Thanks to all who voted for my recent attempt at winning a writing contest. I made it into the qualifying rounds, and the final three winners in both fiction and non-fiction will be announced next week! So, now I have to play the waiting game…
Scripture teaches a lot about waiting:
Psalms 27:13-14 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Isaiah 30:18 Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.
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.
Lamentations 3:25 The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.
Micah 7:7 But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.
No one likes to wait, especially in our fast-paced culture which feeds the beast of instant everything! We must take heart as Christians, knowing God’s way is often counter-cultural. He wants us to learn in the wait. This is something God is working on in my life, especially—I want to know what is going to happen yesterday! But God gently guides me in the wilderness, and I trust He is teaching me things in the wait.
God wants us to be strong, allowing our hearts to be full of courage because of His goodness. He desires us to trust Him because He is full of justice, mercy and grace. He is good to the soul who seeks Him. It is tempting to try to find the exit in this waiting room, but God wants us to allow Him to lead us out when the time is right.
One of my favorite verses in the Bible is “Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart,” (Psalm 37:4 ESV). I’ve been a Christian now for over half my life, and when I first started out on this journey, there is no way I thought I’d end up studying apologetics, or getting into the ministry! But as I began to delight myself in Him, He changed my desires. His desire for my life became my desire, too. God has a funny way of doing that, but it’s the best way. We can trust He knows us better than we know ourselves (Romans 8:27), and He will lead us at the proper time.
So… I will wait. If things don’t work out as I planned, I know God’s plans are better. He will take me to a good place, wherever that may be. He will do that for you, too, if you trust the process, knowing His will for you is to make you into the best YOU you can be!
