About this time of year, I get tired of waiting. Waiting for spring to arrive. Waiting for it to get warmer. Waiting for a glimpse of green.
This year, more than usual, I am tired of waiting. Waiting to hug my grandchildren. Waiting to have coffee with a friend at a real coffee shop. Waiting to go out to dinner with my husband in a restaurant without a second thought. Waiting, waiting.
This is one thing God says about waiting:
Here’s what I’ve learned through it all: Don’t give up; don’t be impatient; be entwined as one with the Lord. Be brave and courageous, and never lose hope. Yes, keep on waiting—for he will never disappoint you! Psalm 27:4 The Passion Translation
As I reflect on this verse, I am given clear instruction and encouragement during this waiting period.
Don’t give up
I am tempted sometimes to go back to bed, pull the covers over my head and tell the world to wake me when COVID is over. Don’t you remember when it all started March 11, 2020, we thought we’d be quarantined until June, 2020? Little did we really know what kind of holding pattern we were headed into.
However, God encourages us to not give up. No matter what is going on, taking one day at a time, find pleasure in His presence. I, myself, am encouraged by His word.
Don’t be impatient
I think if there is anything I have learned about being sheltered in place, it is more patience. One thing about staying home is certainly a change of pace. Finding what really matters during this time has increased patience because at least for me, I have no other choice.
In Psalm 23, God says He is my shepherd, I lack nothing. I ponder those words quite often.
Be one with the Lord
Spending time in the Bible, listening for His voice and getting His encouragement strengthens my heart and makes waiting much more bearable. He reminds me that my waiting is not by my might, nor by my power, but by His Spirit. I am not going through this alone, thank goodness. I have all of you, my friends, my family and most of all, Jesus.
Be brave and courageous
Have you had the experience of a phrase or words being repeated to you in a short amount of time? When that happens to me, I realize God wants me to pay close attention to what He is saying. These words, brave and courageous have come up in my life lately, at least 5 times in the last two weeks. I know He is encouraging me to step out of my comfort zone, even as I wait.
Being brave and courageous can mean doing something scared or remembering when you did something in the past and pushed past the fear. I am in a whole new world of getting a book out to share with others. I know He wants me to be brave and courageous.
What project or a relationship is He calling you to be brave and courageous?
He will never disappoint you
The reason you and I can be brave and courageous, even in the waiting, is His promise to never disappoint us. What happens may not be what we thought would happen, but He promises to be with us, every step of the way. When I turn my eyes on Him, instead of my own expectations, then everything else fades into the background.
What about you?
What is it that you are waiting for? I personally can hardly wait to spend more face-to-face time with my grandchildren. However, I am in the process of gathering grammas together to form a community to support each other during this time of waiting. If this sounds like something you would like to be a part of, a gathering of grammas in community to creatively and wisely connect with each other and their grandchildren, reply to this blog and I’ll get you connected.
I pray, that in your waiting, you’ll be more closely connected to God and find the hope that only He provides.
Blessings,
Nancy
As a spiritual director, I walk with people who want to hear and see God more clearly in their lives. If this post is helpful to you, could you share it with others? Or if there is a way that I can be praying specifically for you, would you reply to this post? I want to be of service to you in your life and the lives of others. I look forward to walking with you in the world “for such a time as this.”