Waiting For God

PHOTO CAPTION: Christmas is coming, just wait!



Do you remember the joy and anticipation of waiting at Christmastime for that special something that you hoped would be under your tree?
 You had made your list, but you had that one item that you had been hoping and hoping for. You just knew this was the year when you were going to get that brand new blue bicycle with the banana seat that you had so been hoping for or maybe it was that new desk that you wanted for your room or perhaps like the kids today, it’s that new game system. Every day, you would look under the tree to see if any of the packages were the right size. You might shake them a little if that was allowed at your house and you would keep hoping. 

I remember well those days of waiting, the anticipation and the excitement until finally the day came. It was time to open the presents. We always opened our presents on Christmas Eve when I was a child. Sometimes, I would get just what I wanted and other times, I wouldn’t get everything I wanted, but my siblings and I still had a good time. I don’t ever remember being too disappointed about Christmas even if I didn’t get everything I wanted. I knew my parents were doing the best they could to make Christmas special for their four little ones. 

Waiting at Christmastime was a joy to me. It was a special time of year to celebrate with family and the waiting only increased the excitement, but what about other times of waiting?

Sometimes waiting is hard. When you are waiting for a diagnosis from a doctor, waiting to hear about that job interview you went on, waiting for your spouse to get done with his military tour of duty. You may find yourself alone, afraid and waiting with apprehension instead of anticipation and joy. What about when you are waiting for the answer to a prayer? “God, I need some direction here. I need some answers. What do you want me to do? Where do you want me to go from here?” Does that sound like a familiar prayer? It’s a prayer I pray frequently. Yes, waiting can be hard too, but waiting is worth it when you are waiting on God. 

All too often when we have to wait, we are tempted to find our own solution. We want to peek at the present under the tree instead of waiting for Christmas. We may try to find a new doctor if the one we are going to is taking too long which may be a good thing. We may give up on that job interview, (hopefully we don’t give up on our spouse or family). And when praying, if we are not sure what God is saying, we may try to come up with our own answers such as buying what we think we need on credit or agreeing to something that we know we shouldn’t because we think it will keep the peace at work. Compromising your values is never an answer to prayer, no matter how good it may sound at the time. 



Samuel was asked to go and select a new king for Israel from Jesse’s house. Samuel worshiped God with Jesse and his sons. Each son was brought before Samuel. Samuel thought it would be the oldest or the tallest son, maybe even the smartest, but each time, God said, “No!” Samuel was looking on outward appearances, but he was also listening to God and waiting for God to lead him. Good thing he was, because it wasn’t until the last son came in from tending sheep that God said, “This is the one!” Samuel had to wait through a long parade of sons before, God gave him the answer and he did wait. He waited until he was sure that God said, “Yes!” Samuel had learned to listen and wait.



Recently I have been sick and I am learning to wait. Waiting is not easy. I’ve been praying and yet the going towards recovery is very slow. My family has been sick too and I’ve been praying, listening and waiting. I’m not sure I like this waiting game. I want answers and I want them now and yet I’m trusting, through tears, that God is faithful, that He does have the answers and that He is answering my prayers, one step at a time. I’m listening and trusting. I know God is healing me little by little and He always knows what is best. What’s the answer? I don’t know, for now yet, I will keep on listening and bringing my request to Him. He will show me day by day. He will bring His healing touch as I continue to wait on Him. In the mean time, I will keep hoping, listening and waiting for the answer.

Waiting for God starts by trusting Him and taking time to talk with Him in prayer. Check the WAIT section below for ideas on how you too, can wait for God.

PARENT PRAYER: 

Father God,
 I am waiting on you in prayer. I want to be well and I want my family to be well, I know you are able to bring healing immediately and oh how I am counting on that. Thank you that I can trust you in this. I pray that I do not become discouraged with waiting on you, but rather continue to wait in prayer for your answers. Your answers are always best. You are good. You are with us and you do provide for our healing. I am not depending on my own understanding, but rather looking to you for all that I need. Teach us, teach me to wait, What does it mean to wait on you, Lord? How do I wait with confidence and strength? I am looking to you for that confidence and strength today and that simple faith that knows you answer prayer as I look to you. Amen

WAITING
* When you wait, you are patient, but expectant, watchful and in readiness for what is to come. It also carries the connotation of being watchful and ready to serve as a servant would be or a server at a restaurant.

