What should we keep in mind while we wait patiently for God's promises?
While waiting, hope concerns what is not yet seen; if something is seen, there is no need to hope. God's timing differs from ours—He may bring His promise to fruition tomorrow, in ten years, or a hundred years—but it is certain. Never lose sight that it will happen; Christ will return.
Les teaches that faith and hope are intricately intertwined. If a person sees something, there is no need to hope for it. He illustrates that anticipation is far more exciting than realization—looking forward to something is often more exciting than when it finally arrives. In Romans 8:25, if we hope by faith for what we do not see, then we wait for it with patience. Les explains that with God, time does not mean that much; God is not concerned whether He brings everything to fruition tomorrow, ten years from now, or a hundred years from now. We know it is coming, and we cannot push God to do it faster, so we wait patiently. But in our patience, we must never lose sight of the fact that it is going to happen. Christ is going to return, and it feels sooner every day. Les then notes that the Holy Spirit, who now indwells us according to Paul's teaching, also helps our infirmities and weaknesses. We cannot do much about them because we deal with the invisible, in the realm of the Spirit, so we let God do it.
But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
More Questions
Does time matter to God when it comes to fulfilling His promises?
With God, time does not mean much: He is not concerned whether He brings everything to its fruition tomorrow, or ten years from now, or a hundred years from now.