If we’re being honest, we’d say that waiting on God is not an easy thing to do. We may know intellectually that He is doing something, but in the midst of waiting, we can grow impatient and even doubtful about the outcome of our situation. We may doubt that God is on the throne and He reigns...both now and for eternity.
When we are waiting for the answer to our prayers,
When we are waiting for God’s healing,
When we are waiting for His provision,
When we are waiting for the bad situation to turn out for our good…
Those times are when we are most vulnerable to the enemy’s destructive lies. This is when the enemy loves to offer us something that looks enticing.. However, if we look closely, slow down, pray and meditate on God’s word, we can see that the enemy is up to NO GOOD.
We learn In Matthew 4, that Jesus was tempted by Satan. We can see from this text how Jesus used God’s Word to defeat the enemy. While it’s true that Jesus was able to defeat the enemy using the Word of God, we can also see how Jesus overcame the enemy’s temptation by trusting God’s timing.
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” (Matthew 4:8-10)
Satan offered Jesus the kingdoms of the world and it’s glory, yet Jesus knew that the day would come when His Kingdom would be established and He would reign forever (Revelation 11:15). Satan was trying to deceive Him by offering Him a shortcut towards that glory. Satan was trying to tempt Jesus by saying “you don’t have to wait and suffer, I’ll give it to you right now, just bow and worship me.”
How many times have we been tempted JUST like this?
Maybe it’s that new car that you have been saving to pay cash for...wouldn’t making monthly payments be just as easy?
Perhaps it’s Mr. Right...since he hasn’t come along as fast as you’d wished, what harm would there be in settling for that other guy who would certainly be good enough?
Maybe it’s that promotion or dream job you’ve been offered...it’s not much more time away from home and the family. What will it hurt? And think of the money!
There are always areas that Satan will try to get us to sell out on in exchange for patiently waiting on God’s timing in our lives. Jesus knows all about this as we saw.
Jesus had been fasting for forty days and was very vulnerable, tired, hungry and exhausted, but despite his weakened fleshly state, He did not take Satan’s bait. Jesus was so focused on God and on His mission to redeem humanity that this focus allowed him to immediately recognize and defeat Satan’s lies.
In our waiting, often we end up exhausted, burdened and hungering for nourishment, just like Jesus was. It’s at those times when we are most vulnerable to Satan’s temptation that he may try to offer us the “world,” but like Jesus, through staying focused on God’s promises and Kingdom, we can overcome. Jesus was in the process of waiting when Satan offered him the world, but it was his focus on the promises of God that compelled him to trust God’s perfect timing.
While you are in the season of waiting, the enemy will relentlessly tempt you with something that looks irresistible just like he did to Jesus. His strategies don’t change and we need to remain wise to his tactics.
One simple way to discern if something is from God is to ask yourself these questions;
Is it in alignment with Scripture?
Jesus knew the answer to this question because he knew the Father and was one with the Father.
Have I sought wise counsel?
When we are in doubt, it is always good to consult with someone slightly removed from our situation. This provides clarity and protection from bad choices. Also, when we find ourselves weary, burdened and flat out exhausted from the season we’re in, a trusted friend can encourage and energize us.
Have I prayed about the decision?
God is sovereign and His will is perfect. When we aren’t sure what to do or in what timing to do it, the best thing to do is ask! He is faithful to show us and provides the avenue of prayer, along with scripture and wise counsel to guide us.
When Satan offered Jesus the kingdom in exchange for Jesus’ worship, Jesus knew that went directly against God’s will. Although Jesus was hungry, tired and weak, it was because He knew the Father, that he knew this was not the Father’s will. Remember that Satan always tries to cause disobedience to God and destroy the good that He has planned for us with his counterfeit ways.
So if you are holding on God’s promises but things aren’t happening fast enough, stand firm in your faith. Don’t let the glitter and glare from Satan’s counterfeit offerings blind you to God’s good and perfect will for your life. Slow down, get in God’s Word, seek wise counsel and PRAY.
Settling for what the world has to offer will NEVER compare to experiencing what God has in store for you...and Satan knows it, which is why he tries SO HARD to tempt you.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time,” which means that God has an appointed time for each good thing in your life and when God chooses the timing, it will be magnificent!
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