The Tension in Waiting and the Strength of It

 

Wait is not something that comes naturally to many of us.  

We may have moments of patience, of waiting but when it touches a spot that really matters to us; we usually want it now or to at least know of its timeline.  

We order a pair of shoes and we check its status. 

The deck furniture that's taking longer than you expected; so you make you  call to check its status. 

A child who is expecting a grandparent to come, waits and peers out the window; looking expectantly. 

We wait and think it's a trial.

But what if the wait is the place of strength?

What if this place is the place where one's soul finds a peace and strength that exceeds our understanding?

Wait in the Hebrew means to bind together, to collect, to expect, gather, look.

When Jesus tells us to be still, to yoke with Him and receive His rest; we join Him. 

In Isaiah 40:31 when it tells us to wait upon the Lord and our strength renews, is a place that intrigues me.

I'm sensing an upside-down way. I'm curious about this way and wonder at its possibilities...

When I bind myself to Jesus and look with expecting wonder, I discover hope.

When I look for Him, bind myself to Him; I have access to His strength.  

As the water and tea leaves join, the water begins infused with the strength of the tea leaves. In the same way as I stay with Jesus, His strength infuses my heart and mind and I can rise. I can soar. Because of He who never tires or sleeps.

The wait is not to be feared, but it's an invitation to something greater than ourselves. It's an invitation to know Jesus, deeply and personally.

The wait is the space for curiosity and wonder what God is up to.

The wait is the 'peering ou the window', to look for the ways of God.

To wait is to receive God and to know His unbounded strength and love. 

Today, in the midst of your prayer is an opportunity to trust the One you have given your heart's desire to. It's the space where you wait with expecting and wonder because of the One you joined forces with. And when it goes differently than your human mind thought would be good, that's when you gather evidence of His goodness and believe His heart is still good towards you.  Because sometimes it's more about knowing God than it is about receiving exactly what you asked for. 

The Voice of Light

 

The morning light filtering through the trees, illuminating.

I've always been fascinated with the highlights of light. 

Light exposes. Light reveals. Light pierces through. 

Light pushes back darkness. Darkness fades and disappears as morning dawns.

Jesus is the Light.

"I am the Light of the world; He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 8:12

Jesus came in night, all was dark, not only physically, but dark with Roman rule and 400 years of silence with no voice from the Lord through any prophet. 

Waiting. Silence. Pain and hard.

But there were those who held on to the promise of a Saviour, a Messiah. 

Simeon, Luke 2:25, this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel. 

Anna, Luke 2:38, And at that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. 

And there were those whose hearts were open, looking, waiting, anticipating, to receiving the promise. Simeon and Anna are two of more that received because they were open and looking. 

Mary, not only opened her heart to possibilities, but also opened her womb and then her arms to cradle, to house the very Promise itself. 

We have the written promises of God and we too can choose to hold on to the promises He gives.

What promise speaks into your story today? What promise of God's truth would anchor your drowning heart in Him?

Find it. Claim it. And speak it over your heart.

Light a candle in defiance of darkness. Jesus is the Light. He is the Victor and in Him we too, can be overcomers, victors!

Let's keep our eyes on Him, the Light!