Quiet Enough to Listen
Read Genesis 13:14-17; 15:5-7; 17:4-8; 18:10
I am in a waiting period in my
life. At the beginning of it, I tried everything I could think of. I had a
self-imposed timeline of one month to “fix it” or I was sure I would no longer
have any control over the outcome. My actions were frantic. My words were often
angry. My prayers were desperate and pleading.
When the month had passed, I was no
closer to my desired outcome than I had been at the beginning, but my prayers
had been heard. God spoke to me like a little girl winding down from a tantrum,
“OK, are you calm enough to listen now? I have some things I want to say but
you’ve been making such a fuss, you couldn’t hear them.”
When I gave up the human effort, I
felt clear direction from God as to what I was supposed to do with this time.
As months passed, though, I have gone through periods of discouragement,
wondering how long the wait will be and what outcome God has in mind. Each time
I have gotten to this point, God has given me some reminder of His active role
in the situation. I receive notes of encouragement at just the right time. I
have conversations with people that reiterate a truth I needed to hear. I get a
glimpse of progress in the situation that gives me hope.
The timing seems incredibly slow to
me, but I trust in God’s plan. I have learned to trust that every moment that
passes and everything that occurs in the meantime are necessary for God’s best
outcome. I continue to pray that He will use the good and the bad, and my life
in the waiting, for His glory.
· For you, what
causes discouragement in the waiting?
When have you been tempted to take things into your own hands? What was the result? Take time to recommit yourself to belief in God and in His timing.
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