One Way Wait © by Phliar
I mentioned in my last post the parts of my life that are fresh and alive. They energize me. They strengthen me. God is working in those areas and I see Him, so I believe. It doesn’t seem to take a lot of work to believe when I see what He’s doing. I am thankful He’s given me fresh eyes to see those things, because for a long time, I didn’t see Him working in me much at all.
But so too, there are parts of my life that are stagnant and dull, and I wait for renewal in those things. These are the areas in which He is calling me to deeper prayer. It is hard for me to believe because I do not see what He is doing. When I do not believe, those are the parts of my life that grow weary and heavy and can cause more doubt. If I allow them to, the weary waiting can cut off what is alive and cause it to die. Waiting is not for the faint of heart.
Instead of allowing the dead to cut off the life, I need to submit each lifeless and dull piece to The Gardener and see what areas He wants to prune. In some cases, he may cut them off and cast them into the fire. In other cases, He may regenerate and cause a new branch to grow there.
Waiting requires patience, and patience is also known as long-suffering. It is not easy to wait. But,
“we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Romans 5:3-5
While I wait joyfully, He produces in me perseverance. This grows into character, and then blossoms into hope.
“but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31
This joyful waiting is a choice on my part. Joyful waiting renews my strength. In it, I do not grow weary. Weary waiting produces death and heaviness, and it can be easy to manipulate weak areas to manage the weariness and death. Joyful waiting produces new life because it fully submitted to Christ. When I am fully submitted, I cannot manipulate or try to control. Someone else, Christ, has all the reins.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.” James 1:2-8
If you are wondering why the man is unstable – it is because He wants to be the master as I mentioned before. He cannot both be submitted to Christ and in charge himself – this is doublemindedness. If he still wants control over the situation, why ask God? God is fully powerful, but the one thing He requires is belief that He is.
How does one find joy in the painful perseveringly hard waiting? Waiting always produces heavier leaning and dependence on God. It is always a call to deeper prayer and intimacy with Him. It is His desire of us to be with Him, and He draws us closer to Himself. He longs to be our Total Provider, such that we lack nothing! Waiting produces questions without answers, but James says that He has all the answers.
“But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.” Psalm 5:11
This closeness to Him is our joy in the suffering and waiting! But when we do not feel that joy, when we doubt and do not believe, but still know that God is the answer, we can always pray this prayer:
“Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Psalm 51:10-12
So I exhort you as I exhort myself to joyful waiting. May your strength be found in Him. May He bring life to the dull.
[…] For the first type of mom, the mom who is genuinely home bound, her problem is different. This is a time of leaning and pressing in for her. This is a time to be still and reflect on the wonderful gifts and abilities the Lord has given her during this season of slowing down. It may be a time to find new gifts and abilities that she didn’t know she could do. But rest assured, mom who does not get out much, God has a great plan for you. Isaiah 40:31 says, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will…” […]