Before I write this post, I want to remind my readers that this is no more, no less than a faith journal for me. These are my musings, my wonderings, my thoughts. I'm not trained in any particular denomination. I simply study the Word as a Christian and share what's on my mind here.
I share it to give others an opportunity to bounce back their own ideas, to inspire others. I also share it as a way to check myself. The actual process of writing it out, knowing others may read it forces me to think through my thoughts thoroughly. And it puts my ideas out there where the many brains are much wiser than my own single brain.
That being said, I'm thinking today about the painful process of waiting on God's promises.
While You Wait
Yesterday I shared a quote from the devotional I'm reading titled "Focus on the Promise and Not the Process." The words from the author got me thinking about the possibility that *how* we wait matters.
Yesterday's quote talked about serving others while we wait. It was a beautiful idea, an encouragement.
Today, though, I'm wondering. Is it more than an encouragement? Is it a command? I think the answer is yes.
𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦.
When we get so caught up in our struggles or our grief that that's our sole focus, I think we are not submitting to humility.
𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘎𝘰𝘥'𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭.
In this day & age, at least here in the USA, we focus so much on individual freedom and independence that submission can be really uncomfortable. But that's what worship is - or at least a part of it.
When we get so caught in what *we* want, we are certainly not submitting to God's will. We are attempting to bend God's will to our own.
I propose that when we give in to fear, when we allow ourselves to get stuck in sadness, that our focus has turned inwards. It's about what *we* want, the way *we* want things to be, not about God's greater plan.
Those are really hard words to hear when we're in the middle of a struggle. But what if that's exactly what God's waiting for?
Could it be possible that sometimes our struggle is prolonged while God waits for us to wear ourselves out, like a kid throwing a tantrum? When we do tire of the tantrum and turn our eyes to God, could it be possible that then and only then will God say, "Welcome back, child. Now tell me again what you were praying so that I might bless you beyond measure."
My Faith Journal
