For Those Who Are Tired of Waiting

Hebrews 10:35–39

“Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.
For you have need of patience, that after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise.
For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”

These words were written to some of the most harassed, tried, and suffering Christians who ever lived.

They had been publicly ridiculed. Their goods were confiscated. Their homes and lands were taken. Many were imprisoned. Their pastor was in jail. Yet Scripture says they were full of assurance of faith, steadfast in the Lord, and obedient to God.

This suffering did not come because of sin, lack of faith, or disobedience.

In fact, Scripture says it happened after they were illuminated — after the light came on, after revelation, after they truly saw Christ.

“When you were illuminated, you endured a great fight of afflictions.”

When the light comes, the enemy comes like a flood. His goal is to put out the light and drive God’s people back into fear, doubt, guilt, and condemnation.

The writer of Hebrews discerned something happening in their hearts. They were growing weary. Not faithless — but impatient.

“For you have need of patience.”

What a thing to say to people who had already lost everything.

Yet God was addressing something deeper — impatience with Him.

There are moments when believers silently think, Lord, where have You been? Why haven’t You answered? Why are You delaying?

But God is never late.

He operates on holy timing. What feels long to us is “a little while” to Him. He has never once been late — and He never will be.

Mary and Martha said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
Jairus was told, “Don’t trouble the Master anymore.”

They thought it was too late.

But with God, there is no such thing as too late.

All it takes is one word from Him.

Often the hardest part of faith is the last half hour — the moment just before breakthrough — when confidence is shaken and silence feels heavy.

During those seasons, God is doing a deeper work. He is stripping us of confidence in people, in methods, in our own understanding, and in the flesh.

He brings us to the place where we say:

“Lord, I can’t fix this.
I can’t control this.
I trust You — live or die.”

While we wait, God may not immediately give the answer — but He gives something greater.

He gives Christ Himself.

His presence.
His peace.
His nearness.

And eventually we realize that knowing Jesus becomes more precious than receiving the answer we were waiting for.

That is when impatience turns into rest.

God says lovingly, not angrily:

“You have need of patience.”

Not because He has forgotten.
Not because He does not care.
But because He knows exactly what He is doing.

If God had answered some of our prayers when we demanded it, it would have led to disaster. In waiting, He protects us, purifies us, and prepares us.

So do not cast away your confidence.

He that shall come will come — and will not delay.

–Adapted from a sermon by David Wilkerson