- Home
- Speakers
- Warren Wiersbe
- How Long Can You Wait?
Warren Wiersbe

Warren Wendell Wiersbe (1929 - 2019). American pastor, author, and Bible teacher born in East Chicago, Indiana. Converted at 16 during a Youth for Christ rally, he studied at Indiana University, Northern Baptist Seminary, and earned a D.D. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Ordained in 1951, he pastored Central Baptist Church in Indiana (1951-1957), Calvary Baptist in Kentucky (1961-1971), and Moody Church in Chicago (1971-1978). Joining Back to the Bible in 1980, he broadcasted globally, reaching millions. Wiersbe authored over 150 books, including the Be Series commentaries, notably Be Joyful (1974), with over 5 million copies sold. Known as the “pastor’s pastor,” his expository preaching emphasized practical application of Scripture. Married to Betty Warren since 1953, they had four children. His teaching tours spanned Europe, Asia, and Africa, mentoring thousands of pastors. Wiersbe’s words, “Truth without love is brutality, but love without truth is hypocrisy,” guided his balanced ministry. His writings, translated into 20 languages, continue to shape evangelical Bible study and pastoral training worldwide.
Download
Topic
Sermon Summary
Warren Wiersbe emphasizes the danger of impatience with God, using examples of everyday frustrations to illustrate the impatience we often feel. He delves into Psalm 13:1-6, where David expresses his impatience with God, questioning how long he must wait for God's intervention. Wiersbe highlights the importance of trusting God's timing, citing biblical figures like Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, and Moses who had to wait for God's promises to be fulfilled. He encourages the congregation to have patience, reminding them that God's delays often lead to greater blessings and miracles.
How Long Can You Wait?
Read Psalm 13:1-6 Have you ever been impatient with God? Impatience is one of my big problems. I always get into the wrong lane on a toll road. Someone's in front of me with foreign currency, trying to buy his way through the tollbooth. I get into the wrong line at the airport, thinking, This line is a good line; it's going to move. But it doesn't because somebody in the line has lost his passport. And I get irritated. It's one thing for us to be impatient with ourselves or with others. But when we become impatient with God, we should watch out! "How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul?" (vv. 1,2). Four times David asked, "How long?" We're so time conscious today. We have watches that show us split seconds. But what do we do with those split seconds? If we save three minutes by taking a shortcut, what significant thing will we accomplish with the three minutes we save? We expect God to do what we want Him to do--and right now! But He doesn't always act immediately. Abraham had to wait for 25 years after God's promise before Isaac was born. Isaac had to wait 20 years for his children. Joseph had to wait 13 years before he was set free and put on the throne. Moses had a wait of 80 years. You see, God's schedule is not the same as ours. Sometimes He waits so that He can do more for us than we expect. When He heard that Lazarus was dying, our Lord waited until his friend's death before He came. But when He came, He brought a greater miracle and received greater glory. The hardest thing to do is to wait on the Lord. But we can if we will trust Him and rest on His Word. Some of your greatest blessings come with patience. When you must wait for God to act, you can be confident that He knows what is best for you and what will best glorify Him. Are you waiting for God to act on your behalf? Align with His timing and rest on the promises of His Word.
- Bio
- Summary
- Transcript
- Download

Warren Wendell Wiersbe (1929 - 2019). American pastor, author, and Bible teacher born in East Chicago, Indiana. Converted at 16 during a Youth for Christ rally, he studied at Indiana University, Northern Baptist Seminary, and earned a D.D. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Ordained in 1951, he pastored Central Baptist Church in Indiana (1951-1957), Calvary Baptist in Kentucky (1961-1971), and Moody Church in Chicago (1971-1978). Joining Back to the Bible in 1980, he broadcasted globally, reaching millions. Wiersbe authored over 150 books, including the Be Series commentaries, notably Be Joyful (1974), with over 5 million copies sold. Known as the “pastor’s pastor,” his expository preaching emphasized practical application of Scripture. Married to Betty Warren since 1953, they had four children. His teaching tours spanned Europe, Asia, and Africa, mentoring thousands of pastors. Wiersbe’s words, “Truth without love is brutality, but love without truth is hypocrisy,” guided his balanced ministry. His writings, translated into 20 languages, continue to shape evangelical Bible study and pastoral training worldwide.