Lamentations 3:25 - Blessings in Waiting On and Seeking the Lord.
Lamentations 3:25 (ESV) The LORD is good to
those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.
Lamentations 3:25 (NLT) The LORD is good to
those who depend on him, to those who search for
him.
INTRODUCTION
Waiting upon God isnt passive. We dont
sit with folded hands and smiling faces. Instead
we inquire, we take preliminary steps, we pray,
we obtain counsel. We ask, seek, and knock in a
prudent fashion. [Life Principles SB By Charles
Stanley]
COMMENTARY PEARL
What's wrong with me? Why can't I get it
right with her? No matter how I framed comments, I
managed to offend my friend repeatedly. I was
frustrated and wondered who would listen, pray for me,
offer wise counsel, and help me figure out what
was going on. Then I remembered times when I'd
confided in someone after a conflict and resorted to
gossip.
Lord, who can I talk to that I won't
cross that line with?
Another time, I took advice that only
made a problem worse.
How about if you talk to Me?
Jesus already knew every detail of this
complicated situation and the best way to resolve it.
As I poured out my confusion and allowed
Him to speak, I began to see when I'd blown it
and when I'd done what I thought was right. He
prompted me to pray for my friend, but also to
consider whether we were a good match as friends. In
the end, I received answers that the wisest
sister in Christ couldn't have provided.
When we experience conflict, we need
guidance. Though there are times for sharing our
burdens with trusted friends and prayer partners,
Jesus is the only One we can count on completely
for sound advice. We don't have to worry about
naming names or being careful with details. We can
trust His guidance and His grace as we wait for
the right timing. As answers come, we see that
He truly is good to those who seek Him. by
Jeanette Hanscome
Faith Step: Who do you run to when you
need help untangling a relational mess? What mess
are you trying to untangle right now? Spend time
with the One Who knows every detail and the best
solution. [Mornings With Jesus 2019 Devotional by
Guideposts and Zondervan]
COMMENTARY
His Timing Is Perfect
In a fast-moving culture such as ours, in
which time is measured in nanoseconds and sound
bites, waiting in traffic or in the doctor's office
longer than we had planned can mess up our
schedule. We can become irritated when things don't
happen according to our packed agenda. And we can
become just as frustrated with God when he doesn't
seem to answer our prayers as soon as we'd hoped
or move in a needy situation according to our
timetable. Sometimes we pray and give our requests to
God and then turn and run out of the prayer
closet before we have taken time to be aware of his
answer. But this passage tells us the great benefit
of learning to wait on the Lord - both waiting
for his timing and just waiting in his presence,
spending moments being quiet and waiting to hear his
"still, small voice." God is wonderfully good to
those who wait for him and continue to seek him.
LORD, quiet my heart and mind so that I
am willing to wait on you, not with grumbling
and frustration but with hope and assurance that
you do everything in your perfect timing. Give
me patience, and help me to look for your
answers to the requests I make of you. And increase
my faith that you are working, even when I must
wait for your answer.
Quote: Waiting on God exercises your gift
of grace and tests your faith. Therefore
continue to wait in hope, for although the promise
may linger, it will never come too late. Charles
Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) [Praying Through The
Bible By Fuller re vv. 25, 26]
Trust God to Remember You
If you want to trust God to remember you,
stop running and start waiting! "The LORD is good
to those who wait for Him" (Lamentations
3:25a). Stop running! Wait patiently.
Next, start seeking Him. "The LORD is
good to those who seek Him" (v. 25b). So, instead
of ignoring Him, return to His open arms and
start seeking Him again.
"Lord, I'm back. I know You've heard it
before, and I know You remember me. I'm ashamed to
tell You what I've been doing (as if You didn't
know), but it's good for me to rehearse it. Here's
where I've been, here's what I've done; here are
the things that brought shame to Your name and
hurt me as well as others. I'm back and I still
diligently seek you. I'm not going to ignore You any
longer."
Just dump the full load of guilt on Him.
He can handle it. Then stop talking and wait
silently. Wait patiently, seek diligently, sit
silently. Feel His arms around you, feel His
reassurance, feel the freshness and relief of His
presence.
His mercies are new every morning.
Dump your load of guilt on God. He can
handle it. Then seek diligently, sit silently. Feel
the relief of His presence. [Chuck Swindoll
www.insight.org.]
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Waiting on Me means directing your
attention to Me in hopeful anticipation of what I will
do. It entails trusting Me with every fiber of
your being, instead of trying to figure things
out yourself. Waiting on Me is the way I
designed you to live: all day, every day. I created
you to stay conscious of Me as you go about your
daily duties.
I have promised many blessings to those
who wait on Me: renewed strength, living above
one's circumstances, resurgence of hope, awareness
of My continual Presence. Waiting on Me enables
you to glorify Me by living in deep dependence
on Me, ready to do My will. It also helps you
to enjoy Me; in My Presence is fullness of Joy.
(Lam. 3:24-26; Isa. 40:31; Psa. 16:11) [Jesus
Calling by Sarah Young]
Seek to become increasingly receptive and
responsive to Me. I am always actively involved in your
life. Instead of trying to force Me to do what you
want, when you want it, relax and look for what
I'm already doing. Live in a receptive mode -
waiting for Me, trusting in My timing. I am good to
those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Me.
Ask Me to open your eyes to see all that I have
for you. Such awareness helps you live
responsively, ready to do My will.
My followers often fail to see the many
blessings I shower on them. They're so busy looking
for other things that they miss what is before
them - or is on the way. They forget I am
sovereign God and the timing of events is My
prerogative.
I want you to trust Me enough to let Me
lead. When a couple is dancing, one of them leads
and the other follows. Otherwise, there is
confusion and awkwardness. Dance with Me, beloved.
Follow My lead as I guide you gracefully through
your life. (Lam. 3:25; Eph. 5:17; Psa. 71:6;
28:7) [Jesus Always by Sarah Young]
CLOSING THOUGHT
Expose Your Worries to Worship
Jeremiah was the prophet to Judah during
one of her darkest periods of rebellion. They
called him the weeping prophet because he was one.
He wept at the condition of the people and the
depravity of their faith. He was anxious enough to
write a book called Lamentations. But then he
considered the work of God. He purposefully lifted his
mind to thoughts about his king, whose "acts of
mercy do not end, for His compassions never
fail" (Lamentations 3:22 NASB).
Lift up your eyes. Don't get lost in your
troubles. Dare to believe that good things will
happen. Dare to believe that God was speaking to you
when he said, "In everything God works for the
good of those who love him" (Romans 8:28 NCV).
The mind cannot at the same time be full of God
and full of fear. Are you troubled, restless,
sleepless? Then rejoice in the Lord's sovereignty. I
dare you - I double-dog dare you - to expose your
worries to an hour of worship. Your concerns will
melt like ice on a July sidewalk. [You Can Count
On God by Max Lucado]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
Psalm 27:14 - Waiting On The Lord.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20190915-1300.html
Psalm 37:7 - Be still, wait patiently and
never ever fret!
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2004/20040820-0937.html
Isaiah 40:31 - Are You Soaring or Striving?
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210210-1052.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study
Guides:
https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
