Nuggets From "Waiting on God" Conference
I returned last night from an inspiring and deep-thinking conference taught by Dr. Wayne Stiles, author of the book, Waiting on God1. The book is based on the life of Joseph and showcases how God uses pain, trials, and hardships in life for His purposes. Joseph spent much time waiting on God after he had been sold into slavery in Egypt. God had incredible plans for Joseph’s life. But first he lived through betrayal by his brothers, a false accusation from his master’s wife which landed him in prison, and a fellow prisoner getting out of prison and forgetting Joseph for two years. However, the Bible says that throughout these trials, God was with Joseph (Genesis 39:2; Genesis 39:20-21; Genesis 41:16) as Joseph continued to trust Him.
Throughout the conference, Dr. Stiles periodically asked, “What do we do when the life God promised has not happened?” Answer: We wait on God. I love Dr. Stiles’ comment, “The only thing more difficult than waiting on God is wishing you had waited and not run ahead of Him. God has something much better for us when we wait on Him.” How often I have run ahead of God and later wished I had not!
There were so many take-aways throughout the conference that it is difficult to choose just one. Here are three principles that Dr. Stiles gave us:
a. “What seems like unjust setbacks are part of God’s plan for our progress.” Who could have imagined that the slave and then prisoner Joseph would become the second in command to Pharoah? Thinking back on what seemed like unjust circumstances in my life confirms this principle. Everything in my life that our sovereign God has allowed has worked to mature me, to cure me of a critical attitude and selfish sin and so much more.
b. “God’s priority for us is the work He does in us rather than the work He does through us.” How can God work through us until He works in us? God refines us just like he did Joseph. I praise Him for allowing trials, pain, and hardship to make me more like Christ. He will continue to do that until the day He takes me home. God has created good works in advance for us to do. May we allow Him to work in us so that He can work through us more and more.
c. “God never asks us to understand His sovereign will, but to trust Him in all circumstances. Our hearts are revealed when problems come. If we run from problems instead of running to God, the same problems will still be there.” We can’t run away from ourselves. It took God years to stop me from running away from difficult situations. I praise Him for never giving up on me but instead leading me to peace and joy found only in Christ.
The richness of this conference cannot be conveyed in this short newsletter. A video of the conference will be available in a few weeks; I will let you know how to purchase it. The last thought that Dr. Stiles left us with gives us hope and joy during the trials and hardships which come to everyone. He said, “We can die with unfulfilled dreams because God’s promises extend beyond the grave. God designed us for eternity.” Hallelujah and Amen!
1 Waiting on God: What to Do When God Does Nothing Paperback – August 18, 2015, by Wayne Stiles
See you next week!
