I would ask now that you take your copies of God's word and turn with me to Isaiah chapter 40. Isaiah chapter 40. Starting at verse 27. Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert, O Israel, my way is hidden from the Lord, and the justice due me escapes the notice of my God? Do you not know, have you not heard, the everlasting God, the Lord, the creator of the ends of the earth, does not become weary or tired, His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might, he increases power. Though youth grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not become weary. Would you just prowl with me again and let us ask God to again meet with us around his word. Father, as we come this evening to consider the truth that is found in your word, may you give us hearts that are receptive to that word. Father, may it bear good fruit for your glory and honor. We would acknowledge, our Lord, our dependence upon you, and so would you send your spirit to minister to each one of us where we are. For we ask these things in Christ's name, amen. The topic that we'll be considering together really over the next three days is the topic of waiting on God. Waiting is not something that we necessarily like to do, but it's something that each one of us must do. It's been amazing to me, even this past few days, as I was thinking about this topic and the need of waiting, how often we're forced to wait. I went to pick up the car that we drove here. And when I went to pick it up, I went into the office there and the lady was on the phone. She looks up at me and she goes, could you just wait a minute? It's amazing when you're thinking about something, how often that word may appear, wait a minute. Stopped at Panera Bread about 11.15 this afternoon and thought, well, we're early enough, we'll just get right in and right out. And guess what? Walked in and I had to wait in line. Waiting is something we always have to do, it seems like, but it's not something that we necessarily enjoy doing. Waiting is something that is not easy to do. Whether we're in a line at a store or in traffic on the interstate or for a doctor in his office, It is not something we enjoy doing and often, if we're honest, it is something that brings a bit of frustration in us. We don't like to wait. And perhaps there are three reasons that we don't like to wait. First of all, we don't like to wait because if we're waiting, usually we're not in control. I mean, if I had my way, when I'm on the interstate, every car would either be moving in front of me or get out of my way. Not stopped. I have a difficult time understanding why I'm stopped on an interstate. But I'm not in control. And if all the other cars are stopped, I have to stop. We don't like waiting, not only because we're not in control, but often we don't like waiting because it's an inconvenience. This is my time. I have a schedule to keep. And if my appointment was at 12.15 and it is now 12.45, there's something wrong with that picture. You're wasting my time, at least that's what I think. I have a watch. I read the hands. And this becomes very inconvenient because I have my plans and this sort of puts a kink in my plans. We don't like to wait because we're not in control. We don't like to wait because often it is an inconvenience. But thirdly, we don't like to wait because often we're uncertain of the outcome. How is this going to turn out? When is the doctor going to call me back? When is this line of traffic going to move? There's an uncertainty about waiting that we really don't like. And so, for those three reasons, we don't like to wait. But waiting, especially for the believer, is something we're always doing when it comes to our relationship to God. Now this evening as we consider this topic together, waiting upon God, I want to do so under a couple different headings. The first thing I want you to notice with me is the significance of waiting upon God found in the Word of God. The number of times, and we're not going to be exhaustive, but I want you to notice with me a number of times that the very idea of waiting upon God is set before us. My desire throughout these days together is not to convince you to wait upon God. Because whether you like it or not, you will wait upon God. So it's not my desire to somehow convince you that we all need to wait upon God, because you're going to do it. But my desire is, to lead us in a way that as we wait upon God, we wait upon Him in a way that is pleasing in His sight, in a way that brings glory to Him, in a way that recognizes our dependence upon Almighty God. And so, if you're here this evening and think that I'm going to spend a great deal of time trying to convince you, wait upon God, I'm not. Because you will. And that's a reality. But now, take your copies of God's word and notice with me. We'll be in Isaiah 40 a lot over the next couple days. But begin with, let's look at several other passages. Psalm 25. The 25th Psalm. Starting at verse one. To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust. Do not let me be ashamed. Do not let my enemies exalt over me. Indeed, none of those who wait for the Lord or wait for you will be ashamed. Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed. Make me know your ways, O Lord. Teach me your path. Lead me in your truth. Teach me, for you are the God of my salvation. For you, I wait all the day. Here in this passage, twice the psalmist brings up this idea of waiting upon God, how we need to wait upon him. John Stott says concerning this passage, wait implies a simple, dependent, expecting, attentive state of heart. A simple, dependent, expecting attentive state of heart, notwithstanding delays and discouragements. We give ourselves to trust God, put our confidence in him, And with that, be obedient to His revealed will. As things come into our lives, we trust Him, we're obedient to Him. That's how we're to wait upon Him, recognizing that He is God and we are not. And so two things are stressed here in these verses. There's a confidence in the divine character of God. In you I will trust. And there is a readiness to obey what he has revealed in his word. Then the psalmist has the assurance that God's perfect plan will be carried out. Trust and obey. as we find ourselves perhaps in very difficult and trying circumstances. Look over to Psalm 27. Psalm 27 verses 13 and 14. I would have despaired Have you ever been there? I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord. Be strong and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for the Lord. Here, the psalmist reminds us that we're to trust him even in the midst of uncertainty. We're to trust him even in the midst of uncertainty. Circumstances that we're unsure how they're going to turn out. You can hear it in his voice, I would have despaired I don't have a crystal ball. I'm not sure how all this is going to work out, but I will take courage and trust in my God. I will place confidence in Him. One commentator says, these are words of encouragement. against carelessness, against fear, faintness of heart, or other infirmities. Did you ever find yourself going through circumstances that were difficult and you found yourself fearful? Or you found yourself being careless in what you did? Hear the words of the psalmist. Wait for the Lord. Be strong. Let your heart take courage. Psalm 33. Psalm 33. Verse 18. Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope for his loving kindness, to deliver their souls from death and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord. He is our help and our shield. for our hearts rejoice in him because we trust in his holy name. Let your loving kindness, O Lord, be upon us according as we have hoped in you. Again, it is implied that he's going through some very difficult times, some trying circumstances. You delivered my soul from death, You kept me alive in the midst of famine. These were difficult days. These were challenging days. And yet there's still a quiet submissiveness found here as he trusts in the Lord. He is reminded that the eye of the Lord is upon him. Whatever he is going through is not a surprise to God. God is absolutely aware of all the events that are transpiring in his life. And the psalmist says, I will put my trust in him and my soul waits. Waits. Quiet submission. It may not be according to our timing, but God's timing is always perfect. And I will trust in that. One person has said, impatience is the enemy of waiting. My wife knows that well, watching her husband. Impatience is an enemy of waiting. But we need to recognize that God is on the throne. He's watching over all that takes place. If there is a single thing out from underneath God's control, then yes, he can no longer be trusted. But he is in control, and therefore he can be trusted. John Calvin said about this passage, we sincerely rely upon God with our whole hearts, accounting Him as our shield and our help. He knows what He's doing. I will trust in Him. I came across a story about a young man who was at sea in a mighty raging tempest. When all the passengers were at their wits' end for fear, he was the only one who was merry. You get the picture? Everybody on the ship is just at wits' end. Are we gonna live? Are we gonna die? What's gonna happen? And there's this one young man who is merry. He's happy. When asked for the reason, he answered, The pilot of the ship is my father, and he knew his father would care for him. The person telling the story goes on to say, the great and wise God, who is our father, has from all eternity decreed what shall be the issue of all wars, what event of all troubles. He is our pilot. He sits at the stern. And though the ship of the church or state be in a seeking condition, yet be of good comfort, our pilot will have a care for us. God loves us more than we know. He cares for us more than we know. We can trust Him. He is our Heavenly Father. He knows what He's doing. He has a plan. He's working it out. And we must trust Him. Oftentimes, when I fly, I sit there and look out, especially in these larger airports, and I'm seeing a plane coming in for a landing, I'm seeing planes taking off, I'm seeing planes going down this runway, I see other planes going down that runway, and when I look at that, I think, what a mess! I hope somebody has this under control! And then I realize, up in the tower, there's someone who's watching over all those planes, directing them what runway to go to, directing them what runway to land, directing them when to take off. Everything under control by the guy who's sitting in the tower. And sometimes in this world, we see our lives and we think, what a mess. What an absolute mess. Is anyone in control? Is there anyone I can trust with these circumstances? And the answer is yes, we have a Heavenly Father who dearly loves us. And we wait upon Him. There are other passages. Let me look at a couple more. Psalm 37. Psalm 37. This will be a psalm that God willing we'll look at in more detail on Sunday evening. You hear David writes to us in a time that it seems very uncertain. The wicked seem to be prospering. The righteous are going through hard times. And in the midst of that, David tells them, do not become angry, do not become envious, trust in the Lord, delight yourself in Him, commit your ways to Him. But then we come to verse seven. And here he gives them a charge. Rest in the Lord. Wait patiently for Him. Commit your ways to the Lord and wait upon Him. He knows what He's doing. You can trust Him. And then over to Lamentations. Lamentations. Lamentations chapter 3. Starting at verse 19. Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and the bitterness. Surely my soul remembers and is bowed down within me. Here Jeremiah speaks of a deep sorrow, a deep intensity. my afflictions and my wonderings, the bitterness that I'm experiencing, the challenges that I face. But yet, as we read down through this passage, we find his tune changing as he remembers God. Verse 22, oh no, verse 21, this I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord's loving kindness indeed never cease, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I have hope in him. The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the person who seeks him. It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the Lord. Jeremiah says, I've gone through these sorrows. I know what it is to experience pain and hurt. I can't forget it. I feel as though I've been hit in the core of my very being. I remember the things I'm passing through. But in the midst of that, then he remembers, but God loves me. God cares about me. God is faithful to me. Therefore, though these are difficult circumstances, I will wait upon Him. We wait. And then we won't turn there, but Isaiah chapter 40, we've already read it, verse 31. where Isaiah reminds us that there are benefits in waiting upon God. Those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings as eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. There's benefits in waiting upon God. All of these verses that we've looked at, and it's not an exhaustive list, Speak of the reality that we must wait upon God. It is a disposition that is continuous all the days of our lives. It's true for the young, it's true for the old. We will wait upon God. There are providences that come into our lives that we can't control. We wish we could change it, but we can't. We don't like not being in control, but I can't control this situation. I wish I could, but I can't. The outcome is uncertain. How is all this going to turn out? What's going to be the end? I don't know. I don't have a crystal ball. I wish I did, but I don't. I'm uncomfortable with that. I want to know what's going to happen. But I don't. I become frustrated because I don't like these circumstances. I can't change them. I desire things would be different. But they're not. So what am I to do? I wait upon God. I trust Him. When I'm called to go through hard or dark or uncertain providences, I've got to wait upon God. Trust Him. It may have to do with a medical diagnosis. What happens if I hear in the doctor's office that C word? Cancer. I wasn't planning on that. That's a hard thing to go through. Why me? Why now? Your husband comes home, tells you, I got the pink slip today. Come next week, I don't have a job any longer. We just bought the house. We didn't see this coming. This isn't fair. It's not right. What are we going to do? A marriage is about ready to break up. It breaks your heart. And you think, I don't know that I can go on. What's going to become of me? Why did this have to happen? I thought things were going well, and now he's leaving. What am I going to do? What's my future look like? Son or daughter that's gone off into the far country, that you've watched grow up, and by God's grace, you've sought to train them and the fear and admission of the Lord. And they look at you and say, Mom, I don't love your God. Mom, I want to live my own life. I want to do my own thing. And your heart breaks. What are you going to do? The pain is real. The hurt is not artificial. The disappointment's there. The fear that grips your heart with the uncertainty of what lies before you. What are you going to do? You must wait on the Lord. Somebody says, does that mean we do nothing? Well, that will come. God willing, we'll consider that. Doesn't mean you necessarily do nothing. But it does mean you have a disposition that says, you know what? I've got to trust God. I've got to trust God. I do not need to despair. I do not need to fall into deep depression. I must trust God. So I trust that you see, and again, we haven't exhausted the list, but over and over again, we're told in the word of God of our necessity of waiting upon him. Notice with me, secondly, just a definition of waiting. Waiting upon God. This is my definition. It is not inspired, all right? It's just my definition, but I trust it'll be helpful for us as we think about this topic. Waiting upon God is this, and I'll repeat it a couple times. Living every day, knowing that God is in control of all things, and that I can trust him with every event and circumstance of my life, confident that he's carrying out his plan Knowing in the end, it will be for his glory and my good. Did you get that? I'll repeat it. All right. It's living every day. Knowing that God is in control of all things. And that I can trust him with every event and circumstance of my life. Confident he's carrying out his plan, and knowing in the end it will be for his glory and my good." I'll say the last line again. Confident he's carrying out his plan, knowing in the end it will be for his glory and my good. Not an easy thing to do. And I don't even pretend to stand up here as though I have mastered it. I know what it is to be awake at three o'clock in the morning trying to figure it all out. Wondering how It's going to work out over here if I can't get there because I've got to be here. Wondering what the outcome of this situation is going to be and the uncertainty that sets before us with regard to that. It's difficult to wait upon God. But it's the most blessed thing to do. And therefore, I pray that our desire is that we will wait upon him in a way that's pleasing in his sight and not find ourselves guilty of murmuring and complaining. Don't we find ourselves that things don't go our