Waiting on You Lord

Wait:

1. to stay in place in expectation of: AWAIT. (transitive verb)
2. to look forward expectantly. (intransitive verb)

Patience:

1. the capacity, habit or fact of being patient. (bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint; manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain; steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity)

Notice the key words here:

• STAY
• LOOK FORWARD
• HABIT

Stay firm in our faith; in our hope; in our belief. Look forward with hope and anticipation. God has a plan for us (Jeremiah 29:11). Keep our eyes focused on Jesus. This looking forward isn't plotting, planning, or trying to arrange circumstances in our favor. It is a humble recognition that it is all in God's hands and it is all in His timing. Finally-habit. We can create a 'habit' of being patient. How so? 

James 1:2-4~ My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have it's perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (NKJV)

Later on, James also goes on to tell us that we who lack wisdom, can ask God for that wisdom.

To develop the habit, we can also look back and remember the goodness of God through various other trials, circumstances and unpleasant places in our lives. We can seek Him and praise Him. A heart wrapped in thankfulness, adoration and praise has no room to allow doubt to creep in.

1 Chronicles 16:8-12~Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD! Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face evermore! Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth, (NKJV)

In our fast paced society everything from meals to connecting with friends, (Twitter, Facebook), can be done in an instant. We are a NOW people. Waiting is hard. Waiting is long. It goes against the grain of everything we know or want. Raised in a culture that is so me centered, we even have over 100 brands of toothpaste to choose from--just in case I don't particularly like Brand B's flavor/texture/color of the tube. Never have we had so many choices. With the likes of Facebook, Twitter, blogs and a plethora of books, never have we had so many conflicting voices either. Far more voices that squeeze out the still small voice of our Lord. Voices that tell us to 'act now' or 'buy now' lest we lose the chance or the "deal of a lifetime".

Going through a particularly rough season of life, all I want is to get out of here--QUICKLY! However, when I read God's Word, (our standard for living and THE voice to drown out society's), I am constantly reminded of how often many had to 'wait'. Adam and Eve started it off waiting for the Seed to crush the serpent's head. Abraham and Sarah waiting for the promised heir. Hannah yearning and waiting for a child. Joseph waiting in prison. Moses and the Israelites waiting for the Promised Land. Paul being restrained by the Holy Spirit. Seems there is a theme here and one that is important for us to understand.

Then I remember a verse that once meant so much to me years ago.

2 Corinthians 12:9~ And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

The last four years have been particularly trying for me. Developing post-partum issues, which left me with an anxiety disorder to this day, my newborn ill, my son developing a seizure disorder out of the blue, and then his brother developing high blood sugar (who was healed by the Lord and hasn't had an issue with it since!) took a serious toll to my health and my peace. This year brought a late night ER visit by ambulance with my 3 year old daughter who couldn't breathe, followed by the sudden death of a beloved grandmother. While home for her funeral, it was discovered a massive amount of water entered our home that has been on the market for almost a year and had damaged two rooms and mold was growing. The day before her funeral was spent ripping up carpet, padding, and stick on tiles. Two weeks later? A phone call that my young aunt was being placed in Hospice and may not make it through the day. 

All through this Christ has remained my strength. Though I am weak, He is strong. I may not always "feel" that strength, but when I truly place my focus on Him, He is right there beside me. I may not have it all together, but I serve a God who goes before, behind and beside me. By His grace I am what I am.

So here I stand. Waiting. Waiting on a joyous homecoming with Jesus for my aunt but a heavy heart to lose her. Waiting on healing from the anxiety disorder. Waiting for something to be done about our house. Waiting for the day when my son never has another seizure again. I'm in good company though--

Hebrews 13:5 (b)~ For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (NKJV)