Often we look at a period of waiting as a time to only be patient and cast down frustrations (Romans 8:25), when we could actually dig a little deeper into how God intends the season to be a wonderful encouragement to us.
There is safety in waiting. We can know that we aren’t getting ahead of God, but are keeping pace with Him. Instead of fretting we can actually enjoy the time of delay, but only if we are resting in Him.
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. Psalm 37:7a. NKJV
Sometimes when we are seeking God for what to do next, He leads us to just wait. God is God, and He is wise. He moves on His time table. He moves on His schedule. Even though we hear this frequently, waiting can be a difficult thing to do. It drives me crazy sometimes. God often teams you up with someone that will help balance you out. My husband, Justin, tends to be more cautious about beginning something new or moving to the next step. I usually wanted to have already been on step two yesterday.
The good thing about a season of waiting, though, is that it’s usually temporary.
God’s planning includes even desires coming about in their due season (Psalm 104:27). According to Webster’s New American Dictionary, sojourn means to dwell in a place temporarily. If you ever find yourself in a place where God is requiring you to sojourn on your journey with Him, then know that God has ordained this time for you to renew your strength for the next season you will be going into. The tarrying has a purpose to cause you to become fresh and strong again, even if we don’t feel weak. God knows where we are headed and what is going to happen to us and from that foresight He ordains a time of waiting.
Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! Psalm 27:14 NKJV
But those who wait on 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. Isaiah 40:31 NKJV
Sometimes we aren’t seeking God for what to do next, because we are just waiting on what we already know is God’s will to come to fruition. Many times when we are in a holding pattern, it’s for good reason. God usually has something for us to learn. It might be more than one thing. He will take the opportunity of our circumstance to do a work in us or impart a truth in us if we are yielded to Him. The season of waiting is a time of preparation. That’s when we can fall back into His rest and know that it’s a beautiful thing.
What are you waiting for?
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Photo credit: Tijs Zwinkels (flickr) (Previously shared June 2010)
Posted by Lisa on June 27, 2011 at 10:59 pm
This is so insightful and encouraging my friend! I really appreciated it.
Posted by Rachel @ finding joy on June 27, 2011 at 11:03 pm
Love this post. Really…it was exactly what I needed to read tonight. Thank you for writing so beautifully and truthfully.
Posted by KellySinging on June 29, 2011 at 6:03 am
You bless my heart! Praying for ya!
Posted by Pastor Karrianne on June 28, 2011 at 7:55 am
Amen!
Posted by Carol on June 28, 2011 at 9:23 am
Oh, my gosh! What a great word. …”to renew your strength for the next season you will be going into”… is just where I am but I never thought of it as renewing my strength. I feel like a little frog leaping from one place to another as from all of the 9 places I have lived since 2003. But each place I have lived, I am learning and resting … The Lord called me to rest in him in about 2000 or so, and each place I lived, I either learned how to get along with who I lived with, or they gave me bits and pieces of learning. Each piece of learning has been like a puzzle. I have been rebuked and corrected at times, but my learning has been for the Lord’s perfection. “to become fresh and strong again”. Thanks. I love your daily word.
Posted by KellySinging on June 28, 2011 at 7:52 pm
So glad you are learning and resting. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by Charlotte Findley on June 28, 2011 at 9:53 am
Thank you for this Word from the Lord. Not only was it timely but it was refreshing to my soul and peace for my mind.
Posted by KellySinging on June 29, 2011 at 5:55 am
So blessed to hear it! I love how God works things out for His timing.
Posted by leannthomas on June 28, 2011 at 7:59 pm
Thanks, Kelly. You pegged me.
I’m in a waiting time that is strange and painful for me, yet forces me to stay put until God moves me. It reminds me of when we have to slow our own kids down…they want to run ahead of us in the mall, or the amusement park, or our teenagers want to act like they’re adults =)….we have to stop our kids and say – WAIT for me to direct you to the next step, the next ride, the next stage of your life.
Right now, it hurts. But I am believing that there is joy around the corner, and God is preparing me for it while I wait.
Posted by KellySinging on June 28, 2011 at 8:08 pm
Yes, waiting can be painful. I hate it, actually. Let’s just be honest.
That scripture on being content no matter the state you’re in and I just haven’t been getting along lately. But I’m realizing that contentment is even part of the preparation. God doesn’t leave anything out, does He? Love your analogy. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by Melanie Siewert on June 28, 2011 at 10:30 pm
Great post, Kelly! I’m also in a period of waiting/resting. I’ve learned much about “they that WAIT upon the Lord” (Isa 40:31). The word for wait/hope (depending on what translation you have) translated from the ancient Hebrew means “time secures breath.” It’s in that waiting and hoping that the Lord renews our breath and secures our breathing in Him. Can you imagine breathing in rhythm with God’s breath? WOW! I’ve also learned it is a period of storing up like a dam holding back a reservoir. Can you imagine our rest storing up blessings for when God says “Go.” The word picture for rest is incredible! I pray we are eager to seek that rest. Thanks for the post!! Good word.
Posted by KellySinging on June 29, 2011 at 6:01 am
Sounds wonderful. I couldn’t find the “time secures breath” anywhere. Where is the source for that?
Posted by Melanie Siewert on June 29, 2011 at 1:13 pm
I went to the ancient Hebrew and translated it. The Hebrew word for wait/hope [some translations say "wait" while others say "hope"] is qawa, or Hey-Waw-Quph (I got that from my Strong’s Concordance). Translating the ancient Hebrew right to left means “Time Secures Breath.” Every Hebrew letter carries much weight and take on very deep meanings when putting Hebrew letters together.
I love word studies, especially coming from ancient Hebrew. If you want to do a little digging, I normally use ancient-hebrew.org as a word study reference.
Did that clarify better?
Posted by KellySinging on June 30, 2011 at 9:03 pm
Yes, thank you. And that site is a great resource. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by Kathy Bruins on June 29, 2011 at 1:22 pm
Great devotion! Waiting is so hard, but it is so worth it.
Posted by KellySinging on June 30, 2011 at 9:04 pm
Thank you, Kathy. Waiting is worth it…going to remember that.
Posted by Wait Here… « LeAnn’s Blog on July 1, 2011 at 4:00 am
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