Numerous times, over recent months, I have found myself grumbling praying…God, I thought you promised blah, blah blah…God, I was sure you said blah, blah, blah…

The confusion comes when what I am certain He has said does not seem to be coming to fruition in my life.

As I sat in Bible study the other night, I was struck with how people have not changed much over the years.  We’re in the middle of Beth’s study, The Patriarchs, and I’m amazed at how I can relate to the women in the study.

First, there’s Sarah.  God promised her a baby.  Don’t you know that she was just overjoyed?  Can you imagine the anticipation?  Can you imagine the confusion and discouragement when year after year went by and there was no baby? She had to have started doubting the message that was so clear at the time.

I can just hear Satan whispering in her ear…Are you sure He said you would have a baby? I can imagine her beginning to doubt now what she knew to be true then.  So, she comes up with an alternate plan…Abraham can have a baby with Hagar.  Maybe…just maybe…she will help God along with the whole descendants as numerous as the stars thing.

Then, there’s Rebekah.  God clearly says that her son, Jacob, will rule over her son, Esau.  Then Satan enters the picture…What?  The younger rule over the elder?  That is not the way it’s done.  You may need to help God out with this one.

So, she does.  Rebekah lies and manipulates in an effort to fulfill something that God has already told her would happen. I’m thinking…He probably didn’t need her help.  He was merely letting her in on what He was going to be doing.

I have come to realize that Satan is just not very creative.  From the very beginning, he has used the same tactic…Did God really say…

I believe God has told me certain things.  I know that there are clear promises God has made to me.  Yet, I fall for the same trick over and over again.  Did God really say that was going to happen?  It hasn’t happened, yet.  Maybe, just maybe, He needs my help.  Maybe, He’s behind and I can just hurry this one up a little.

Or…maybe, I should just wait.

I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation.  – Psalm 5:3

Wait for the Lord.  Be strong, take heart and wait for the Lord. – Psalm 27:14

We wait in hope for the Lord. – Psalm 33:20

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.  – Psalm 37:7

On and on we are told…wait.  Not with bitterness.  Not with doubt.  Never questioning the love, the devotion and the power of our God.

I will wait:

…with expectation.

…with strength of heart.

…with hope.

…with patience.