Waiting: A Bible Study on Patience, Hope, and Trust

I'm reading Sharla Fritz's new Bible study and thinking about our mighty God and our stewardship as His people. From Sharla's chapters on waiting to the study guides, maps, reflections, projects and applications I find myself encouraged to wait on the LORD and watch Him work! There is laughing Issac, who blessed Abraham and Sarah in their old age. What about that awful King Ahab turning the hearts of God's people to worship baal? God needed Elijah to stand up to Ahab! Who better to feed Elijah during the drought than the widow of Zarephath until God told Elijah to act! Over and over Sharla helps us see God provide for His people. There is Anna, Esther, Martha, and others. God provides for us too. We need not wait impatiently. Use this study by yourself or with others. You will be blessed.

Sharla Fritz’s engaging new book is a home-run hit for this girl who struggles with waiting: for answers, for direction, for healing…for my fast-food order…for everything! I stew…I squirm…I sweat. I don’t like waiting! (Can you relate?) It’s difficult to wait well, isn’t it? Everything in our instant world says, “Why wait?” And yet, the reality is, many times we must. This book is teaching me there’s a purpose for every “pause” in my life, even when I fail to see it as I wait. Receive tremendous encouragement, comfort, and hope as you wait in this season: of life, of the year, of your career, of struggles, in your relationships. Whatever the reason for your wait, know that the Lord holds your hand. He is at work, even when you don’t see it. Don’t despair in the delay; it may be a divine interruption for His purpose and His plans…all in His timing and by His grace for you in Christ. And while you wait, you can do so expectantly, confident of God's provision. What might He be teaching you? And what actions can you take, even while you wait? Through the historical accounts of women in Scripture who waited on the Lord (such as Sarah, Hannah, Martha...and more), you and I can learn to wait WELL. With Biblical depth and wisdom, the author give us a fascinating peek into the cultural context (including backgrounds, timelines, and maps!) of personal narratives in Biblical history. And she provides practical application, enabling us to relate with each woman, personalizing their stories to ours. With authenticity, grace, and even a bit of humor, Sharla shares her own personal stories, too, having lived through multiple reasons and seasons of waiting! In addition to her insightful teaching of this difficult topic, she's provided creative study questions for growth and reflection, and the opportunity to dig deeper in Scripture, where the Holy Spirit will speak into our lives and throughout our seasons of waiting. May the Lord enable us to see the “pause” in our plans as an opportunity to grow in trust of the One who is working in the midst of it. “[God] specializes in coming through when everything appears hopeless to us.” - Sharla Fritz If you’ve ever had to wait (and who hasn’t?!), this book is for YOU! It’s a must-read for personal growth and study; it’s a perfect choice for small-group or large-group Bible study; and it’s a welcomed gift for a friend. Thank you, Sharla!

If you’re alive and breathing, chances are you are waiting for something: traffic to move, a loved one to come to Christ, a promotion, healing etc. Waiting far surpassed my expectations for a book on this topic. I wondered how much can be said on this subject. Turns out, a lot (!) - thanks to the author’s biblical wisdom and insight. The book is engaging, easy to read, at times humorous, and is yet filled with much spiritual depth. For any woman (or man!) who wants to delve a little deeper into the Bible, but who wants practical application as well - not just head knowledge - this is a wonderful book. The timelines, maps, and historical information add a scholarly, but welcome, aspect to the study; I gleaned much information that I was not aware of. The author has obviously done her homework. She also shares several touching personal stories about her own times of waiting; she has definitely walked out what she is teaching. A very worthwhile read. A must for any Christian’s library.