had used long years of waiting for children to open our hearts to adoption in the first place. Mare is holding the hand of little Mercy who, without going into the whole story now, would not even be in our family if JD’s adoption had not been postponed. Then Mercy is holding the hand of her older brother that she now hugs and kisses, and sometimes annoys non-stop. So this is a story that only a sovereign God can write. 

I am not saying that every story ends this way in this world—with a tidy bow on it. I’m not even saying this bow is that tidy. What I am saying is what the Bible is saying. God is sovereign over everyone and everything, which means that you and I can always trust he is working all things together for his purpose. And his purpose is for our good and ultimately for our glory with him.

In other words, it’s true. In the end, it will be clear that God does not lose. In the end, all who trust in him will experience his victory. This actually leads to the second reminder, but don’t ever forget in the waiting that God is sovereign over everyone and everything.

Remember that God Loves You More Than You Know

God loves you more than you know, after all, he is your Father who has adopted you because of his love for you. Did you see the word predestined in Romans 8:29? There’s a lot we could talk about here as well as other places, like Ephesians 1. The language here is that God chose us before the foundation of the world, and in love he predestined us to adoption as his children. Remember this in the middle of your waiting. 

Amidst the weakness you feel, the challenges you face, especially on the days when you’re tempted to lose heart, lack faith, maybe give up—because the longing, hurt, pain or sorrow is so heavy—remember that before the sun was ever even made, before mountains were ever laid on the earth, before oceans poured forth on the land, before a star was even set in the sky, almighty God set his sight on your soul. If you really think about it, that will knock you out of your seat. God decided to adopt you and he loves you more than you know. 

I was reading Psalm 56:8–9a couple weeks ago. At this low point in David’s life, he writes:

You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me.

Do you see this? When you can’t sleep at night, God sees you. When the tears flow, God holds them. He loves you so much. Remember this: God is for you. In the waiting, don’t doubt the weight of God’s love for you. And not just you.

Remember that God Loves Others More Than You Do

I have needed this reminder when I prayed for my son and wondered, “God, why is the door not opening to go to him?” I have needed to remember over and over and over again that God loves JD more than I do. God is reminding me who he is in Psalm 68:5: “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows…in his holy habitation.” That’s who he is in heaven.

This obviously is an adoption, but in a broader sense, may this be an important reminder that often our waiting does involve other people’s lives. We’re waiting with others, for others, on behalf of others, longing for the good of others. If we’re not careful, we can start to question, not just God’s love for us, but God’s love toward them. It’s good to remember that God loves others more than we do. God is love.

Remember that God is the Goal

This may be the most important reminder: God is the goal. I have needed to be reminded over and over again in the last three and a half years that adoption is not the goal. If Heather and I thought, “If only we could get JD, then we would be happy or then everything would be all right,” then we would be missing the point. As long as the goal is a change in our circumstances, then we are making an idol out of our circumstances. We’re looking to this or that to fulfill us, when only God can fulfill us. The goal is not adopting, or having a child, or getting married, or this disease or sickness ending, or that situation being resolved. The goal is God.

This is so important. This is so critical. This is why Romans 8 talks about waiting for the day when our adoption is complete, when we are whom? With God. Just think about how the rest of the Bible talks about waiting. Psalm 27:14 summarizes it: “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage,” as you “wait for the Lord!” We looked at Psalm 27:4 earlier: “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that I will seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.”

Do you see that? One thing I want: to see the Lord. In waiting, we need to remind ourselves that he is the one thing we need. As a result, he is the one thing we need to want above all. Above adoption. Above reconciliation. Above healing for our bodies. Above an end to the hurt, pain, sorrow, struggle or whatever it is. Above all, we need and want God. 

So here are some practical encouragements in times of waiting that flow from this reminder that God is the goal:

• Let waiting lead you to deeper intimacy with God. Listen to Psalm 62:1–2: “For God alone my soul waits in silence.” Why? Because “from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.” When God is the goal, when God is your rock, then you will not—you cannot—be shaken. So let waiting lead you to deeper intimacy with him.
• Let waiting lead you to greater dependence on God. We all feel our weakness in our waiting, right? We want to change things, but we can’t. We’re limited. We are weak. What does Romans 8:26 say? “The Spirit helps us in our weakness.” Then listen to Isaiah 40:28–31, one of my favorite passages over the last few years:

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 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.

