There are a lot of difficult things we are faced with in life, but I think one of the toughest is waiting.
There are several situations right now where I find myself having to patiently (or not so patiently) wait for the outcome of something, and to be honest, it is a struggle. Will things turn out the way I want? Or will it be the opposite? How do I not go crazy in the meantime?
I was recently reminded that as Christians, we are given instructions on how to wait.
In the letter by James, we are instructed to be like a farmer. His crops don’t shoot up overnight. A farmer plants his seeds knowing he is going to have to be patient for those rains to come and grow his crops. (James 5:7)
James also instructs the people not to grumble. It is certainly easy to be on edge while we wait for something. We get cranky! But we are to keep positive with uplifting speech toward one another. (James 5:9)
Then he instructs us to look to the prophets—examples of faithful followers in the Bible who remained steadfast in their faith and were therefore able to fulfill God’s purpose. We must pattern our lives after them. (James 5:10-11)
And in Isaiah we see that waiting with hope in God comes with a promise:
“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:31
When our waiting is centered on God, we don’t have to be strapped with weariness and fear. Every time we start to feel worried, we can use it as an opportunity to lift our concern to God in prayer. Over and over and over again. And each time we do, God provides us with strength. The Passion Translation interprets the verse: “But those who entwine their hearts with YAHWEH will experience divine strength.” This process of relying on God in our waiting allows us to align our hearts with His will. Through that constant reliance on Him, we experience the power to persevere, power that we could never begin to experience on our own.
For Christians, waiting isn’t passive. And the irony is that it is during the seasons of waiting that we find out we can soar.
Wow Kris!
I read this last night and was just talking about this scenario with a pastor friend on the way home and then read your blog and boy it was like wow and amazing how God speaks to you at the right time.
So, fitting and perfect when you need it.
Love you girl!
Wow Kris!
I read this last night and was just talking about this scenario with a pastor friend on the way home and then read your blog and boy it was like wow and amazing how God speaks to you at the right time.
So, fitting and perfect when you need it.
Love you girl!
So very true that we should focus our attention on God and not let the negative take hold of us. The enemy thinks he can ruin us by bringing situations to our minds. We have to remember we are so precious to God and He works all things out for the good, even when we don’t think they will turn out a certain way. God is so good.
Amen. Love you both, my dear friends!