Are You Waiting for Something?
Fix Your Gaze, Not Your Circumstance
God is eternally perfect.
Are You Waiting for Something?
A bonus? A breakthrough? A healing? An apology?
I remember when rumors about going home started to circulate on our base in Afghanistan. We were in a hot valley—not just the temperature, but a place seething with violence. The only thread of hope for many soldiers was the thought of a finish line: going home.
As one of the leaders, my job was to stay locked in. No matter the whispers or shifting timelines, I had a conviction to focus on the mission. And thankfully, I had the Holy Spirit to guide and lead me through that.
Getting shot at, eating the same food daily, and using the restroom in a PVC pipe and a wag bag for five months got old quickly.
Yes, I wanted to go home. Yes, waiting was hard—especially when our lives were on the line every day. But the reality of going home didn’t trump my responsibility. I had lives under my watch. And until they were safe, I wasn’t going anywhere.
Not until the mission was done.
But God...
He showed up in the waiting.
He helped me thrive in the waiting—and lead like Him in the waiting.
Because of Him, I was grounded. Rooted in purpose. Bountiful in vision.
And as a result, I brought others with me.
Waiting became transformation.
And this kind of waiting? It’s not far from yours.
It’s not unlike the ten terrifying days the disciples endured after Jesus ascended.
The 10-Day Wait Wasn’t Random
Yesterday at church, we were in a series on Acts, and I got a little squirmy—in a good way. I started diving deeper into the waiting the disciples experienced, and I want to share what I found.
The ten-day waiting period between Jesus’ ascension and Pentecost isn’t just an arbitrary gap—it’s woven into the Jewish calendar and echoes Old Testament rhythms. Yes, it tested the disciples’ faith and unity. But it was also a divinely timed, prophetically loaded moment.
Here’s the timeline:
Jesus was crucified during Passover (Friday).
He rose on the third day—Sunday—the Feast of Firstfruits (1 Cor. 15:20).
He appeared to the disciples for 40 days (Acts 1:3).
He ascended on day 40.
The Holy Spirit came on Pentecost, 50 days after Passover (Leviticus 23:15–16).
Which means: they waited ten days between Ascension and Pentecost.
The Old Testament Connection: Feast of Weeks (Shavuot / Pentecost)
Pentecost wasn’t new in Acts. It was an ancient feast—the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot)—celebrated 50 days after Passover.
In the Old Testament, Pentecost marked the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai, 50 days after the Exodus and the first Passover. So on the very day the Jews were celebrating God giving the Law on stone tablets, God gave His Spirit to write His law on hearts
(Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 36:26–27).
At Sinai, 3,000 died after worshiping the golden calf (Exodus 32:28).
At Pentecost, 3,000 were saved (Acts 2:41).
That’s no coincidence.
God was declaring:
“A new covenant is here—not on stone tablets, but by the Spirit.”
Never Finished Challenge: Wait
Yes, the disciples had to wait.
And yes, you will have to wait.
But biblical waiting isn’t blind or passive—it’s anchored and active.
The disciples were anchored by Jesus’ command (Acts 1:4–5):
“Wait for the gift my Father promised.”
James 4:8 echoes Jeremiah 29:
“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”
And Hebrews 13:5 reminds us:
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
So pursue God—and in His presence, you’ll begin to understand how to wait.
And when His timeline stretches far beyond yours, you’ll continue in hope. Also, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and consume you.
God’s Timing Is Never Random
The more we know the Scriptures, the more we understand that God’s will is never random.
It is intentional, prophetic, perfect.
“Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.”
— Isaiah 40:31
So read His Word daily. Memorize Isaiah 40:31.
Drink the living water. Eat the eternal bread.
And you’ll never thirst or hunger again.
Don’t Wait Alone
Waiting is not meant to be done in isolation.
The disciples waited together. They prayed together. They expected together.
“A cord of three strands is not easily broken.”
— Ecclesiastes 4:12
Journal where and how you are tempted during these waiting seasons. Bring your circle in.
Let them pray for you, speak life over you, wait with you, and cry with you.
Because oftentimes, when others confirm what God has whispered to you in private, your faith gets stronger.
As you wait... Pursue God with all your heart, soul, and mind. Love others as yourself. Soak in Scripture. Stay in community. Refuse to quit early.
Because this isn’t passive waiting.
It’s sacred space for divine activity.
What Does Today Say About God?
Perfect. Eternal. Near.
“Perfect” is such a loaded word.
It taunts our flesh with a seductive smile, whispering, “You’re not enough.”
But then I remember:
There is only One who is perfect.
And that One invites me to trust Him.
Daily. Patiently. Expectantly.
Though I can’t fully grasp this attribute of God, the glimpses He gives me draw me in with awe and wonder—and call me higher.
What a Father.
What a Friend.
What a King.
Thank You, Jesus.