What language! How do you go from weariness to soaring like an eagle? You wait for the Lord. I remember meditating on this passage at one point over these years, doing a deep dive into this word ‘wait.’ One resource I came across said this word could be translated “to rest trustfully.” I’ve held on to that phrase. I want to rest trustfully in you, God, in the middle of the waiting. Waiting leads us to depend on and to rest trustfully in God.

• Let waiting lead you to grow in holiness before God. There are so many temptations to sin in waiting, so many temptations to think, to live, to speak in a place that does not come from faith. So listen to Psalm 37:79: 

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
    fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
    over the man who carries out evil devices!

 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
    Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
 For the evildoers shall be cut off,
    but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

What a good word. Guard yourself against fretting, against worry in the waiting, and refrain from anger. Forsake wrath and avoid evil. Be on guard against sin in the waiting, in all the ways the Adversary wants to use your waiting to pull you away from God. Let waiting lead you to grow in holiness before God.

• Let waiting lead you to give more glory to God. Listen to Psalm 25:1–3:

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
 O my God, in you I trust;
    let me not be put to shame;
    let not my enemies exult over me.
 Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;
    they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

Wait on the Lord and you will not be put to shame. You will never regret waiting on the Lord. You will never regret resting trustfully in God. In all these ways, remember God is the goal, which leads to this last reminder.

Remember that God is at Work

God is at work. Romans 8:18–30 is filled with awesome ways God is working in our waiting. By his Spirit he is helping us. He’s interceding for us when we don’t know how to pray. As we’ve talked about, he’s working all things together for our good. In other words, God is not waiting; God is working. 

So I want to encourage you that because God is at work, as you wait, never stop praying with faith. You will be tempted to stop praying. You’ll be tempted to think, “What good is praying going to do? I’ve prayed and nothing has happened.” Never stop praying with faith. 

One of the other texts I’ve come back to over and over again in the last few years is Luke 18:1: “[Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.” That’s a good word. Keep praying, Jesus says. Don’t lose heart. Why? Because God is working. And if God is working, then we can and must pray with faith in who God is. This parable in Luke 18 goes on to talk about the character of God. 

I have found in waiting that we’re tempted specifically to lack faith in the power, love and/or wisdom of God. “God, are you powerful enough to change this? God, if you’re loving, why is this still happening? God, this makes no sense to me. I don’t see the wisdom in this.” 

It is good to pray with faith and express our desires to him. “God, I want to bring my son home.” We’ve prayed that every single day for three and a half years. But in the next breath, we need to say, “God, I trust that you’re able to do this through your power. I trust your love for JD and for us and for so many others in this picture. I trust your wisdom and that you’re working in ways I don’t see.

I’m not going to stop praying with trustful rest in the all-powerful, all-loving, all-wise God over all, who is working in ways I don’t see.”

So don’t stop praying with faith in who God is.

Then pray with faith in what God can do. Don’t doubt for a second in the waiting what God can do. Don’t lose heart. You are praying to the God of the impossible. Don’t stop praying with faith in what God can do.

Ultimately, don’t stop praying in faith for what God will do. 

This is where Romans 8 ends for all who are trustfully resting in God as he brings us one day to glory with him, specifically for those who are trusting in Jesus. I want to get to these verses in Romans 8 to close, but before I do, I want to ask this of every single person in the sound of my voice right now: have you put your trust in Jesus? Here’s the deal. Here’s the big picture story. We live in a world of waiting because we live in a world of sin, corruption and sorrow, just like Romans 8 is talking about. So many things are not as they should be; suffering, pain, hurt and unfulfilled longings are a reality for every one of us. All of this is ultimately because there is sin in the world and sin in each of our hearts. We live in a world where we have all turned aside from God and his ways to ourselves and our own ways. As a result of sin, we are separated from God. And if we die in this state of sin, we will actually spend eternity in suffering, separated from God. 

But the good news of the Bible—the greatest news in the world—is that God loves us so much that he has come to us in the person of Jesus. Jesus has done what none of us can do. He has lived a life of no sin, then even though he had no sin for which to die, he came to die on a cross to pay the price for our sins, to die as a substitute in our place. Then three days later, he rose from the grave. Jesus is victorious over sin, suffering and death itself, so that anyone, anywhere, who repents and believes, who turns from their sin and trusts Jesus and his love will be forgiven of all their sin and restored to relationship with God, as their heavenly Father, adopted into the family of God, to be with him forever and ever and ever.

