Waiting Games (not games at all)

            My husband likes to tally up how much time we spend in our lifetimes waiting at red lights, standing in grocery store lines, or waiting for the internet browser to pop up on our computer screens. He can predict nearly the exact time we will arrive somewhere before we even get started and be correct almost to the minute, even on long trips! He can tell you how long we wait for practically everything we do. He loves to calculate those kinds of things. He even tries to get the rest of us in the family to play along in his calculations, but I do not like those kinds of waiting games. I figure that guessing is not going to change the arrival time or the experience of my waiting. I’m not really good at waiting in general. I’m trying to do better.

             As human beings, we are always waiting. We wait in line in a store, we wait for our paychecks to be deposited, we wait for our favorite TV show to come on, for our loved ones to arrive home safely, for medical test results to come back, for the sun to come out, for the rain to stop, for our kids to be born, to grow up, and then we wish they were young again, we wait for more things than I could possibly list on this page. Wait, wait, and wait.

            I have been thinking a lot more lately about waiting. I find myself in a season of waiting right now, and I have to say, it is not easy to wait. In fact, it is pretty challenging. As I wait, my mind goes to many different places, not all of them pleasant. Sometimes I wait patiently and with courage, but at other times, waiting causes me to fear, worry and to be very anxious. But, there is a better way to wait and I deeply desire to wait in that way. Scripture teaches us to wait on the Lord. I have been pondering what waiting on the Lord looks like. How should I feel as I wait? How should I behave?

            I believe that Scripture teaches that we should wait with faith, confidence, trust and hope. We are to wait on God with patience. We are to wait, knowing that He hears us and will answer us and wait with confidence that God is Who He says He is. A new friend (actually one of my doctors) shared something with me recently while trying to encourage me during a phone call that I received from her. She said we are to wait on God with “confident expectation”. I love that! It is so practical and so true! She took about twenty five minutes of her very busy time to encourage me with these wise words. How often does that happen these days? I’m so thankful for her. (and for others)

Waiting is not easy, nor passive. Waiting on the Lord should be active. As we wait, we can talk to Him and trust that He hears us. We can read and study His Word. We can listen and we can seek the wisdom of those wiser than us who can walk with us as we wait and help to point us to Him. This kind of waiting is much better than the kind that leads to fear and anxiety. I’m not saying it is easy, but it is well worth it. I am preaching to myself here more than anyone else. Trust me, I need to hear this right now. As we wait, we can also remember God’s faithfulness to us in the past. As I contemplate His faithfulness, I am overwhelmed by His goodness and mercy towards me. Remembering His faithfulness also leads me to be thankful, thankful that I do not wait alone and thankful that I know that whatever the results of my waiting turn out to be, He is with me. He goes before me.

            If you also find yourself in a time of waiting, please look with me at the verses that God has been giving me in this tough season of waiting. Spend time in His Word and look for other verses that may encourage you as you wait. (I’d love for you to share your favorite verses in the comment section below!) God bless you as you wait. I pray that as we wait together on the Lord, we will find strength, peace, patience, comfort and hope, and even more than that, let’s wait together with “confident expectation”.

Isaiah 40:31 – “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.” (ESV)

Psalm 27:14 – “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (ESV)

Psalm 130:5 – “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord.” (NIV)

Philippians 4:4-8 – “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (NIV)

Psalm 25:4-5 – “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.”

Psalm 46:10 – “Be still and know that I am God…” (NIV) “Cease striving and know that I am God…” (NASB)

Titus 2:13 – “…waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ…”

 

 

 

Little Yellow Flowers

I have not written in a while. There are times when my heart has a difficult time getting the words down on paper. This has been one of those times. I want to write, but the words will not flow. So I wait. I listen and when the time is right, it comes. I was writing a newsletter article recently about the hope that sometimes comes with a new year. I even struggled to find the words for that, but I finally did. I thought about re-writing that for my blog, but I decided to write about a different kind of hope – hope that comes out of deep struggle.

A couple of weeks ago I woke up, got ready for the day and headed out for some extended time with the Lord in the Pink Room. Instead, I decided to stay in our bedroom and sit in one of my favorite chairs. It is a small lady-sized chair that belonged to my husband’s parents. I have it covered with a beautiful pink blanket that my sweet sister-in-law made for me a few years ago. It is a very warm and comfortable spot to sit right by our bedroom window. That morning, I opened the blind to let in a bit of sunshine and to my surprise, there was a beautiful little yellow and orange daffodil right outside of our window. One little stem of flowers standing strong against the cold winds of winter. That tiny flower pushed its way up through the hard soil of winter. Everything else in our front garden has died or gone dormant. It stands alone fighting to survive the chilly days. Normally this type of flower blooms much later, around early to mid springtime. It is not normal for it to bloom in the dead of winter. In fact, it has never bloomed before. It also belonged to my sweet in-laws and we’ve had it for a few years now, but it never bloomed until now.

            Every morning when I open the blinds, there it is, smiling at me, in all its splendor. It makes me smile. It is so bright and colorful against the dreary appearance of winter. It is standing tall and strong against all odds. It gives me…hope. Its happy little face reminds me to praise God and to have a thankful heart even when I do not understand the tough things going on around me. I want to be like that little daffodil. I want to stand strong in my faith, I want to trust God in ALL things. Even when I face what feels like a cold, dark winter season in my life, I want to cling to the One who loves me most and who knows me best. I want to persevere, but more than that, I want to press on in joy, just like that sweet little flower.

            None of us know what the next hour will bring in our lives. I certainly do not, but God does. Recently, I asked a friend to pray for me and for my family in a time of intense testing. Her words were short, but so encouraging. She said, “God goes before you.” What a beautiful reminder of God’s presence in the lives of His children. He goes before us. He is all around us. Psalm 139:5 says, “You hem me in – behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.” (NIV) He does not abandon His children – ever. When life overwhelms us, it may seem like He has left us, but His Word tells us that He never leaves us and I believe His Word is truth.

            The day is at an end now and it is dark outside. I cannot see the little yellow flower right now, but I know it is still standing tall and strong even in the dark of night. I believe it will still be there in the morning when I open the blinds again. It is the same for me and for you. Even in the darkness, we know our Heavenly Father is with us. We might not see Him, or even feel His presence, but He is there. He will be there when I lay down my head tonight. He will be there tomorrow when I face life’s challenges and He will be there when I walk through moments of joy. He is faithful. HE IS FAITHFUL. May God richly bless you. Thank you for reading.