Learning to Wait, How Trusting God’s Timing Builds Our Faith By Pastor Jim

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Learning to Wait

How Trusting God’s Timing Builds Our Faith

By Pastor Jim Cymbala of the Brooklyn Tabernacle

Wednesday, July 8, 2026

출처 https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/blog/

듣기 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2kHcnp5cc8

I have a problem with waiting.

Anybody out there feel my pain?

Take supermarkets.

I’m the guy //who looks for the “Ten Items or Less” line, (열개 미만 구매한 고객 줄)

even though I have twenty-four items, because it moves quicker.

One time I went /into a supermarket /around midnight /so I wouldn’t have to wait.

Only one cash register was open, and just before I got there,

a lady with around $250 worth of groceries edged in before me.

I was stuck.

Waiting is not only an irritant to a lot of us; it’s a real problem.

But spiritually speaking, a lack of waiting can be deadly, causing us to miss out on a lot //that God has for us.

*  miss out on; …을 놓치다.

Isaiah 64:4 has been a great blessing in my life in this regard:

“Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God /besides you,

who acts on behalf of those //who wait for him” (NIV).

Let’s think /about this.

We know from the Bible [that everything is about faith]: “The righteous will live by faith” (Romans 1:17, NIV).

“Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6, NIV).

There’s something about us /trusting God, holding His hand, knowing that He’s going to help us /that He truly delights in.

In fact, faith is so precious to God that He tests it and matures it—by making us wait.

Faith begins our journey with God.

But “The just shall live by faith” means that faith is not just at the beginning—it’s also ongoing.

God says, “I have great blessings for you and a purpose to be achieved in your life.

So keep walking by faith” (see Jeremiah 29:11).   * The just = people who are just

So what happens /when faith doesn’t seem to work?

How do we handle it /when we pray for a new job or an apartment and believe as best we can,

and nothing happens—or things even get worse?

Years ago, when I prayed for a wayward daughter, she didn’t get better; she actually got harder.

This is the testing of our faith.

God’s calendar is not ours.

We think immediate: “Come on, God, I just said amen.

Where’s the answer now?”

But God allows [us] [to wait].

Why?

To mature our faith /so we can come /to this truth //that hardly anyone talks about:

“God works for those //who wait for Him.”

No one has ever seen a God, Isaiah tells us, who does such great things for those //who wait for Him.

God says, “I want [your faith] to get so deep that even though when you don’t see the answer immediately,

you’ll know enough about Me and My love for you and My faithfulness //that you will wait for Me.”

When we believe and the answer doesn’t come right away, we can be tempted to make our own plans.

But the Bible says that Israel got into trouble /because they “did not wait for his plan to unfold” (Psalm 106:13, NIV).

God had plan A for them, but He didn’t operate /on their timetable, so they said, “Well, let’s go /to plan B.”

How many times have I counseled people //who have totally blown up [their lives] /because they wouldn’t wait?

[A Christian woman //who knows the Bible] says, “Yes, I should marry a believer, not be unequally yoked.

But where is Mr. Wonderful?”

He doesn’t appear, and he doesn’t appear, and she says, “Well, there’s this other guy on the job.

I can’t wait for God’s timing.

I’m getting tired.”

If we’re tired, we must be waiting /the wrong way.

We’re waiting /anxiously, without patience and hope in our hearts,

because the Bible says, “[Those //who wait on the Lord] shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31, NKJV).

God gives supernatural strength and endurance /to people //who wait /in faith.

Look at another verse in Isaiah—notice the double waiting:

“The Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts [himself] /to show mercy to you.

For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those //who wait for him” (Isaiah 30:18, ESV).

Did you take that in?

God is waiting /for us to wait!

He will rise /to show us mercy, when? When we “wait for Him.”

You and I can wait in faith—expectant, happy, not depressed or having a pity party.

We can say, “I know [in whom I have believed].

God, You’re going to meet my need. You’re going to bring that child back.

You’re going to reveal Your plan for my life.

I don’t see it right now, but I’m not going to take [matters] /into my own hands.”

*  take [matters] /into my own hands 자기 맘대로 하다

Psalm 62:5 says, “My soul, wait /silently for God alone” (NKJV).

In other words, “I’m going to meditate on God

—His track record in my life, the promises in His Word, how faithful He’s been /to so many people—

and I’m going to wait patiently for the Lord.

I’m not going to give a bad advertisement for Jesus Christ /by going nuts

/because things aren’t happening /the way () I want [them] [to happen].” 

 * them=things *

Notice, the psalmist talked /to himself.

That’s not a bad thing to do.

Try not to do it around people, because some of them might call 911. (미국 911=한국 119)

But he talked /to his soul and said, “Soul, wait /patiently /on God.”

God will rise up.

He will help us.

But on His calendar.

Oh, how happy are those //who wait for God!

Prayer

Lord, thank You that Your timing is perfect, even when the waiting is hard.

Forgive our anxiety /when we try to rush ahead of You.

Grant [us] [the grace and supernatural strength to wait quietly], trusting completely in Your faithfulness.

We anchor [our hope] /in You today.

If this encouraged you, you can receive Pastor Cymbala’s weekly blog post /by email here.

For More Encouragement

• Listen to the full message by Pastor Jim Cymbala: “Learning to Wait”
• Enjoy other resources to help you draw closer to God: “Don’t Give Up” and Fresh Faith
• Visit Pastor Cymbala’s Facebook page