way? What do we do? It's not fair! This shouldn't be happening to me. Or we find ourselves, even at times, though we may not want to admit it, having hard thoughts about God. God, do you know what you're doing? God, do you not care about me? Do you not love me? He loves you. In the midst of difficult circumstances and dealing with some difficult people, I have to remind myself, God loves them way more than I do. And He's carrying out His plan. It may not be my plan, but it's His plan. And in the end, I know it will be for His glory and my good. Good? Good in these situations? In this event? Good? God promises. All things work together for good. And even that verse starts this way. And this we know. Don't forget that part. This we know, that all things work together for good. to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. So that's my definition of waiting upon God. But finally tonight, notice with me the foundation upon which waiting upon God is to be built. If we're going to wait upon God, then it must be built upon a solid foundation. And the foundation Where waiting upon God is to be built is His sovereignty. We must be convinced that God is sovereign over all things. Jerry Bridges says this concerning God's sovereignty. God is in control. He is sovereign. He does whatever pleases him and determines whether we can do what we have planned. This is the essence of God's sovereignty. His absolute independence to do as he pleases. And his absolute control over every action of all his creatures. No creature, person, or empire can either thwart his will or act outside the bounds of his will. God determines all things. He's absolutely in control over everything. Do you believe that? Oh, that's so easy to say, isn't it? How often do we forget that God's in control of every event, circumstance that comes into my life? Proof? Well, let's look at some. Psalm. Psalm 115. Can God do whatever he pleases? Psalm 115 verse 3. But our God is in the heavens. He does whatever he pleases. Do I need to expound that? Want me to dissect it for you? All right, you ready? God does whatever he pleases. That's what his word says. Look over to Daniel, Daniel chapter 4. Here we hear the confession of Nebuchadnezzar, and he says to us in verse 35, All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, but he does according to his will in the host of heaven. Among the inhabitants of the earth, no one can ward off his hand. God has a plan, and he's carrying it out. He never fumbles the ball. He never says, I never saw that coming. He never says, I've told this to people, my God never says, whoops. Think about it, God never, whoops. Because he's got it all planned out. And he's carrying out that plan perfectly. with the inhabitants of the earth, and no one can stop him. Isn't it amazing? Not too long ago, I forget when it was, several years back, there was supposed to be this big meeting someplace with all the big national leaders, and it had to be canceled. You know why? If I recall correctly, God simply blew into a volcano. And these national leaders could not come together. Their plans can be stopped. God's plans are never stopped. Look over at Isaiah. Isaiah chapter 14. Isaiah 14 and verse 24. The Lord of hosts has sworn saying, surely just as I have intended, so it has happened. Just as I have planned, so it will stand. Which one of us can say that? Just as I planned, it has come to pass. We were just talking this afternoon about how many of us can look back over our lives and where we are today is not what we had planned. I know I was meant to be a pastor in Charleston, South Carolina. I've been a pastor in Adrian, Michigan for 31 years. My plans never came to pass. God says, I plan and it will be done. I'm sovereign over all things. Proverbs 19 and verse 21, many are the plans of a man's heart, But it is the Lord's purposes that prevail. Proverbs 21 verse 30, no plan can succeed against the Lord. You put your plan up against God's plan and guess which one's gonna win? God's. Isaiah 46, turn over to there, Isaiah 46. 10 and 11. Declaring the end from the beginning, from the ancient times, things which have not been done, saying, my purpose will be established. I will accomplish all my good pleasure. calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my purpose from a far country. Truly I have spoken. Truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it. Surely I will do it. God is in control of all things. Ephesians chapter one and verse 11 tells us he will bring all things to pass for his own glory. It's His glory that is the end of all things. So whatever comes into our lives, He will work it out for His own glory. Turn over to Matthew chapter 10, a familiar passage. Matthew chapter 10. Here's that passage in which our Lord reminds us that even over the smallest of creatures and their actions, God is in control. Verse 29. Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your father. Here's the smallest of creatures. and not one of them falls to the ground apart from God and His plan. He rules over all. He is a sovereign God. We must be convinced of this reality if we're gonna wait upon God in a way that is pleasing in His sight. If you think there is one event that is outside of God's control, you'll never trust Him as you ought, and you'll never wait upon Him as you ought. But there's no event, no circumstance outside of his control. Margaret Clarkson, in her book, Grace Grows Best in the Winter, writes this. The sovereignty of God is one of the impregnable rock to which the suffering heart must cling. The circumstances surrounding our lives are no accident. They may be the work of evil, but that evil is held firmly within the mighty hand of our sovereign God. All evil is subject to him, and evil cannot touch