Nobody likes to wait. Nobody. Yet we do it ALL the time.
We:
Wait while cookies bake.
Wait in line at the grocery store, amusement park, or DMV.
Wait for the next in a book series to come out.
Wait for the next episode of our favorite television show to air.
Wait for our paycheck to clear.
Wait. Wait. Wait.
It's no fun, but truth be told we all (usually) make the most of the "in between" time of waiting. We wash the dishes we made during baking. We get on our phones and FB, Tweet, Pin, Insta. We read other things, watch other things, DO other things.
What about when waiting is ALL you can do? What do you do then? I experienced this a few days ago. I was at a huge event and everyone around me had a job or task or busy work to keep them going. I was waiting. All my jobs were finished and I was forced to wait to discover my next task... Everyone who has led an event, been in charge of a huge project, is an executive, owner, president, etc, is always busy. They automatically know what needs to happen next. And they're telling everyone else what's up.
To have to WAIT usually means you are not the boss. It can be frustrating. It can be difficult. It can be humbling. And it needs a deep breath and willingness to submit to a certain kind of vulnerability.
It's tough.
What happens when GOD tells us to wait? I feel like most of us--including myself--respond even *less* favorably than we do when faced with the above situations. We take control and attempt to do it ourselves. We wallow in self pity. We complain, mope, and grumble. We tell Him no. We stuff our lives with meaningless distractions and futile attempts to *feel* busy, because, as you know, feeling and looking busy make us *feel* like we are the boss.
But we're not the boss.
And that's not waiting.
Usually when God tells us to wait, He's really telling us to REST. Say it with me.
Rest.
We can't do His job. And we shouldn't fill our lives with busyness while we "wait" just to feel a modicum of control over things that He knows how to handle better anyway.
It is a struggle. But praise Jesus, He can handle that too. :)
p.s. two of my favorite quotes about busyness and rest.
"Stop the glorification of busy."
"Rest is a weapon given to us by God through Jesus' finished work at the cross. The enemy hates it, because he wants you stressed and occupied."
Amen.
2 comments:
Thank you dear Janet. God speaks through you.
I love you <3
Hello Jaybee. So blessed to know you through your profile on the blogger. I am glad to stop by your blog " adventures with JESUS" and the post on it " WAIT". What you have said is so true and I am blessed to go through it. I am planning to preach on this on coming Sunday in my church. I am in the Pastoral ministry for last 35yrs in the great city of Mumbai, Indai a city with great contrast where richest of rich and the poorest of poor live. We reach out to the poorest of poor with the love of Christ to bring healing tot he broken hearted. We also encourage young people as well as adults from the West to come to Mumbai on a short / long term missions trip to come and work with us during their vacation time. We would love to have you come with your friends to work with us in the slums of Mumbai during your vacation time. My email id is: dhwankhede(at)gmail(dot)com and my name is Diwakar Wankhede. Looking forward to hear from you very soon. God's richest blessings on you.
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