And there are other areas where I no longer wait. I gave up on God ever doing anything in those areas.
So, I saw this in a church newsletter the other evening and have reread it a few times because it speaks to me concerning how I handle waiting.
When God asks you to wait, what happens to your spiritual muscles? While you wait, do your spiritual muscles grow bigger and stronger or do they grow flaccid and atrophied? Waiting for the Lord isn't about God forgetting you, forsaking you, or being unfaithful to his promises. It's actually God giving you time to consider his glory and to grow stronger in faith. Remember, waiting isn't just about what you are hoping for at the end of the wait, but also about what you will become while you wait.
Waiting always presents me with a spiritual choice-point. Will I allow myself to question God's goodness and progressively grow weaker in faith, or will I embrace the opportunity of faith that God is giving me and build my spiritual muscles?
It's so easy to question your belief system when you are not sure what God is doing. It's so easy to give way to doubt when you are being called to wait. It's so easy to forsake good habits and to take up habits of unfaith that weaken the muscles of the heart.
-- Paul David Tripp, A Shelter in the Time of Storm
5 comments:
I once went through a very difficult time. I wanted to vent about it but I couldn’t. I wanted to question God. How long I am supposed to wait before God relieve me from my pain. I pondered about something that time because I wasn’t sure why one needs to love God. I wanted to know who is worse a person who hates God or a person who doesn't believe in God.
We all sometimes have questions to God and I think they all are valid. It is not easy when one puts his trust on God but he doesn’t answer. We want something in return. No one can bear giving only without receiving. But the key is patient. I believe God hears clearly. I don’t know why he waits sometimes long before He answers but I do believe he answers eventually.
Hopefully, your answer will come soon and you will be very happy about it.
Waiting is hard! And waiting without knowing is harder - if I know something is going to happen eventually I can deal with the anticipation, but not knowing what will happen can be very lonely and frightening.
I like the quote! It reminds me of something I read when I was younger and involved with the purity/no-dating movement. We were encouraged to wait for courtship and in the meantime to focus on becoming stronger believers and people in general, using the time productively. Then if/when we found someone (and to make that more general, if/when what we are waiting for happens) we would be in a place to make the most of it.
Thanks, Jaraad! I appreciate what you shared about yourself.
Sanil, yes, waiting for the unknown is tough...I think it's because my imagination thinks of the worst possible scenarios. I need to focus on hope and all those good things Paul talks about in Philippians. :)
This one:
"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."
*hugs*
I'm terrible at waiting for anything. I have no patience and people telling me that God has a plan or God does things in His own time just irritates me. I want to know the plan, I want to know what's going on and I want to know it all *now*.
I've yet to learn how to wait and use my waiting time wisely, like in the quote you've listed. My doubts win during these times, historically, as I think we both know. So all I've got is hugs and love for you.
Aw, thanks for the hugs! And, yes, you summed up my feelings well. Thank you for understanding. :)
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