Wait

Waiting on God.  I've wrestled with that concept for years.  I'm so impatient!  Why do I have to wait?  Why can't God work on my schedule?  The Bible is so full of Scriptures admonishing me to wait.  And to rest.

That's a nearly impossible task for me.  Rest in God?  Wait on God?  How do I do that?  I need help and I need it now!  I need patience and I need it now!  I have to be doing something.  Accomplishing something.  Working on something.  Studying something.  Doing...something.

But still God says WAIT.

I must get better at that.    At church last Sunday Pastor Michael Paulson delivered a terrific message on REST.  Do you think God is trying to tell me something?  (In case you don't know, I'm a member at First United Methodist Church in Springfield, IL.  You can hear the sermon online if you'd like.  Just go to http://www.SpringfieldFirst.org)

Is it possible to wait without resting?  I don't think so.  While I'm waiting I might as well rest.  It would be good for my body as well as my soul.  It's no wonder I had pneumonia a few weeks ago.  Always pushing.  My body rebels and God whispers, rest and wait on Me, my child.  He speaks volumes to me thru His Word.

Psalm 62:5-8 (The Message Version)

"God, the one and only—
      I'll wait as long as he says.
   Everything I hope for comes from him,
      so why not?
   He's solid rock under my feet,
      breathing room for my soul,
   An impregnable castle:
      I'm set for life.

   My help and glory are in God
      —granite-strength and safe-harbor-God—
   So trust him absolutely, people;
      lay your lives on the line for him.
      God is a safe place to be"

Romans 5:3-5 (The Message Version)

"There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!"

God is developing "passionate patience" in me.  I like that.

God does pour generously into my life.  God is my "safe-harbor-God".  He is trustworthy.  He is solid rock under my feet.  He gives me room to breathe.  Perhaps I can wait.  I can rest in Him.  He is in control.  Everything I hope for comes from Him. 

I can do this.

Wait.