Have you
thanked Him?
Have you praised Him?
Have you made it your priority to agree and
cooperate with Him today?
Have you taken that deep breath and listened for
what He has for you today?
1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)
The first thing I want you to do is pray.
Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.
“A waiting person is a patient person.
The word patience means the
willingness to stay where we are and live the situation out to the full in the
belief that something hidden there will manifest itself to us.” ― Henri J.M. Nouwen
Nouwen is right…we must have a willingness to
stay, to not give up, give in, cash out, or settle. And that is NOT easy when everything going on
around us says to do just that. But it
is just not Nouwen who encourages that patience. I am guessing he might have heard it first
from Paul.
…we’re not giving up. How could we! Even
though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on
the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his
unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming
good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than
meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the
things we can’t see now will last forever.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (MSG)
I understand.
When things are “falling apart” around us the last
thing we ever want to hear is “wait”, “hang on”, & “don’t quit”. We want someone to fix it, come through,
& offer the way out.
Every day I work within a culture of folks who
have decided to “NOT WAIT.” Their motto
is “I want what I want when I want it”. There is no room for waiting for the
addicted. The “present pain” needs
“fixing” and that is why it is called a “fix” even though it couldn’t be
further from it. Their present circumstances aren’t just falling apart they
often have crumbled and done their best to bury them.
Their hard times are not seen as small
“taters”. No, their hard times are big
ole IDAHO BAKERS in their minds and the only way to fix ‘em is to alleviate the
“present
pain”.
But the Bible is clear about the importance of
waiting when we are dealing with "painful" times. We have sufferings now, but these are
nothing compared to the great glory that will be given to us. Romans 8:18 (ERV)
So, sometimes we must just wait. And furthermore we must not worry for as Nouwen reminds,
something will manifest after the “time of waiting” that reveal the reason for the waiting.
In the meantime, we are to exercise patience and
trust the truth.
Don’t worry over anything whatever; tell
God every detail of your needs in earnest and thankful prayer, and the peace of
God which transcends human understanding, will keep constant guard over your
hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (PH)
Are you dealing with a batch of present pain?
Be willing to wait it out.
Clarity is coming.
In the meantime, earnestly pray and let GOD have
the worry.
He is listening, and He will answer.
...if we really know he is listening
when we talk to him and make our requests, then we can be sure that he will
answer us.
1 John 5:14-15 (LB)
It will be worth the wait.
GOD promised.
I love you all
OPPORTUNITIES
for HOPE
