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I am not sure where you stand on this, but for me, waiting can really be hard.
Waiting for a birthday present, waiting in line, waiting for the snow to melt in the spring, or as a believer in Jesus Christ, waiting for answers to an admittedly long list of urgent prayer requests. When I pray, I like to imagine that in my arms is a basket stuffed with concerns, fears, and worries. As I step towards the foot of the cross, I set the basket at Jesus feet and simply turn and walk away to allow God to handle the gritty details. I am also quick to admit my tendency to spin around a short while later to see if the Lord is dealing with them in a prompt and orderly fashion.
Yes, waiting can be hard when it appears that nothing is happening and that God has not yet opened your mail. There are situations in my life where I am praying and asking God to step into the fray and take immediate action. There are prayers I have prayed for years and some only recently that in my mind, require swift and definitive resolution. Yes, I sometimes feel like a broken record as I blurt my heart out to Jesus, but it is also Jesus who says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5 – 16,17,18 ESV)
As I wait in the heavenly queue for God to intervene in my circumstances and in the lives of those I love and care about, I think about Moses leading God’s chosen people out of Egypt, through the Red Sea and eventually to the Promised Land, where despite a bevy of miracles, signs, and wonders, the masses still doubted God’s plan through endless grumbling and complaints.
Have you ever felt like an unbelieving Israelite in the desert? I sure have. I know what God says in his word, but my doubting nature wants me to think that He cannot pull off the impossible.
I recently came across a photograph with a snippet of scripture placed over-top. As divinely orchestrated luck would have it, the verse was exactly the reminder I needed—that no matter what you or I may be facing today, we have the assurance that EVERYTHING will fall into place in God’s perfect time. It’s a promise that we can take to the bank as a solid investment that will never diminish in value. Here it is…
“When the time is right, I, the Lord, will make it happen.” (Isaiah 60:22 NLT)
Moral of the story is this:
We need to relax and trust God in and through our waiting, our struggles, our prayers, our heartaches. He is faithful and will never leave us nor forsake us. All we need to do is be still and let our Heavenly Father drive the boat. He knows exactly what we are facing. Not only is He handling it, but He is handling it a bazillion times better than you or I ever could!
Can I get a rousing AMEN to that?
Paul Smyth
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