Have you put your trust in Jesus? If the answer to that question is not “Yes!” in your heart, then I invite you to let today be the day. God is speaking to your heart right now, saying he loves you more than you know. Put your trust in him and become a part of his family, with God as your heavenly Father.

When you do—and for all who have—be reminded that when you find yourself waiting in this world, when you find yourself in the position where you are learning to rest trustfully in God, you can know that no matter what this world throws at you, these words from God at the end of Romans 8 are for you. If God is for you, who can be against you? You can trust God in the waiting.

32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
    we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

As we enter into a time of prayer, please bow your heads with me? If you’ve never put your trust in Jesus, I invite you to do that. If God is speaking to your heart, say to him from your heart, “God, I have sinned against you. I’m separated from you. Today I believe that Jesus died on a cross for my sin, rose from the dead so that I can be forgiven of my sin and restored to relationship with you. So yes, God, bring me into your family today.”

The Bible teaches that by grace from God, through faith in God, we have become children of God. God says, “Yes,” to all who trust in him. 

God, forgive us for childish lack of faith that we struggle with—that I confess I struggle with—in times of waiting. You know how I’ve struggled with it. We praise you for your grace and your patience with us as your children. We pray—amidst all the circumstances represented in our lives right now—that you would give us childlike faith. God, we trust your wisdom, your power and your love. We praise you as the sovereign God who is working all things together for our good, for your glory and for our glory with you. So bring it about, we pray. Help us when we can’t see the bigger picture to trust in you.

I pray for so many people who are walking through so many things right now. I pray for your grace, your power, your love, your wisdom, your help over them in their waiting. And we say together, “We can’t wait for the day when we will see your face, Lord Jesus; when we will be brought into your presence, with no more sin, no more sorrow, no more suffering, no more death, no more waiting. We know then you will wipe every tear from our eyes. Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly, we pray. Help us not to lose heart. Help us to hold faith until that day. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. 

What does the passage say?

1) Read Romans 8:18–30 aloud as a group. Take time to let group members share observations about the passage. Try not to move into interpretation of the passage or application of what you have read quite yet. Simply share what you all observe from the text.

1. 1. What is the backdrop of this passage? (vv. 19, 22–23)
   2. Who subjected creation to futility? (vv. 20–21)
   3. What does the process of waiting entail on our part?
   4. What does the process of waiting entail on the LORD’s (including the Spirit’s) part?
   5. What does the process of waiting yield? (vv. 20–21, 24–30)

2) How would you explain or summarize today’s passage in your own words?

What does the passage mean?

1. In subjecting creation to futility (e.g., in our times of waiting), what is the LORD’s ultimate end or purpose? (vv. 18–19, 30; cf. v.28)
2. What evidence of God’s goodness, what reasons for hope, can be found in times of waiting? (cf. Isaiah 40:28–31)

How can we apply this passage to our lives?

1. What aspects or circumstances of your life challenge your ability to believe that God loves you and is for you? What does this reveal about uncertainties in your heart regarding the truth of His word?
2. Think of a period of trial or waiting that you have experienced. What spiritually encouraged and sustained you during this period? How did you see the LORD reveal His glory through or following this period? Share stories of encouragement in your Church Group, and praise the LORD for His faithfulness.
3. What is your deepest longing? When you consider the thing for which you are waiting on the LORD, how does your longing for that thing compare to your longing for the LORD Himself?
4. How do you want the LORD to grow your hope and trust in and love for Him? How might you pursue deeper trust in and love for Him? How might your Church Group support you in this?

Romans 8:18-30

Future Glory

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Five reminders that our souls need in seasons of waiting:

1. Remember that God is sovereign over everyone and everything.
2. Remember that God loves you more than you know.
3. Remember that God loves others more than you do.
4. Remember that God is the goal.
   • Let waiting lead you to deeper intimacy with God.
   • Let waiting lead you to greater dependence on God.
   • Let waiting lead you to grow in holiness before God.
   • Let waiting lead you to give more glory to God.
5. Remember that God is at work. As you wait, never stop praying with faith…
   • In who God is.
   • In what God can do.
   • In what God will do.