But, O my soul, don’t be discouraged. Don’t be upset. Expect God to act! For I know that I shall again have plenty of reason to praise him for all that he will do. He is my help! He is my God! Psalm 42:11 TLB
I hate waiting!
Not a little bit, like someone is running five minutes behind schedule, but “Ah! Here they come.”
No. I’m talking nail biting, drumming fingers, tapping foot, pacing up and down impatience!
So when my bible admonishes me, “… Don’t be upset.”
I think, “LORD, do you see the clock?”
Don’t be upset…
Yeah, right.
So, I keep my muttering to myself, muttering only in my heart.
(Does that count?)
Even if I’m impatient on the inside, if I’m holding it together on the outside?
Well God, don’t I get brownie points for that much at least?
And God whispers, “Yeah, right.”
Drumming fingers
Okay, I confess, I’ve been stuck in this “holding pattern” for over eighteen months.
I’m feeling more than a little impatient with all this waiting.
And yet, experience has taught me that trying to run ahead of God can lead to some miserable and confounding dead-ends. No thanks.
Therefore, I continue to wait.
I heed all the “wait for Me” messages I keep getting in my devotion time.
But, my fingers keep drumming out the question, “God, where are you?”
Tapping toes…
I know you’ve been stuck in a waiting room that keeps filling up the chairs with no one’s name being called.
(Yeah, my toes are tapping!)
I keep thinking, “I was on time. Why can’t these people respect my schedule?”
And God whispers, “Remember your own emergency that called the doctor away from his scheduled appointments?”
(Oh. Yeah. Right.)
Pacing the floor…
Then there’s that friend of yours.
You know the one.
They never show up when they say they will.
So, you wait.
And, wait.
And, then you wait some more, pacing the floor, and staring a your watch every five minutes.
Learning at Seventy!
Yes, I’m in another holding pattern.
Trying to patiently wait for the LORD’S directing voice, while all of my life is crammed into boxes, and here I am, waiting, waiting, waiting, for this COVID-panic to abate, so that I can just get on with it. Whatever “it” is going to be.
(Very heavy sigh.)
At seventy, surely I would have mastered patiently waiting by now!
(Nope, guess not.)
And, the LORD patiently whispers, “Good thing, I have.”
And you remember…
That last time in the grocery store.
Last month, you remember?
The line just kept getting longer and longer, and the checkout clerk was new, and her supervisor was patiently helping her clear out the register so she could begin again.
Remember?
God whispered, “Smile, and give her an ‘Atta-girl’ when you get your turn.”
Okay, LORD. I remember. I know You’re coming.
You’re seldom early, but You’re always, on time.
Here’s what I’ve learned through it all:
Don’t give up; don’t be impatient;
be entwined as one with the Lord.
Be brave and courageous, and never lose hope.
Yes, keep on waiting—for he will never disappoint you!
Psalm 27:14 TPT
Women With Destiny 