GRACE IN THE WAITING

I thought I'd give us something to think about and reflect on whilst we are waiting. This morning I have been just been reading a friends bible devotion, they were talking about 'waiting and the different aspects of waiting. 

This reminded me of a time recently when 'God the Father' reminded me to 'wait.' This inspired me to look deeper into the subject of waiting and explore this further both as believers and non believers.

“Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.” Psalm 33:20-22

The English dictionary refers to waiting or wait as; 

• stay where one is or delay action until a particular time or event.

• stay where one is or delay action until (someone) arrives or is ready.

• Be left until a later time before being dealt with.

• A delay until a person's arrival.

• remain in readiness for a purpose.

Last year, God kept telling me, especially at a writers retreat, to 'WAIT' in releasing my book of poetry. At a conference in Manchester in March, a word was given that was 'what are we waiting for'? I processed this and sought prayer.

In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3

Last week, I started the process of getting my book published with a Christian publisher and, hopefully, released in the near future. Again, this will be a time of patiently waiting and being open to what God's Holy Spirit prompts and leads me to.   

There has been a song we sing in our church called 'The goodness of God'. The words have really been speaking to me over the past few weeks, especially after the Zoom call confirming that my book of poetry is going to be published. When the call finished, I was left feeling humble, ecstatic and emotional; I started off singing a line from the song 'All my life you have been faithful, all my life you have been so good, with every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God. I hope you don’t mind, but I would like to share it with us as an encouragement in times when we are waiting. God is ever faithful to us. And yes, that morning it played and sang loudly (thankfully, my neighbour is deaf and was also out at the time).

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32

I have listened to God, waited for him, and leaned in to him, and now he is guiding me through the desire of my heart. My mission and hope are that through my words, people will come to have a personal encounter with the living God.

“But they who wait for 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

As a prolific writer, it is hard to know, like any other craftsman, when to stop, when to wait, and when to start again. I have the potential to produce another book, but I mustn't race ahead before the first book hasn't yet been published. I must remember to have patience and wait, to ask the Lord for his will to be done in this gift of creativity.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding

So what are your thoughts, experiences and challenges on waiting?  Proverbs 3:5

"The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. Lamentations 3:25 

Be blessed