Throughout this past week, I’ve been reflecting on the people God has placed in my life. When I look around at each of them, I see strength, hope, love, perseverance, and faith through the valleys of this life.
I see men and women who have lost their spouses, yet continue to get up everyday and fight.
I see friends who have fought for the children they have here on Earth, while they love the ones in Heaven from afar.
I see friends fighting hard for their marriage; some of them have made it, while some of them were left behind. Some of them are still fighting, clinging to the hope of what could be.
I see family tension and drama.
I’ve seen lives taken by their own hands, leaving family in the wake asking why?
I see hurt and rejection on the faces of those who have wanted promotions or new jobs but were not chosen.
I see friends and family members waiting for a positive pregnancy test, for better health results, for financial relief, or for their person to come alongside of them to do life.
I’ve seen addiction and those who pray for a way out of it.
With one quick glance, I can see that we all struggle and we all face hard things.
To be quite honest, waiting for me has been some of the most excruciating times I can remember. It has required grit, perseverance, patience, and faith. Faith that there is work being done in the waiting.
Paul, one of my favorite authors from the New Testament, gives me great hope that work is being done in the waiting. He tried several times to go to Rome. At the time, it was the most important city of the world. He wanted desperately to share the Gospel with Roman citizens. Despite his best efforts, his plans didn’t work out for years. However, what if I told you that if it weren’t for Paul’s delay in traveling there, we wouldn’t have the book of Romans. It’s true, while Paul waited to travel to Rome, he wrote a series of letters to encourage the churches there. Had he went and preached right away, we’d be missing an entire book of the Bible that is filled with goodness, encouragement, and words that represent the heart of God. When Paul finally did arrive in Rome, he spent TWO years imprisoned, on house arrest, preaching and teaching about Jesus - without hindrance.
We, as believers, can see from Paul’s delay that though “waiting” doesn’t always make sense to us, God does work good things in the waiting. In the words of Paul, “We know that ALL things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). It isn’t fun, but with the right heart posture, it can produce fruit. Though it is hard, it can reap a harvest.
If you’re waiting on something, this is your encouragement to lean in. Ask God to teach you in this season. Continue to pray through. Hold on to your faith, and keep asking. God hears you, but there’s work to be done still. Friends, as we wait this week, let's wait with the certainty of David. He said, “I am certain that I will see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and courageous. Wait for the Lord” (Psalm 27:13-14). I am praying for certainty this season of waiting. Have a great week!
”Do you not know? Have you not heard? Yahweh is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never grows faint or weary; there is no limit to His understanding. He gives strength to the weary and strengthens the powerless. Youths may faint and grow weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who trust 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 faint” (Isaiah 40:28-31).
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