The Best Things Come to Those Who Wait

“The best things come to those who wait.”

In the 1980’s, this was the advertising slogan used by the H.J. Heinz Company to promote their Heinz brand of tomato ketchup. The ads, which appeared on television, in magazines, on billboards, and even in movie theaters, highlighted the fact that their ketchup was so good that even people who were in a hurry would be more than willing to wait for it to slowly make its way out of the bottle.

When it comes to waiting on the Lord, we can say the same thing. The best things do come to those who wait on Him. But, the best things aren’t necessarily the end result of waiting, such as an answer to prayer. The best things that come out of waiting on the Lord are the things that it builds in us. There are benefits found in the time we spend waiting.

Waiting on the Lord leads us to expectancy (Psalm 5:3). As we wait on God to provide an answer to prayer or for wisdom and guidance, it can lead us to an atmosphere of expectation, having confidence that we will hear from Him. Waiting on the Lord leads us to hope (Psalm 33:20). The uncertainty over the future of the world we live in presents a constant need for hope. When we wait on God, the Holy Spirit helps us to abound in hope (Romans 15:13).

Hope is based, not on things we can see, but on things we cannot see. When we have that hope, we are able to wait patiently (Romans 8:24-25). Patience is another benefit of waiting on the Lord. Lamentations 3:26 tells us that it is good to wait quietly on the Lord, to wait patiently. Patience is also a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Patience is the ability to endure through waiting, even in the face of trials and tribulations.

When we wait on the Lord, we can be assured that He will answer. The answer may not always be the one that we are seeking, but it will be the answer that is best for us. But, because of the things that waiting leads us to, the time spent waiting will be beneficial to us, no matter what the answer is. The best things do come to those who wait on the Lord.