The Waiting RoomSample

Day #2: How Am I Waiting?

The Israelites could have reached the Promised Land in just eleven days. Eleven days.
But because of their attitudes of fear, disobedience, and grumbling, it took them forty years!(Deut. 1:2-3).

And while it's easy to read that and shake our heads, I have to confess… I get it.

When I’m tired, hungry, emotionally drained, and still waiting on God to move, it’s not a worship song that comes out of my mouth first. It’s usually a complaint. Or a deep sigh. Or a cynical, “Well, this is just great.”

I haven’t built any golden calves, but I’ve definitely built golden expectations…these false hopes about what God should have done by now. And when those hopes don’t pan out, it’s easy to go right into bitterness.

Paul’s says in Philippians 2:14...

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing…”

The Greek word for grumbling here is γογγύζω (gogguzó) gong-GOO-zo— a word that means to mutter, murmur, or complain under your breath. It's an internal frustration that slowly corrodes trust. It’s the same spirit the Israelites carried through the wilderness when they were questioning God, doubting His provision, and focusing on what was missing instead of who was with them.

The program is grumbling, delays our breakthrough, damages us spiritually.

God wasn’t just trying to get them to the Promised Land. He was trying to transform them on the way there so that they weren’t the same people, with the same mindset, the same attitudes going into the promised land.

So, how can we practice gratitude in the middle of the wait?

Make it a daily habit to list 3 things you're thankful for...even if nothing has changed yet. It will reframe your mindset. Maybe even make a list of “Wilderness Wins” List…what has been going well while you wait?

PRAYER:

Lord, I admit that we don’t always wait well.
we grumble. we question. we get weary. we feel forgotten.
we are tempted to let disappointment harden me.

But we don’t want to lose sight of Your presence just because we can’t see Your promises yet.

Would You purify me? Help me to change my posture.
Help us to continually seek your face.
Give us the wisdom to speak life over our life instead of complaints.
Let us see Your provision in this wilderness.

Lord, we don't want to circle the mountain for years because we refused to grow in the waiting.
So here is our yes.
Form us. Refine us. Prune us. And teach us how to wait like a child who knows their Father is good.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.