Waiting

Traffic. Shopping lines. News of a loved one’s surgery. Job placement. Puppy stage to be done. I bet you can come up with even more. If I thought about it, more will pop up. Waiting issues abound in my life. I can be in so much of a hurry to get through this section of waiting. Can I be done waiting?

Waiting. Here’s something I’m learning in this stage of waiting. We are always waiting. We long to be out of this season, but we move to another season. Maybe not as drastic or severe, but we are here. God has something for us in each season of waiting.

The Dwell app has a playlist of verses on waiting. I’m going to share them here. And truly, if you do not have a subscription, I highly recommend it to you. 🙂

Psalm 25:20-21 AMP

“Guard my soul and rescue me; Do not let me be ashamed or disappointed, For I have taken refuge in You. Let integrity and uprightness protect me, For I wait [expectantly] for You.”
https://bible.com/bible/1588/psa.25.20-21.AMP

I will pray to be past this. While I am in this waiting, guard my life Lord. Rescue me and my family. I do not want to be put to shame. I declare that my refuge is found only in you. may I live my life, in this waiting, with integrity and truth. What is your prayer as you read this section of Psalm 25? Let this also serve as encouragement to go and read the entire Psalm.

Psalm 27:13-14 AMP

“I would have despaired had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. Wait for and confidently expect the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord.”
https://bible.com/bible/1588/psa.27.13-14.AMP

This is a reminder to me of Romans 8. “God works all things together for good for those who love him and are called according to His purpose.” My thoughts and prayers through this season can be misguided by my misinterpretation of this verse. God’s good and my good often can look very different. And yet, I want his good. My good is focused on the temporary. God’s view is eternal.

Psalm 37:7-9 AMP

“¶Be still before the Lord; wait patiently for Him and entrust yourself to Him; Do not fret (whine, agonize) because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger and abandon wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evil. For those who do evil will be cut off, But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land. [Is 57:13c]”
https://bible.com/bible/1588/psa.37.7-9.AMP

I don’t know about you, but being still and waiting patiently can be hard. Things don’t seem to be moving at a pace I want. Overnight can be the battlefield of reminding and spiraling. I know that being still includes prayer. I know this means quieting and listening to the truth of the word of God. What I’m memorizing. What I’m reading. Setting my thoughts on truth.

Ooo, and do not fret. Repeated twice here. Man, last night after a stressful day at work, I became unglued at a driver who merged in front of me. After I had already had someone merge, she flew in right beside. I was a little surprised at my passion about this. Why do I care so much about a car being stupid? I could say because I don’t want to get in an accident, but honestly, it was my reaction to stress.

And fear in the waiting. A part of each of us wonders, does daily time in the word of God really make a difference? Memorizing is hard, does it really matter? Fasting is hard, do I need to develop a practice of this? Prayer. Giving to the needs of the widows and orphans. While I’m waiting, what am I doing?

The Psalmist is clear, the fretting turns to sin quite easily. I am living proof of that truth. And in the middle of the night, I need to be clear in setting my mind and not allowing the runaway train to continue.

I think I may continue this thread on waiting. Here’s my first part. 🙂 Have a blessed day.