Jesus spent forty days with the disciples after His resurrection. Forty days of answering endless questions and encouraging the shocked followers. Forty days of time together. Forty days of in-the-flesh meetings. No zoom calls needed—He was right there with them.
The disciples asked,
“Is now the time You’ll renew Israel’s kingdom? Will you restore the throne to God’s people.”
Just think, they still didn’t understand what was going on. They had the Messiah in their presence, and yet there were still unknowns.
What was His answer?
“Just wait.”
What about others who waited to receive answers?
Ezekiel bore the sins of Israel’s disobedience for forty days. Ezekiel 4:6
Noah and his family listened to an unprecedented storm rage for forty days and forty nights. Genesis 7:12
Moses was on the mountain with God for forty days and forty nights. There was no word from him—no sign that he was still alive. Exodus 24:18
The spies explored Canaan for forty days. Numbers 13:25
Moses interceded for the sins of Israel for forty days and forty nights. Deuteronomy 9:25
Jonah proclaimed Nineveh’s great doom in forty days. Jonah 3:4
Jesus was tested in the wilderness for forty days and forty nights. Matthew 4:2
What gave each fortitude to continue their quest, day after day, week after week?
Exercise:
Read Acts 1:1-8
What took place in those forty days?
Imagine the space of a day—
Waking, preparing
Breakfast, clean up
Working, preparing
Noonday meal, cleanup
Working, preparing
Evening meal, cleanup
Nighttime routine
And soon, forty days have gone by in the blink of an eye.
What are you waiting for? Is there something the Lord has promised to you but seems to be delayed in answering? What are you doing in your daily routine while you wait? What helps you persevere when the days seem endless?
Maybe, the answer isn’t in waiting, but in acting.
When we don’t understand what God is doing, we can still be active in our wait.
What instructions did Jesus give in Acts 1:8?
If Jerusalem is your city
Judea is your state
Samaria is a neighboring state
And the ends of the earth represent the whole world
then how will you treat each locale as your sphere of influence?
We do what we know to do and then wait for the next step to be revealed.
…we wait for the blessed hope… Titus 2:13 NIV
What will you do while you wait?
Over 140 of Sally Ferguson’s devotionals have been published in Pathways to God (Warner Press). She’s also written for Light From The Word, Chautauqua Mirror, Just Between Us, Adult Span Curriculum, Thriving Family, Upgrade with Dawn and ezinearticles.com. Prose Contest Winner at 2017 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference.
Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.
Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.
Visit Sally’s blog at sallyferguson.net
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