We spend a LOT of our lives waiting. We spend a lot of our lives wondering WHY we are waiting too!!
Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for wind to fly a kite.
Or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting perhaps for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil or a better break
or a string of pearls or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls or another chance.
Everyone is just waiting.
~Dr. Seuss
Have you ever tried to build a house without a hammer? I know, you are probably thinking, "what does a hammer have to do with waiting?" Well actually, not much. :) But it has a LOT to do with TOOLS. A builder would not start a house without the proper tools in his belt. He needs all of the materials, contractors, and tools to take it from a hole in the ground to a finished house on a firm foundation. I think God works on the same principle. God will not ask us to GO or DO without first giving us some instruction, tools, and some TEACHING to help us do His will. He will not put us in a place where we are unprepared or ill-equipped to do the job He requires of us! And SO.... we WAIT. We are waiting for a promise, a dream to come true, wondering why it is taking Him so LONG to get us where He said He'd take us?!?! I have been learning that those moments require me to take my focus off of the "prize" and focus on the process.
The question, is, what are you doing while you wait???
Philippians 1:9-11 (New Living Translation)
9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ[a]—for this will bring much glory and praise to God. (emphasis mine).
Growing in knowledge and understanding requires a desire to learn, and an open, attentive spirit that is constantly wondering, "Lord, what do you want to teach me here?" To "understand what really matters, so thatt you may live pure and blameless lives....filled with the fruit of your salvation". And the fruit he is talking about in this verse is your RIGHTEOUS CHARACTER!! Now, i'm sure if you're like me you have had enough "character building" to last you a lifetime. Lord, I'm just BURSTING with character, could we move on to the next part please??
James 1:4 says, "So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."
Now THAT is where I want to be. I have a feeling it won't happen until we hear some pretty major trumpeting and see a white horse coming out of the sky, but...YES. Perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
So for now, I wait. I watch. I listen. I learn. I fill my tool belt a little more each day. Because I KNOW He has a plan for me! And i want to be ready to go when the call comes! :D
Colossians 1:9-11 (New Living Translation)
9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy (emphasis mine)
learning to enjoy the process,
one day at a time,
Darcie.
