We often say that we’re waiting on God to do something. We take a look at the world around us and say that we’re waiting on God to make the changes that need to be made. However, how would our world change if we viewed the problems around us as something we should try to solve? What if, instead of us waiting on God, God is waiting on us?
Have you ever heard someone say that they’re waiting on God to do something in their lives or in the world around them? Perhaps that’s even a statement that you’ve made yourself. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with waiting on God, and there are times where we’re commanded to “stand still” and “wait upon the Lord,” there are other times where God expects His people to respond to what’s going on around them with actions that are based on His Word.
There are undoubtedly situations where the Bible encourages us to wait upon the Lord. For instance, Isaiah 40:31 teaches us that there are rewards for those who wait upon the Lord and allow Him to do what they can’t do on their own. However, there are other examples where instead of waiting, God wants us to act.
It’s impossible to look around at the world around you and not see that there needs to be a change. While many people are waiting for a politician or another leader to enact the changes that we need to see, the fact remains that this world will not change as much as it needs to until the Church, the body of Christ, comes together and enacts the kind of change that we need to see.
What if, instead of waiting on God, God is waiting on us? What if, instead of talking about the change that you want to see in the world around you, you started making the changes. Remember, a wildfire starts with a single spark. What if you made the decision today to let God set that spark inside you? Instead of talking about change, the Church is called to be the change!
Are there certain signs that you should look for that indicate that God is waiting on you to do something?
You’re Not Changing
Mark 2:22 (TPT)
And who would pour fresh, new wine into an old wineskin? Eventually the wine will ferment and make the wineskin burst, losing everything-the wine will be spilled and the wineskin ruined. Instead, new wine is always poured into new wineskins.
Before we dive into this one, we need to address one of the examples of symbolism that is so prevalent in Scripture. The Holy Spirit is often symbolized through wine. That’s the case in this passage of Scripture where Jesus was talking about new wine being poured into old wineskins.
As a follower of Christ, it’s important that we are constantly growing in His Word and His truths. Even when Jesus was a child, the Bible says that He was constantly growing in wisdom, stature, and favor (Luke 2:52). If Jesus was constantly growing in His relationship with the Father, we should be doing the same!
If you feel like your spiritual life isn’t growing and maturing, that’s a definite sign that you need to be the change within your own life. Peter discussed the importance of maturing in our faith, using the example of a child who can only drink milk when he or she is younger, but as the child grows, they move on to solid foods (1 Peter 2:2). If you feel like you’re still in the same spiritual state that you were in when you first accepted Christ, start making some changes. Spend more time reading the Word, spend more time in prayer, get as connected and involved with your local church as you can. These actions will produce the change that you need inside you.
Your Focus Isn’t on God
Matthew 6:33-34 (TPT)
“So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly. Refuse to worry about tomorrow, but deal with each challenge that comes your way, one day at a time. Tomorrow will take care of itself.”
Regardless of how much you consider yourself a multitasker, it’s actually not possible for you to truly focus on more than one thing at a time. If you’re truly reading this, you’re not paying attention to other things going on around you. In the same vein, if you’re really focused on the things going on around you right now, you’re not reading this in-depth. In the same way, we can’t have our spirit focused on God while we’re also focused on the temporary things going on around us.
It’s easy to sit back and say that we’re waiting on God to change things in our lives. We’re waiting on God to change our circumstances, give us another job, fix our marriage, heal our relationships, and perform any other number of things we have on our list. But according to this verse, the key to unlocking those changes is by shifting our focus from the things going on around us to the Kingdom of God.
What if you made the commitment today to be the change in your own life? This doesn’t mean that you start making changes in your job. Instead, what if you changed your perspective? The Bible says that when we focus on God, He fixes everything else going on in our lives.
You Spend All Your Time Talking About What Needs to Happen
Matthew 28:18-20 (TPT)
Then Jesus came close to them and said, “All the authority of the universe has been given to me. Now wherever you go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the holy Spirit. And teach them to faithfully follow all that I have commanded you. And never forget that I am with you every day, even to the completion of this age.”
There’s no denying that our culture has fallen prey to the enemy. Satan is the creator of division, hatred, and the animosity that is so prevalent in our world today. However, we aren’t called to sit back and say that we hope things get better. As the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27), we are called to go out and create the change that we say we want to see.
This command that Jesus gave to His disciples applies to us today. Referred to as “The Great Commission,” this statement is part of the universal purpose that God has for every one of His followers. He didn’t tell the disciples to ask Him to change people. Instead, He told them that as disciples, they are supposed to go out and make more disciples.
What if you spent a fraction of the time that you currently spend talking about the sad condition of the world around you going out and trying to facilitate change? This doesn’t mean that you run up to people and yell at them about their sinful condition. Instead, what if you looked for opportunities to show the love of God to people around you? That’s at the heart of being the change. It’s not about how loud you yell or how many verses of Scripture you can quote. Instead, it’s about allowing the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) to be visible in your life.
A Closing Prayer:
Lord, I know that You have promised to reward those who are willing to wait on You, but I also realize that there are changes that I can make in my own life that will activate Your hand. Father, please help me to make the changes that need to be made in my own life. Help me to pursue growth in You and to shift my focus onto Your Kingdom. Finally, show me opportunities where I can bring Your Gospel to those around me to facilitate the change that needs to happen in the world around me. In Christ’s name, Amen.