* Waiting for God carries some of the same connotations. When we are waiting for God, we can wait expectantly and in readiness for Him to show us what He wants us to do or how He wants to give us direction.

* Samuel waited for God to show him who to choose as king. He waited expectantly and was ready to serve God by anointing the one God would show him. Samuel may have thought he had a good idea who God was going to choose, but he still waited until God made the choice clear. He waited in readiness.

* Waiting requires time, patience, 
humility, and above all else, faith. We must believe that God will lead us and guide us as we wait on Him or as Hebrews 11: 1 says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:6b “and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”

* Sometimes waiting requires perseverance too -Perseverance says, I won’t give up even though the answer seems long in coming.
 Samuel could have given up. He could have decided that surely one of the other sons must be the one and not waited for them to bring David in from the field, but Samuel had a long history with God. He had served God as a prophet all his life. He had learned to recognize God’s voice and he had learned to wait.

* One of the words for waiting in the Bible is Qavah which means to bind together like twisting the strands of a rope. When we allow ourselves to surrender completely to God and become twisted together with Him, fully surrendered to His plan, then we can wait in readiness; trusting and expectantly before Him.

* Still not sure what God is saying yet? Keep waiting, He will lead you.

Kid’s Section

STORY: Samuel Anoints David – 1 Samuel 16:1-13, 2 Samuel 5

What do you think our story is about today? While we’re waiting to see, will you count to ten with me? (Count out loud.) I think we’re all ready to listen. Good job waiting!

God talked to Samuel when he was just a little boy. As Samuel grew up, he learned to listen (Put hand by ear.) for God’s voice and He grew up loving and serving God. (Give self a hug.)

One day God said to Samuel, “Samuel, I want you to take oil (Take out jar of oil.) and go anoint a new king. Go to Jesse’s house in Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.” Samuel listened (Put hand by ear.) and did what God asked him to do. When he got to Bethlehem, he invited Jesse and his sons to worship God with him. Jesse had eight sons. (Count to eight.)

When Samuel saw tall Eliab, he thought, “This must be the one God wants to be king.” But God told Samuel, “Don’t look at how tall (Reach up high.) he is, Eliab isn’t the one! I’m looking inside at his heart.” (Place hands on heart.) God wanted someone who loved him with all his heart to be king. 



One at a time, all of Jesse’s sons came and stood in front of Samuel. Each time God told Samuel, “Not that one.” (Shake head no.) Samuel asked Jesse, “Are these all of your sons?” No, there was still one son left. (Hold up one finger.) The youngest son was out in the field watching the sheep. (Hand above eyes as though watching.) It was David. Samuel waited while someone went to get David. He waited until God said, “This is the one.” Then Samuel poured oil on him anointing him to be king. (Pretend to pour oil and place crown on someone’s head.) Samuel didn’t choose the tallest (Reach up high.) or the oldest. He didn’t choose the one that he thought would be a good king. He waited for God to show him who to choose because he knew God’s plan was best. Samuel could only see what was on the outside. God could see what was inside, in their hearts.

Sometimes it’s hard to wait. When you want to be first in line or you want a cookie before dinner, it’s hard to wait. God can help you when you have to wait. God can help you wait patiently instead of getting mad. He can help you wait and make a good choice instead of getting impatient and choosing the wrong thing. When you are waiting you can play games, you can look at a book or maybe watch a movie. One thing you can always do when you’re waiting is talk to God and remember God made you and He loves you. He knows you inside and out. He knows what’s best for you.



MEMORIZE: 1 Chron. 16:34 ERV – (Hands open as if holding a book.)

Give thanks – (Touch lips with fingertips and bring down to meet your other hand.)

To the Lord – (Point upwards.)

For He is good. – (Rub tummy.)

KNOW: Samuel waited for God. I can wait for God.


TALK ABOUT: What can you do when you are waiting?


ASK: Who made you? God made me.


AND DO… I can be thankful while waiting.



FUN IDEAS FOR THIS WEEK:


• Pretend to be royalty for a day. Dress up complete with crowns. Samuels didn’t think David would be the one to be king, but God was looking at David’s heart.
  
• Make up your own song, rhyme or cheer and sing it to God. Not feeling creative? Then listen to some worship music with your preschooler and let God know how much you love and appreciate Him.
  
  PRAYER:

  Dear God,
Sometimes it’s hard to wait.
Help me to listen and to wait without getting mad. Help me to think of things to do when I have to wait. Thank you for loving me. 
Amen