Humble Waiting

You may not know this, but the books of the Bible didn’t come with chapters and verses. Each book of the Bible was its own letter or document, and the chapter/verse divisions were later added to make navigation easier. For example, imagine the preacher telling you to turn to Ephesians and find paragraph 4, sentence 3. That would be challenging, so the chapter and verse divisions were added to make Bible reading, study, and memorization easier.
Why do I mention this? Because I don’t think the division between Habakkuk 1 and 2 is in the right place. Habakkuk 2:1 is the prophet’s resolve after his second prayer in chapter 1. He says, “I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.”
Habakkuk had finished addressing God with reverent honesty concerning God’s use of the evil Chaldeans to judge his people. He is now resolved to waiting to hear back from God.
How well do you wait? If you are like me, waiting can be as difficult as the circumstances you are facing. We faced this as we walked through the adoption process with our girls. We knew God was in control and we trusted Him in all things but waiting through the process was a test of faith.
For others, the initial cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatments are extremely painful to walk through. But waiting to see how God will work in your circumstances can be just as difficult. You trust He will work, but you may not know how.
Or maybe you are walking through the difficulty of losing something significant in your life, whether it’s a relationship, a job, or a business. You are confident God will “work all things together for your good” (Romans 8:28), but the road ahead seems dark. Waiting to see the path He lays out next is no easy thing.
And waiting to hear back from God was not easy for Habakkuk. But notice his humility. He doesn’t demand anything from God or vow to take matters into his own hands. In humility, he waits.
Humbly waiting on God is not easy for any of us. If you are in a time of waiting, will you take some time to ask God for patience through this time? Or maybe you know someone who is walking through a challenge, waiting to see how God will move. If so, will you spend time praying for them and maybe even offer them a word of encouragement?
By Philip Jones
Philip and his wife, Stacy, have been attending Immanuel since 2015. They are blessed to be raising four kids. His passion in ministry is to help others follow Jesus through teaching, preaching, and personal discipleship.
Why do I mention this? Because I don’t think the division between Habakkuk 1 and 2 is in the right place. Habakkuk 2:1 is the prophet’s resolve after his second prayer in chapter 1. He says, “I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.”
Habakkuk had finished addressing God with reverent honesty concerning God’s use of the evil Chaldeans to judge his people. He is now resolved to waiting to hear back from God.
How well do you wait? If you are like me, waiting can be as difficult as the circumstances you are facing. We faced this as we walked through the adoption process with our girls. We knew God was in control and we trusted Him in all things but waiting through the process was a test of faith.
For others, the initial cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatments are extremely painful to walk through. But waiting to see how God will work in your circumstances can be just as difficult. You trust He will work, but you may not know how.
Or maybe you are walking through the difficulty of losing something significant in your life, whether it’s a relationship, a job, or a business. You are confident God will “work all things together for your good” (Romans 8:28), but the road ahead seems dark. Waiting to see the path He lays out next is no easy thing.
And waiting to hear back from God was not easy for Habakkuk. But notice his humility. He doesn’t demand anything from God or vow to take matters into his own hands. In humility, he waits.
Humbly waiting on God is not easy for any of us. If you are in a time of waiting, will you take some time to ask God for patience through this time? Or maybe you know someone who is walking through a challenge, waiting to see how God will move. If so, will you spend time praying for them and maybe even offer them a word of encouragement?
By Philip Jones
Philip and his wife, Stacy, have been attending Immanuel since 2015. They are blessed to be raising four kids. His passion in ministry is to help others follow Jesus through teaching, preaching, and personal discipleship.
Recent
Archive
2021
January
New BeginningsBe a LightPraying for the Gospel to AdvancePraying for Church LeadershipPraying for RestorationPraying for the Persecuted ChurchPraying for Our NationBridging the GapJesus UnderstandsYour Spiritual TankMade to WorshipProtection and WisdomDeliver Us From TemptationWholly Following the LordDistinguishing Characteristics of a True Disciple of Christ
2020
March
I Am The Good Shepherd Shepherd LeadershipI Am the Good Shepherd that Keeps the GateShepherding the TeamI Am The Good Shepherd: A Note from a Thankful SheepTime OutFour DaysUp from the GraveResurrection LifeThe Shadow of DeathMore Than an Empty TombLet\'s Not Get DistractedThis Is No Time to Be TroubledJesus Christ Is The Way
April
Jesus Christ Is The TruthJesus Christ Is The LifeAn Inconvenient TruthPalm SundayI Am The VineJust Do ItI Am The DoorCuttingsThe StruggleGood FridayThe DoorAbundant GraceAbundant SalvationAbundant SecurityAbundant LifeThe Thank You NoteBreakthrough PrayerLetter to the ChurchA Time for Great ThingsPrayer for a BreakthroughThe Day of ChristAs Far As the Eye Can SeeLoosen the ChainsNothing to FearOn the Same SideWhat Are You Living For?
