Waiting Is Part of God's Plan

Who Likes to Wait?

Who likes to wait? Do you like waiting for your birthday? Waiting for Christmas morning? Waiting for fresh bread or chocolate cake to come out of the oven? Waiting can be frustrating, but sometimes waiting is very important.

The Disciples' Big Question

In the Bible, in the book of Acts chapter one, we have the story of Jesus' final time with his disciples. After his death, he had risen from the dead and had been seen by many people. His friends were so excited — his death wasn't the end of all their hopes.

They had a big question for him. They asked about restoring the kingdom of Israel. But what they really meant was, "Is this the time when everything will be fixed? Is this the time when you will make everything right?"

But Jesus didn't answer the way they expected. Instead, he said it wasn't for them to know the times or dates. Then he gave them a promise: they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came to them, and he told them they would be his witnesses, telling people everywhere about him.

Something Amazing Happened

Then something amazing happened. As they were watching, Jesus went up into heaven. Suddenly, two angels appeared and said, "Why are you standing here looking into the sky? Jesus will come back the same way you saw him go."

The Important Part: They Obeyed

Now, here's the important part. Jesus had told them to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came. So what did they do? They obeyed.

• They didn't run off.
• They didn't say, "This is boring."
• They went back to the city.
• They stayed together.
• They prayed together.
• They encouraged one another.
• They waited.

Waiting didn't mean doing nothing. It meant trusting. It meant praying. It meant being ready.

God's Kingdom Is Different

After the Holy Spirit came to them on the day of Pentecost, their question about making everything right was partially answered — but not in the way they expected. They had been looking for a kingdom on Earth with Jesus as king, but began to understand that God's kingdom is something quite different.

What About Us?

Sometimes we are like the disciples. We want to know God's whole plan right now. We want answers right now. We want everything fixed right now. But sometimes God says, "Wait."

Maybe you're waiting for something at school. Maybe you're waiting for a prayer to be answered. Maybe you're waiting for something hard to get better.

So the next time you have to wait, remember the disciples looking up into the sky. Remember that waiting can be part of God's plan. And while you wait, trust him.