his children unless he permits it. God is Lord of human history and of personal history. God is Lord of human history and of personal history. We think of God's sovereignty, we think of nations. God is sovereign over what's going on in the Middle East. God is sovereign over what's happening in Washington, D.C. But how often do we stand back and say, you know what? God is still sovereign when my dishwasher broke down and we're having company in about two hours. And what am I going to do with all these dirty dishes? Or I've got a carpool this morning and I go outside and I've got a flat tire. God is sovereign over even the little things. Mr. Spurgeon. Preaching on the text there in Matthew 20, is it not lawful for me to do as I wish with what is my own? Writes these words. There is no attribute more comforting to his children than God's sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe trials, They believe that God's sovereignty has ordained their affliction, and that God's sovereignty overrules them, and that God's sovereignty will sanctify them all. There is nothing for which the children ought more earnestly to contend than for the doctrine of their master is over all creation. the kingship of God over all the works of his own hands, the throne of God and his right to sit upon that throne. On the other hand, there is no doctrine more hated by worldlings, no truth of which they may have made such a football as the great stupendous and yet most certain doctrine of the sovereignty of the infinite Jehovah. He says this, men will allow God to be everywhere except on his throne. They will allow him to be in his workshop to fashion the worlds and to make stars They will allow him to be in his armory to dispense his alms and bestow his bounties. They will allow him to sustain the earth and bear up the pillars thereof, or light the lamp of heaven, or rule the waves of the ever-moving ocean. But when God ascends his throne, His creatures gnash their teeth. And we proclaim and enthrone God and His right to do as He wills with His own, to dispose of His creatures as He thinks well, without consulting them in the matter, then it is that men turn a deaf ear to us for God on his throne is not the God they love. But it is the God upon his throne that we must trust. God can be everywhere except on his throne. But God is on the throne. God is in control. Here we are on this Friday evening. I don't have any idea what some of you may be going through or what you have been through or what you will go through. But the word of God makes it clear that God is in control. He is sovereign over all things. And you must understand that and believe that if you're going to wait upon God in a way that's pleasing in his sight. Jeremiah 29 and verse 11 reminds us that God has a plan. He has a plan for your life. No one can stop that plan from coming to pass. That plan may encourage hurt, disappointment, heartbreak, fear, but we must trust him. We must trust him. One man has wrote, all people, believers as well as unbelievers, experience anxiety, frustration, heartache, and disappointment. Some suffer intense physical pain and catastrophic tragedies. But that which distinguishes the suffering of the believer from the unbeliever is the confidence that our suffering is under the control of an all-powerful, all-loving God. Our suffering has meaning and purpose in God's eternal plan. And He brings and allows to come into our lives only that which is for His glory and for our good. When we go through those dark providences, those difficult providences, do we understand that God is carrying out His plan? We don't like to think about that when we go through adversity. Sometimes we don't feel like trusting God. Honestly. But it's not how you feel. It's not about how you feel. It's about knowing the truth. and living by that truth. What we do needs to be based on truth. God willing, tomorrow afternoon, we will look at some of the truths about God that will help us to trust in him as we ought, even when we go through difficulties. You will wait upon God. And to do it in a way that's pleasing in His sight means you've got to have a solid foundation, and that solid foundation comes with the reality that my God is in control. He knows what He's doing. And though it may be difficult, and I'm not in any way making light of the hurt and the pain and the anxiety that may come with those circumstances, I still believe that God is in control of every part of my life. And he has a plan working it out for his good and for my good and for his glory. Do you trust him? Maybe you're here tonight and you say, I don't know him. I mean, how can I trust someone I don't know? I can tell you as well tonight that He can be known. You can know Him by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, turning away from sins and believing upon Him. He can be known. And then to know Him, it's such a place of peace in the midst of adversity. Because I know He loves me and has my good in mind. May God help us to wait upon our God. Let's pray. Father, we have been reminded tonight that we must wait upon you. But we would confess, O Lord, that many times There are circumstances and events that are so difficult, so hard. But Father, we pray that we might know you better, and coming to know you better, we might trust you all the more. And that Father, we would recognize that you are in control of every event that transpires in our lives. And we can trust you. And we can have confidence that you're carrying out your plan, and it will be for our good and for your glory. Father, may these things be branded upon our minds, so that as we live in this fallen world, we might wait upon you in a way that's pleasing in your sight. Help us, we pray, as we ask these things in Christ's name. Amen.