May
Stand Firm in One SpiritOur God of CertaintyWhy Desire Humility?The Joy of HumilityHumility in ActionThe Ultimate Example of HumilityThe Glory of HumilityThe Faith of a Mom and a GrandmotherKeep OnCelebrate Your DecisionLet Your Light ShineHow Are You Being Poured Out?Be an EncouragementManna from HeavenSafeguarding Your HeartThe Proper Way to BoastHaving Nothing to Offer GodChrist Is All I Want and NeedOn Knowing ChristNo Greater LoveBiblical ObedienceBiblical MaturityBack to ShoreEnemies of the CrossA Bridge to HeavenIt's About Time
June
A New Way of ThinkingThe Lord Is at HandWait to WorryReal PeaceRight ThinkingSuch a Time as ThisA Lesson from Homer SimpsonHesitationThe Power RangerPep TalkSea Billows RollDo You See Them as Gifts?The God QuestionA Hopeless JourneyThe Hope of GraceDon't Miss the PartyThe Joyful GodWho's Listening AnywayThe InheritanceWhat Do You See?Give Me, Give Me, Give MeTearful PrayersFaithfulnessGo and DoIt Seems GoodTrust the Creator
July
Welcome His PeaceLet Us SingGod Is AbleOur Dependence on GodJealousyWhat Dreams Are Made OfServant LeaderChoosing ForgivenessCourage To Be TransformedHeaven and Earth ReuniteHope ReachesA Hope EternalA Hope InheritedHope RebuildsHope UnseenThe Promise of HopeOur Hope Comes From The LordThe Lord Takes Care of His PeopleFree from HarmThe Protective Hand of God\'s Loving CareThe Security of God\'s Watchful LoveThe Traveling TabernacleCommunityCommunityThe FloodThe Cool KidOpposites Attract
August
Open Our EyesThe Call to DiscipleshipA Strategy to Change the WorldImitators of ChristGrowth in Uncertain TimesA Legacy of DiscipleshipHard QuestionsQuestionsThe Answer, Part OneThe Answer, Part TwoThe Answer, Part ThreeThe Answer, Part FourUsing What God Has Given UsBest Laid PlansLive Without LimitsWhat Do You Want To Do?Unlimited SupplyJust A ... ?Who Is Jesus To You?Why Do the Wicked Prosper?Living By ConvictionThere's No Price Too HighAn Epoch BattleConfusion: A Sign of Trouble AheadDay and NightBuilding Brave
September
The Faith GapWhen Bravery CallsFor Such A Time As ThisBravery In The SilenceOpen Our EyesThe Cheese Stands AloneDreamThe StandoffStrengthFather Knows BestAmbassador for ChristPapa BearBest Seat In The HouseWaiting On The LordThe Last Chapterin God\'s Tender CareDo Not Be AnxiousFinish The PlayA New DecreeThat All Might KnowThe Formula For BraveryHow Will You Respond?Stepping Out In FaithHappily Ever After?P.S.Superlatives
October
The Final Curtain CallBraveLet Your Light ShineThe God Who SeeksI Once Was Blind But Now I SeeSalvation for the Chief of SinnersA Picture of RepentanceJesus Is The Son of GodThe Red BinGoAllInAlwaysJesusOur Identity In ChristThe Christian Duty to ForgiveJesus Paid Our Sin Debt In FullThe Power of Forgiveness ExperiencedThe Consequences of UnforgivenessThe Freedom of ForgivenessDo Not Be Conformed to the WorldBetter Than I DeserveGrace Considers Us WorthyGrace Seeks OutGrace ExtendedUnconditional GraceNovember 3, 2020 | HopeGod Is ConsistentNovember 2, 2020 | Never Alone
November
November 4, 2020 | Stand the HeatNosy NeighborsUnintended ConsequencesCultivating a Biblical View of Sorrow in the Midst of a Global PandemicIt's About MoneyBeing ShrewdAre You Rich?PrioritiesThe Big IdeaThe Bigger PictureDifficult SilenceDifficult AnswersReverent HonestyHumble WaitingFrowning ProvidenceLove One AnotherGod's Love Is...Write It DownTalk It OutPandemic FatiqueHappy Thanksgiving!Stuff-MartSilenceFocusing On The EternalKnowledge of God is a Prerequisite of Faith
December
Praising God by Remembering His FaithfulnessThe Relationship Between Fear and FaithThe Transformation of Affirming FaithThe Freedom of HumilityFaith In The StormThe Adventure of AdventA Sure FoundationA Long SilenceA Divine MessengerA Doubting ResponseGod RemembersChristmas Is Still Worth CelebratingNothing New Under The SunNazareth?Highly Favored OneNow THAT'S An Understatement!He KNOWS You!Mary's SongReading Like An Ancient HebrewGo Tell It On The MountainWonder In The FamiliarOur High PriestThe Horn of SalvationTo My Grandmothers, With LoveMerry Christmas!Hope In JesusThree DaysNow I Can Die in PeaceWait, What?Rejection