Those Who Wait

 

My hearts discouraged,

So I come to you expectant.

You say you’re good to those who wait.

  

Lord, today you know what I need to do,

But you can do more in my waiting than in my doing I could do.

So I won't run anymore.

I'm waiting on you.

Oh, wretched man that I am!

Free me from my distractions.

You say you're good to those who wait.

Oh, my soul,

Wait upon the Lord.

Keep your lamp filled with oil.

Oh, my soul,

Be not deceived!

Wait for Him.

Don't be quick to leave.

I'm waiting on you.

-Bethany Dillon

 

Recently this song has been resonating in my head, because it is so personal to how I’ve been feeling lately.  You know that question that you ask over and over to God, “What now?”  That feeling of doing what God has told you and yet you are still waiting; you are still struggling and not yet seeing any fruit from the seeds you’ve planted.  There are days when you may be tempted to give up doing it God’s way, because you thought by now you would see the results or maybe even feel a lot better.  I won’t lie I have those moments as well.  I’ve really been diving into the story of Job in the Bible.  If you have never read it, I highly suggest you do.  What stood out to me the most was in Job 42:2-3 (emphasis is mine)

“I know that you can do all things;
    no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’    Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
    things too wonderful for me to know.”

Putting this into perspective:

*We know and believe that God is able to ALL THINGS; “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,”-Ephesians 3:20

His purpose for us cannot and will not be thwarted.  Not by our past, not by our circumstances, or lack, our family, or people, our failures or the enemy!  There is nothing that can thwart His plan and purpose.  What is for us will not pass us by.  That should give us some relief and hope that no matter how wounded or unequipped we may be, He will never fail us or what is for us.

*We speak on things we do not know often.  We need to grip the fact that His ways and His thoughts are not the same as ours (His ways are better); "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.”-Isaiah 55:8.  We want to understand everything right now and we want the answers to why? 

Why did he or she hurt me?

Why did that get taken away from me?

Why did I get cancer?

Why did he or she leave me?

Why did I lose my job?

Why did my parents give me up?

How could this happen?  Why God why?

What we need to understand is that we may never understand or get the answers because we could not comprehend them.  Honestly, if we did find out the answers would it really make a difference?  Would it make us feel better or somehow give us closure we think we need to move on?  Or would it confuse and possible leave us hurt more?

In the midst of the waiting and feeling like we are treading water while life seems to be happening for everyone else around us, what do we do?  How do we keep going and not become frustrated or rebellious?

A quote I absolutely love is by Nancy Leigh DeMoss — 'God's Will is what we would choose if we knew what God knows.'

First, realize it will be an ongoing challenge to stay focused on God and what He is doing in your life instead of what He is not.

*PRAY.

Pray Until Something Happens.

And ask others to pray for you as well.

                                                    *Meditate on His word and His promises.

Get index cards and write His promises on them and put them in your purse or bag so you can pull them out and read them no matter where you are.

*Declare out loud His promises (even when you don’t feel like it).

*Cut out the worldly distractions. 

That may mean logging off and fasting from social media and turning off the TV.

*Delve into testimonies.

I find that listening to the testimonies of those who have waited and struggled inspires me to keep going.  A great site for testimonies is IAmSecond.

*Adjust.

Be fluid and expect that many times things may happen differently then we have expected.

*Beware of the 2 D’s.

Doubt that it won’t happen or work out.  Doubt that God’s actually in control.  Doubt that God cares or see’s us.

Discouraged, that it seems to be taking too long.  Discouraged that maybe you are doing something wrong or that God’s mad at you.

 

“For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”-Habakkuk 2:3

About the Author :

Leilani is a single mom to a beautiful 4 year old little girl. She is in love with the Creator of the stars. Her mission is simple yet so big, to encourage and bring Jesus to all in need. To bring hope by loving people, writing, photography, music, poetry/spoken word and meeting people right where they are. God's Grace is her air.