Waiting-A Difficult Life Lesson

When the world ~ or your own heart, tells you to run ahead, God may be telling you to "wait."

Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way...(Psalm 37:7)

This kind of waiting doesn't imply idleness or apathy, but a determined stillness. A quiet, expectant, steadfast, and diligent activity that takes place until we receive further instruction.

When we wait for God's clear direction, we keep in step with Him.

As we wait, we place complete trust in Him whether we see results or not. We don't become anxious because we know that God has a divine purpose for telling us to wait.

When we do wait for His clear direction, we are staying in step with Him. He uses the wait time to prepare us for His will, to strengthen our faith, and to shift our motives. Waiting is essential in living a Christian life, walking in obedience, and receiving His blessing.

The truths God teaches us are invaluable and practical because they affect our character development, choices and lifestyle. Their influence reaches way beyond our earthly lifetimes all the way to eternity.

Psalm 27:14 says; "Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, Wait, I say, on the Lord." This verse calls for an active choice to be at rest, resting in God and His timing. It's an internal stillness of spirit that stays with you throughout the day.

Waiting is really tough when a situation is stressful or a decision has to be made now. But remember, God has plans for us, and there are instances when He will stop us in our tracks until we do some "internal housecleaning."

The Lord has places to take us, and He knows what baggage needs to be left behind. He is the Master of time and sovereignly works all the specifics of His grand design for humanity. No amount of prayer and fasting will move His hand until He is ready.

Sometimes His delays are to increase our faith. If He instantaneously gave us everything we wanted, we would never learn to walk by faith. When we only have a promise from the Scriptures with no visible evidence to rely on, then our faith is put to the test. Will we believe Him or our circumstances?

When your eyes can't see the evidence, trust what you know is true. Just because we can't see anything happening doesn't mean the Lord is uninvolved (2 Chronicles 16:9).

He promises to hear and answer those who wait patiently for Him and establish their steps (Psalm 40:1), and increased strength (Isaiah 40:31). He promises to strengthen the one who remains still and quiet before Him, actively listening for His still small voice.

I don't know what you are waiting for, but I do know that if you believe what God tells you in His Word and patiently rest in His chioce and timing for your situation, you will experience a new spirit of joy and confidence.

Believe His promises, rest confidently in what He says. For His thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways His ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways higher than your ways and His thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Choices We Make

Yes, life is a series of choices. It is very difficult to make wise decisions when you are angry, hurting, confused, bitter or unforgiving. You can do it though. How you respond to lifes disappointments can destroy your faith or it can strengthen you spiritually.

So many people leave God out of their tragedies. Maybe they don't believe in Him or they don't understand His ways. But instead of turning to Him in their need, they look for human solutions.

Some may ask, Why would God allow or do such a thing? Is He really in control?

There is nothing wrong with these questions, yet if your answer is that He has turned away and left you to fend for yourself, then you are looking in the wrong direction. Thinking like this will lead only to anger and guilt. some people even search for a way to blame God or someone else for their misfortune. This never brings healing.

What is the right choice you should make in tragedy? You can choose to believe God is sovereign over all. Job is an example of righteousness, through whom the Lord displayed His faithfulness. (Job 1:6-22) He has the right to do the same in your life too, doesn't He?

Choose to believe that because God is in control, he will comfort and assure you. (Job 42:2) Trust Him in your hard times, though you may not understand it (Isaiah 55:8-9), and believe He will bring something valuable out of the heartache.

God can produce good from eveen the worst situations. Don't dwell on what you have lost, but on the blessings for which you are grateful. Don't waste your pain and sorrows. Learn something to better yourself and help others. Meditate on the Scriptures instead of feeding on the pity others have for you. The best person to turn to in tragedy is not your neighbor or a close friend ~ it is the Lord.

God does not deny our pain, He wants us to turn to Him for healing. (Romans 8:31-38)

When we trust Him and walk in the center of His will, we will be blessed. (Job 42:10-17)

When we make right choices in the midst of painful situations, our heavenly Father will see us through.

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)

Seeing God In Our Situation

Because of this I rejoice. - Philippians 1:18

When Paul wrote, "What has happened to me has really served to advance the Gospel" (Philp 1:12), he was in prison using his situation to tell people about Jesus. He goes on to say, "It has become clear throughout the whole palace guard...that I am in chains for Christ" (Philp 1:13). Then he points out that through his imprisonment "most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the Word of God more courageously and fearlessly" (Philp 1:14). Even when Paul found out that some people were preaching the Gospel to make trouble for him, he said, "What does it matter? The important thing is...whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice" (Philp 1:18).

Arrested unjustly, treated unkindly, his future uncertain, Paul looked for God's hand in every situation. Therefore he could say in all things "because of this I rejoice". What perspective! What an attitude!

A century ago, following a coal mining accident, the Bishop of Durham told mourners, "It's difficult to understand why God let such a disaster happen, but we know and trust Him and all will be right.

I have embroidered kitchen towels my grandmother made. When I examine the wrong side I see nothing but a tangle of threads...it looks like a big mistake. One would think someone had done it who didn't know what they were doing. But when I turn it over and look at the right side I see beautifully embroidered, the days of the week and a lady doing a chore. We are looking at this today from the wrong side. Someday we shall see it from another standpoint and we shall understand."When we begin to see God in our situation, we can say "because of this I rejoice".

YOU DETERMINE YOUR ATTITUDE your attitude is not determined by circumstances, but by how you respond to your circumstances.