As human beings, we crave information about what we can expect after death. We want to know: Is there a heaven? Will I be there? Will I see loved ones? Will I continue to exist? What will happen to me? One of the biggest ways Christians and non-Christians alike are deceived is in the area of extra-b...

Perhaps the most important lesson we can learn about waiting on the Lord that we can learn comes from a group of people that we can most relate to, Christians in the church of Jesus Christ still struggling on this earth. In the context of Hebrews 9, Christ is compared to the high priest who would enter the Most Holy Place to make atonement for the sins of his people.

“Timing is everything,” is a common phrase that is true in many areas of life. When we pray, our sense of timing generally defaults to, “the sooner the better.” The issue with waiting on the Lord is basically that my sense of timing and God’s perfect timing are different. They are at odds with each other. In Psalm 62, David teaches us to be relaxed in God’s timing. In verse 8, David speaks to his people and gives two general principles to follow during a time of waiting on the Lord.

Revelation 6:9-11 reveals the opening of the fifth seal found in the great scroll that only the Lamb of God can open. This seal revealed tribulation saints that had been, “slain for the word of God and the witness they had borne.” They were crying out for retribution and for the justice of God to prevail. They set a perfect example for us on how to perfectly wait upon the Lord. They have now seen Christ face to face, which means their sanctification has been completed. Waiting isn’t passive, docile, or lifeless for them, it is an intensive and focused activity. Here are seven examples given by the martyrs in heaven on how to wait on the Lord.

As we consider what it means to wait on the Lord and to go through suffering without knowing the reason or the solution, you may begin to conclude that the Lord might not be resolving this issue in this lifetime. This would put you in good company, as Hebrews 11 is filled with faithful people who were all waiting for things beyond their own lifespan. Perhaps the key aspect of waiting that is so difficult is that waiting means that God is in control and you are not. The book of Habakkuk teaches us how to think properly about three important issues regarding waiting on the Lord. Perhaps the key aspect of waiting that is so difficult is that waiting means that God is in control and you are not.