What Are You Waiting For?

Psalm 27:13-14
I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.

Waiting on the train

A few years ago, I went to the zoo with my daughter and her two children. We wanted to see everything we could, but one of the highlights of Zeke's day was the train ride. The little engine pulled a string of cars around a section of the zoo, so visitors could see the swans on the lake and several other animals. He could hardly wait for his turn around the track.

How often do I ask God for something and don't wait on the answer? I don't want to stand in line for a confirmation. I want to dive in even though I know He has a plan and knows my needs. And how difficult, because of my human nature, is it to wait on God? My prayer might be, "But God, I need that now." Or "God, I don't have time for this." Then there's "This is perfect for me, isn't it? Maybe not. Can you just tell me?" When I'm waiting on an answer from God, I'm not as patient as I should be. My mind plays games and dreams up ridiculous scenarios of how something should go. That's when I have to pop myself in the head with my Bible (not literally) and remind myself that to wait on the Lord is a good thing.

I love what the Psalm says about seeing the Lord's goodness in the land of the living. The place of the people who trust in Him. I can be confident in His promise. With an obedient heart I need to be strong, take heart, and wait.

What are you waiting for? Have you sent your request to God?

Praise God for his wisdom and mercy.

Do I Have to be Patient?

Psalm 37:7
Be still before the Lord
    and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
    when they carry out their wicked schemes.

The country band Alabama sang a song about being in a hurry to get things done. They talked about rushing and ended up realizing they didn't even know why they pushed from one thing to another without stopping. Some days I feel that way too. I make a list of things to get done and move from one to the other just trying to finish. I don't like living in a rush. When I'm in a hurry for something to happen, I miss the moments. The quiet times when I need to listen for God's voice. The nudges from the Holy Spirit. The reminders from Jesus.

The Psalm speaks to those who believe in God. "Wait patiently," even when other people succeed with their plans. As I've gotten older, I realize God has a plan and he works in his time. When I get ahead of him circumstances get stressful, but when I wait his purpose unfolds as it should. If you're a list maker, like me, add time to reflect and think on his word. Stop and pray. Let things go. God doesn't expect me to be perfect, he expects me to obey. Praise God for his plan!

I'm Waiting

Psalm 27:14
Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.

Patience…

I’m not naturally patient. Maybe because I’ve lived in an era of “Have it your way”, “Just do it”, fast food, and text messaging. I often find myself encouraging my grandkids to be patient. Then wonder if I’m setting a good example. I’m probably more impatient with my writing than anything else in life. As I tap on the computer keys and read books about writing, I pray for God’s guidance and ask him for…patience. I hope someday to publish a novel. The truth is— that will happen in God’s time. That doesn't mean, I sit back and dream the day away. Instead, I plug away and make the effort.

With God’s help, I’ve learned to wait on him. Every time I’ve run ahead of God’s plan or gotten frustrated with waiting, he reminds me he designed me and knows my life. God’s timing is perfect, whether we agree with it or not. I’d rather wait on God, than fail miserably. So many times in my life, I’ve run ahead and made mistakes. When I’ve fallen on my face, I’ve realized once again that God knows what’s best for me. Praise God for his patience with me.