Seminary
Lesson 117: Isaiah 25—Waiting for the Lord
young woman kneeling beside bed and looking outside

Isaiah 13–14; 22; 24–30; 35: Lesson 117

Isaiah 25

Waiting for the Lord

Visit “Studying the Scriptures” to help prepare yourself spiritually to learn.

How do you respond when it seems as though your earnest prayers go unanswered? Throughout scripture, the Lord and His prophets have emphasized our need to wait for the Lord (see Isaiah 25:9), patiently seeking blessings and answers. This lesson can help you understand the importance of waiting for the Lord’s answers or blessings.

Study the Scriptures

kids with marshmallows

To test children’s ability to patiently wait, researchers placed a large marshmallow in front of several four-year-olds. The children were told that they could eat the marshmallow immediately. However, if they were able to wait 15 minutes, they would be given two marshmallows. Only 30 percent of the children were able to wait. The researchers later discovered that future success in life was correlated with the kids’ ability to wait—to be patient. Why do you think there is a link between the ability to wait and future success?

notebook icon Respond to one or more of the following questions in your notebook:

  • When have you had difficulty waiting for something? What made it challenging for you?

  • What blessings or answers from Heavenly Father are you currently waiting to receive?

As you study today, prayerfully invite Heavenly Father to strengthen your ability to wait patiently.

The Lord sent the prophet Isaiah to the nation of Judah during a chaotic time of political and social uncertainty. Isaiah 25 reminds the house of Israel of the great blessings they have and will receive from the Lord.

mark iconRead Isaiah 25:1–4, 6–9. Look for what the Lord had already done for Israel and what He promised to do for them in the future. Mark blessings that stand out to you.

Verse 9 lists blessings from waiting for the Lord. Elder Robert D. Hales (1932–2017) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Elder Robert D. Hales

In the scriptures, the word wait means to hope, to anticipate, and to trust. To hope and trust in the Lord requires faith, patience, humility, meekness, long-suffering, keeping the commandments, and enduring to the end. (“Waiting Upon the Lord: Thy Will Be Done,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 71)

link iconYou might consider linking Elder Hales’s statement to Isaiah 25:9.

note iconNext to verse 9, create a note recording how you would finish the following truth: If I wait for the Lord, I will …

Which words or phrases from Elder Hales could you use to explain what it means to wait for the Lord? Is there anything you would add to help someone understand what it means to wait for the Lord?

If available, watch “Waiting upon the Lord: Thy Will Be Done” (time code 0:59–2:57). Look for how the Savior waits for Heavenly Father.

16:12

Review the following study options. Complete one or more.

Option A

What blessings has the Lord promised to those who wait for Him?

The Lord has promised great blessings to those who wait for Him.

tag iconRead and tag the following passages “waiting on the Lord,” “patience,” or a tag you create. You might want to mark blessings the Lord promises to those who wait for Him.

If available, watch “Continue in Patience” (time code 1:07–2:41). Look for what President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then of the First Presidency, did to act in faith as he waited for promised blessings.

2:42

notebook iconRespond to one or more of the following questions in your notebook:

  • What might the blessings of waiting for the Lord look like today?

  • When have you had an experience of waiting for an answer or blessing?

  • What have you done that has helped you wait for the Lord?

Option B

What if I am struggling to wait upon the Lord?

At times, Heavenly Father may require you to wait for a desired answer or blessing. Sometimes, He might not provide the desired answer or blessing in the way or timing you want.

Choose two or more of the following four resources. Look for what could help someone who is struggling to wait for the Lord.

  1. Isaiah 25:8

  2. Doctrine and Covenants 121:1–10

  3. Sister Amy A. Wright, then Second Counselor in the Primary General Presidency, shared:

    10:39
    Sister Amy A. Wright

    Oftentimes we can find ourselves … patiently—or sometimes impatiently—“wait[ing] upon the Lord.” …

    Waiting upon the Lord can be a sacred place—a place of polishing and refining where we can come to know the Savior in a deeply personal way. Waiting upon the Lord may also be a place where we find ourselves asking, “O God, where art thou?”—a place where spiritual perseverance requires us to exercise faith in Christ by intentionally choosing Him again and again and again. …

    I learned in a profound way that deliverance from our trials is different for each of us, and therefore our focus should be less about the way in which we are delivered and more about the Deliverer Himself. Our emphasis should always be on Jesus Christ!

    Exercising faith in Christ means trusting not only in God’s will but also in His timing. For He knows exactly what we need and precisely when we need it. (“Christ Heals That Which Is Broken,” Liahona, May 2022, 83–84)

  4. “He’ll Be There” (2:43). Through song, a young man shares his witness that Christ will comfort us in our sadness.

    2:42

notebook iconIn your notebook, share something that could be helpful for someone to do while they are waiting for the Lord’s answers or blessings. You could include an experience when you or someone you know has experienced the Lord’s blessings.

Share Your Thoughts

Lesson Purpose: To help you understand the importance of waiting for the Lord.

share iconShare one or more of the following with your teacher or class:

  • Your response to one of the questions from option A.

  • Advice for someone who is struggling to wait for the Lord’s answers or blessings.

  • Something specific you did to achieve the purpose of this lesson.

  • Any questions this lesson raised for you. How will you try to find answers to your questions?