Praying While You Wait

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Hannah Prays – 1 Samuel 1 

Happy Mother’s Day!

Waiting-To remain inactive or in a state of repose until something expected happens; to be available or in readiness; to look forward to eagerly; (Waiting is an“active”pause in life -whether we watch for a stoplight to turn green, wait for a special event, listen for your name to be called at the doctor’s office or currently all of us are eagerly waiting for an end to the quarantine.

Waiting, simply waiting -Waiting is something that most of us don’t really like to do and yet it seems to be something that we all must do frequently. We wait at stoplights, we wait in rush hour traffic. Why is it called rush hour? And right now, we are all spending a lot of time at home waiting to be able to meet with friends again, waiting to get back to work or waiting for our kids to get back to school so we can work without interruption. We wait in line at the store to check out.We wait at the doctor’s office, we wait for the rain to stop, for spring to come and for so many other things. Sometimes it seems our waiting is never done. Yet wait we must! What are you waiting for? Are you waiting for your ship to come in so you can pay off debt? For your house to sell? The promotion at work to come through? Vacation? A date with your spouse? Or just for life to quit being so crazy? How can you change those times of waiting from useless to useful or from frustrating to fruitful? Like Hannah, you can start by waiting on God and taking everything to Him in prayer.

Like Hannah too, after we pour our heart out to God, we can get up and face life bravely and confidently knowing that God will answer in His time and His way. We can wait expectantly because God answers prayer. Maybe we will get exactly what we asked for from God or maybe God will change our heart’s desire and give us something even better than what we asked for. God may answer us immediately or He might give us the grace to wait for an answer. When we give our problems to God, we can be sure that He hears whatever the outcome is.

The old fashioned definition of waiting carried the idea of watchfulness and expectancy. When instead of losing our patience, we pray and wait expectantly for God’s answer, we will be at peace knowing that God will answer in His time and His way. And trust me, God’s answers are way better than what you and I come up with when we impatiently try to take things into our own hands. Are you feeling a little weary of waiting? Ask God for strength. Be honest with Him give Him all your frustrations
and pain. He will give you the strength to persevere, to keep praying and keep looking up! Your answer may already be on the way.

PS Per the definition above – Wait for God expectantly, wait peacefully, in a state of repose, wait eagerly and with readiness to carry out your part – whatever it is God is asking you to do.

PARENT OR GRANDPARENT PRAYER:
God,
Thank you for hearing me when I pray. I admit that sometimes I get impatient when I have to wait. Instead of waiting patiently, I complain,try to fix the problem myself or give up. Yet I know that you want me to come to you with everything. I can bring my problems, my frustrations and my pain to you knowing that you hear me. Teach me to wait on you. When I am feeling weary, sick or hopeless; teach me to wait on you. I know that you will answer in your own way and in your own time. Teach me to look up and rejoice in you as I wait knowing that even as I wait, I have much to be thankful for. I want to approach waiting time with thanksgiving instead of frustration. Thank you God, for
hearing my prayer. I love you. Show me how to encourage my kids to wait patiently too. In this age of instant everything, it seems that waiting is a lost art. Teach us to wait without complaining and to be thankful for what you have done for us. Amen

HELPING OUR KIDS LEARN TO WAIT

• Find something that he/she can do when your child has to wait – a book to look at, crayons and paper, a game – electronic or otherwise.
• Do pray. Ask God for help to you both wait patiently. He does hear and answer our prayers. God may give you and your child creative ideas for waiting – The Bible Ap for kids is a great ap for your phone and can provide hours of entertainment while helping your child connect with God.
• Wait patiently yourself. (Maybe you need a parent time-out. Take one however you can and give yourself grace – we all feel frustrated at times and we all need grace.)

THE MAIN IDEA
KNOW: God gave me a family.
TALK ABOUT: The people in your family.
ASK: Who made you? God made me.
AND DO: Pray for my family and wait patiently.

FUN IDEAS FOR THIS WEEK

• Pick someone from your family to pray for at dinnertime or bedtime – could be dad, grandma or Uncle Bob. Let your child pick.
• Share a story of a time that God answered your prayer with your child – maybe, like Hannah, you prayed for your child before he/she was born.

SHARE A STORY: Hannah Prays For A Son – 1 Samuel 1
Once there was a woman named Hannah. Hannah wanted a baby, (Pretend to hold a baby.) but she didn’t have a baby. A long time went by and still Hannah didn’t have any children. Hannah was so sad. (Make a sad face.) She really wanted a baby to love. (Pretend to hold baby.)

One year when Hannah went to the temple church to worship, she cried (Say, ‘Boo hoo!’) and she prayed. (Fold hands as though praying.) She promised that if God gave her a baby boy, she would give him back to God to serve and worship all his life. Hannah prayed (Fold hands as though praying.) and God heard her prayer. (Fold hands as though praying.)

Hannah had a son. She named him Samuel. When Samuel was a young boy, Hannah took him to the temple church to serve God there. Each year Hannah made Samuel a new coat. (Pretend to sew.) Hannah was happy! (Smile!) She prayed and waited for God’s help and (Fold hands as though praying.) God helped her. He gave her a baby boy just like she asked for. She thanked God for giving her a baby (Pretend to hold a baby.) to love. (Place hands on heart.) God gave Hannah other children to love too. (Place hands on heart.)

God loves you (Place hands on heart.) and He gave you a family, just like He gave Hannah a family. (Pretend to hold a baby.) God heard Hannah’s prayer (Fold hands as though praying.) and He hears your prayers. (Fold hands as though praying.) When you pray God will help you be brave and strong. He will help you wait patiently. Let’s pray for our families this week.

PRAYER: Dear God, Thank you for giving me a family to love and care for me. Please take care of my family. Help me to be brave and strong because I know you will help me. Thank you especially for my mom today. I want her to have a very special Mother’s Day! Amen

MEMORIZE: Ps. 139:14 NIrV – (Hold hands as though holding a book.)
How you – (Point upwards.)
Made me – (Point to self)
Is amazing – (Close fists then open hands wide.)
And wonderful – (Raise hands and jump excitedly)