Waiting
Spending time waiting is so much a part of our everyday lives. We wait for the coffee to be ready in the morning. We wait at traffic lights on our way to and from work. We wait for our tax refunds to find their way to our mailbox. We wait on people to return our calls or emails. Students wait to hear the results of their exams. Moms and dads wait for babies to be born . . . to be potty trained . . . to start school . . . and to grow up. So much of each day is consumed by waiting!
Not all "waitings" are alike. Some are frustrating and irritating and could be prevented. Some just happen; they're a necessary part of existing on this planet, like potholes in the road. However, some are filled with joyful anticipation. First comes the desire; then comes the fulfillment of the desire after a time of . . . you guessed it . . . waiting. Remember the adage: Anything worth having is worth waiting for.
Waiting is also not limited to the earthly realm. It leaks into the spiritual. In the NIV alone there are 141 references to waiting. (Yes, I have too much time on my hands.) Many of those references involve the "great men and women" of the Bible waiting. One involves creation waiting. "And the rest involve us. Right?" Wrong.
The greatest "waiter" of all is God. Many, many moons ago, He got the whole shebang started and is currently sitting outside of time and space waiting for everything He's ordained to come to pass. Now, that's waiting. That kind of waiting involves supernatural patience and understanding and love. Wow! What amazing love!
The other day I discovered a "waiting" verse that moved me to tears. It's Isaiah 30:18.
- But God's not finished. He's waiting around to be gracious to you. He's gathering strength to show mercy to you. God takes the time to do everything right - everything. Those who wait around for Him are the lucky ones. (Message)
The NIV says that "He longs to be gracious to you."
His desire is to bless us; the fulfillment of that desire is "to bring many sons to glory." (Heb. 2:10) In between God's desire and glory is Him . . . waiting. He waits and "doesn't shut 'er down" so that He can be gracious and merciful and compassionate to us . . . to me . . . to you.
Aren't we the lucky ones?
posted by debbie @ 2:04 PM
9 Comments:
YES!
Waiting in community makes a great "waiting room". Sister Dust: nice name.
Like so many things that He calls me to do, waiting is "so not me." Abiding, waiting, trusting. I'm more about striving, trying, straining. This is why I am sometimes (not always) grateful for the afflictions I have, because they force me to do what I won't do voluntarily.
Yeah, God does take His time.......
When 1000 years is as a day and visa versa, I guess, from our perspective, we had better expect to wait! But whatever He does, he does like no one else! No one can compare!
I'm trying to learn to not be bored or impatient while I wait. It can be a time to watch and maybe I'll even learn something.
Sister Dust...is that like Faerie Dust or Star Dust or a dusting of snow or Endust?
I won't turn into a girl if I visit here will I?
Oh....I get it. By coming here some of the God Dust that's all over you might just rub off on us.
I receive that!!
Oh, God, help me to do waiting as good as you do!!
Today I called a wise friend who I tend to call whenever I am at the end of my rope spiritually, which seems to happen on a regular basis.
He told me that Jason Upton said he disagrees with that saying "When God closes a door, he opens a window." Upton said that in his experience, when God closes a door, instead of looking for a window, we should look for a sofa. Because what God wants first and foremost is for us to wait on Him, to spend time with Him, to be more interested in knowing Him than in doing things for Him.
This word so encouraged me that I decided to go to my church and play the piano. I had not played in about 3 months. I dug out my stack of sheet music, and on the very top of the stack was the words and chords to a song-- I Will Wait For You, by Jason Upton.
Sometimes God is so gracious to give us little confirmations like that. Especially when He really, really wants us to get the point.
I'm going back to my sofa now. Well, it's a futon, but it'll work ....
"Sister Dust" was a word someone gave to me a few weeks back. And I too have trouble waiting.
I FOUND YOUR BLOG!!!!
I Will wait!
yes.
mb
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