WAIT

What a hard word in today's fast-paced, self-gratifying society. It's quite a much talked about topic in Christian circles, especially when we're encouraging one another to wait upon the Lord for His best plans and His will for our lives. Maybe it's just me hearing what I needed to hear, but it seems that most often, it's about waiting for God to provide the right guy (or girl) and to trust that He will provide in His time...

Hmmmmm...

Recently I have a friend confessing to me that he's lonely. I've seen many examples of ppl getting attached, not necessarily to someone that suits them, but because they're lonely, because they yearn for that special someone to love them, to be there for them. I mean, who doesn't? I'm not sure if it's a Kiwi thing or it's just that I'm here in NZ in Uni times when well, it seems pretty natural to be attached: I hear about guys praying for a girl more than I've heard of this elsewhere. Maybe it's a universal thing. When you come to a certain age, u start praying for a girl? (oh, i think it happens the other way round too: girls praying for a guy).

During Vision on Tues night, Richard talked about WAITING. The part I liked best was when he talked about how we're not the only ones waiting. God is waiting too. and He waits purposefully. 3 things that struck:

1. God waits for the sake of our Growth. It is during the waiting process that we are moulded and shaped and we grow in our maturity.

2. God waits for the sake of His Glory. He often takes us beyond what is possible for us and when we think things aren't gonna come through, He surprises us with His wonderful ways and all glory goes to Him.

3. God waits because He's working on our Ground. He wants to work in our ground, in our territory...

and most important of all: His timing is ALWAYS PERFECT!

Waiting is not about the painful process of sitting down there and gritting your teeth and going "ARGH!!!" There is hope in waiting because we hold on to the promises of a faithful and steadfast God.

In conclusion, R shared about his waiting process, for that most wonderful girl and how he waited, and then they waited, and God honoured him. sweet story. heart-warming.

But really, this time, I felt that for me, the waiting message had a different element to it. I wasn't too stirred by the BGR aspect of waiting but I knew there was a message for me. Today, the devotion from Canaanland confirmed it:

"Sometimes in our haste to get on with our work, we race ahead of God. Part of God's restorative process is to slow us down and make us listen to Him. As we wait on Him, God will remind us of our utter dependence upon His strength. When we slow down and seek His will, He will reveal His plans.

Biblically, waiting on the Lord is never passive; it is always active. Waiting requires us to cease our own pursuits and give God our complete attention. We may have to give up some of the activities we have allowed to inundate our lives. We may need to take an entire day to sit quietly before Him, God will show us the resources He has provided to help with the work we have been attempting on our own."

I admit that I have terrible hurry sickness. I thank God for my twisted ankle last night and I recognise the good that's coming out of it. I am forced to slow down and I reckon that slowing down is good for me eh. I'm not as tensed, and waiting upon the Lord really restores me. In the slowed down pace, I could focus better on Him and it rings louder His sovereignty and His faithfulness, and He reminded me that He is above everything, including my fears.

"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