Those Who Wait Upon the Lord
"but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31
One of my favorite songs says this: "They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength, they will rise up on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Teach me Lord, teach me Lord to wait."
You know what? I hate waiting. I hate it passionately. Maybe because I am a product of my generation's microwave mentality. I want what I want and I want it NOW! Eeek! God please rescue us from this cultural mentality.
When I consider the benefits of waiting, I wonder how I could ever not just be content to wait, but to actually WANT to wait.
Delaying our gratification for what we think we want is one of the most healthiest and greatest acts of self-control that we can regularly practice. Remember when you were a kid and really wanted something? You wanted something so bad you couldn't stand it? I remember wanting a trampoline for the longest time. I thought that when I acquired my trampoline that life would be "Ahh..." so complete. Then I got my trampoline. It was great. It was fun. But it didn't fill me like I thought it would. Anyways, random tangent.
So God is teaching me more about waiting in this period of my life than I've ever struggled with before. But it is soooo sweet. Because I see Him not only calling me to wait on Him, but ultimately, my refusal to wait, my anxiety over not getting the thing I think I want, is more clearly about a lack of trust. I don't trust that God really has my best in mind and that He wants to give me good things. And I know that sometimes we can ask for something so much that God just might give it to us, even if it's not what He wants us to have.
So I take a step back. Change my prayers from "God please give me_____" (I'm sure you could fill in your own blank) to "God please only give me that which You desire me to have."
In my whole realization that I can't project my expectations for others onto others, I also need to be daily submitted to the sovereignty of God, and allow Him to be God in my life, not just in the lives of others. As much as I like to be in control, I know deep down inside that I would rather have that which He has planned for me. He promises us that it will be beyond our wildest imaginations! (and my imagination can run pretty wild!!)
This verse comes to mind: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9
Oh goodness, if you and I could really believe that, take it in, write it on our hearts, let it transform our thinking and behaviours. Maybe then we too can enjoy the wait, embrace and welcome it, even ask for it.
One of my favorite songs says this: "They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength, they will rise up on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Teach me Lord, teach me Lord to wait."
You know what? I hate waiting. I hate it passionately. Maybe because I am a product of my generation's microwave mentality. I want what I want and I want it NOW! Eeek! God please rescue us from this cultural mentality.
When I consider the benefits of waiting, I wonder how I could ever not just be content to wait, but to actually WANT to wait.
Delaying our gratification for what we think we want is one of the most healthiest and greatest acts of self-control that we can regularly practice. Remember when you were a kid and really wanted something? You wanted something so bad you couldn't stand it? I remember wanting a trampoline for the longest time. I thought that when I acquired my trampoline that life would be "Ahh..." so complete. Then I got my trampoline. It was great. It was fun. But it didn't fill me like I thought it would. Anyways, random tangent.
So God is teaching me more about waiting in this period of my life than I've ever struggled with before. But it is soooo sweet. Because I see Him not only calling me to wait on Him, but ultimately, my refusal to wait, my anxiety over not getting the thing I think I want, is more clearly about a lack of trust. I don't trust that God really has my best in mind and that He wants to give me good things. And I know that sometimes we can ask for something so much that God just might give it to us, even if it's not what He wants us to have.
So I take a step back. Change my prayers from "God please give me_____" (I'm sure you could fill in your own blank) to "God please only give me that which You desire me to have."
In my whole realization that I can't project my expectations for others onto others, I also need to be daily submitted to the sovereignty of God, and allow Him to be God in my life, not just in the lives of others. As much as I like to be in control, I know deep down inside that I would rather have that which He has planned for me. He promises us that it will be beyond our wildest imaginations! (and my imagination can run pretty wild!!)
This verse comes to mind: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9
Oh goodness, if you and I could really believe that, take it in, write it on our hearts, let it transform our thinking and behaviours. Maybe then we too can enjoy the wait, embrace and welcome it, even ask for it.
posted by Karen | 9:17 AM
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