THE WAITING GAME!!
Sunday’s Monday
Warning, reading this article may be harmful to those who have an uncontrolled attitude. I have no statistics to back this up, but I imagine there are a lot of people in this land who dislike waiting as much as I used to. I have always felt like waiting was such a waste of valuable minutes. Minutes that could be used to accomplish something at home, work, school, wherever, rather than uselessly waiting for whatever. Should you agree with me, welcome to the wrong train of thought. Not sure if it’s generational teaching, a social feeling, or just the devil at work. No matter, I was badly wrong in my thinking toward waiting as it can be a great tool of teaching. Mindlessly doing nothing while waiting invites Satan to influence the brain negatively, causing the body to act out through irritation, aggravation, and frustration, none of which are Godly virtues.
I struggled with waiting patiently for years, until God gave me the understanding within Romans 12:12 (ESV), Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. I started doing constructive things such as praying, reading, writing, texting encouragement to others, meditation, or simply peacefully relaxing (nap). Any of these can be uplifting works for Christ as well as beneficial to one’s spiritual and physical wellbeing. Waiting is never the problem, it is what we think and what we do while we’re waiting. For example, one could spend that time meditating on how much Jesus loves me (just as I am). Or get a renewed spirit of who God is, along with a desire to improve our relationship with Him. Another thing that helps me; is to examine why am I waiting, is it His will that I wait, or is it something of my doing? There is nothing more disappointing than to discover you’ve waited a long time for something that was never of God, to begin with. Trust me, if it is not in His will, you don’t need it and you will eventually regret your decision to achieve it!
The next verse explains what Godly waiting can bring to fruition if we’re obedient. Isaiah 40:31 (ESV), 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. The wait can be a time of deepening our relationship with Jesus, as it is written in Romans 12:12 (ESV), rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Prayer, is a great tool, for increasing our ability to represent God, reading Godly material will help us gain an understanding of God’s wisdom. During the duration of “wait”, one of two things will take place: a spiritual uplifting or a spiritual setback. These challenges are best served as the iron sharping iron moments spoken of in (Proverbs 27:17) for strengthening spiritual growth or one can always follow Proverbs 14:12 (ESV), There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. My history proves that I alone don’t always know what is best for me, much less for you!
Please know and understand, Isaiah 30:18 (ESV), 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. Now, even in my feeble understanding, I can see, I’m blessed just to have the precious opportunity to wait on God! I can remember a time in my life when (by choice) I didn’t have that and neither did I have joy in my heart, peace of mind, or respect for anything. I thank God, that is a distant memory. He is so gracious, so loving, and so real!! I heard it said that we can only grow in grace according to the grace we give, and waiting time is a perfect time to example giving God’s grace to others.
Waiting offers a time of experiencing wonderful Godly benefits but only if it is used wisely and reverently for the glory of God. I have come to expect wait times, it’s a part of this life. It is not bad or good, our time spent waiting only carries the power we give it. Wait time can build or destroy a person’s public testimony, according to the attitude which is displayed. What we store, is what we’ll give.
My prayer this week is for each of us to find God’s wisdom in the wait and to believe that He has given us wait to example His love to all. Lord teach us the wisdom of Colossians 4:6 (ESV), Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. May we remember this verse every time our attitude starts to sway toward me first. Thank you, Lord. Amen
HAVE A BLESSED WEEK BY BEING A BLESSING TO OTHERS!
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