What are you waiting for?

Because I grew up in a tiny little town with limited shopping, I looked forward to our trips to Baton Rouge about an hour away. We would go every 2-3 weeks on Saturday and would eat out at our favorite places, get ice cream, go to the mall and my favorite toy store and then usually get dinner to bring home. Those are great memories. But my dad often stopped at stores to buy supplies for his work, and my mom and I would stay in the car. She modeled good waiting for me. She would occupy her time with a book, a crossword puzzle or grading school papers. She never complained no matter how hot it was in the car or how long it took for my dad to finish.

I learned this type of waiting from her example—exercising patience. It is not always easy, the waiting. And it usually isn’t fun unless we are preparing for a surprise or an anticipated event.

Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”

Wait means to stop, hold-up, pause, stay, delay. I think waiting can be hard to do because we want to rush ahead to get what we want, find relief, or solve a problem.

My paraphrase of this verse is this: Delay your actions, stop and pause for the LORD; use your strength and resilience and have courage and bravery. Hold-up and be patient for the LORD.

Sounds good.

Easier said than done.

I was reading my devotional excerpt from Jesus Calling today and one of the highlighted verses was Proverbs 19:21, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” The commentary was that we should trust God to show us what to do when we are finished doing what we are doing now.

Now that is a thought worth thinking about a little more.

Trust God to show us what our next steps are. Keep doing what he has called us to do until we are finished doing that and he shows us the next thing. That is walking in faith right there.

I have a lot of unanswered questions about my future because of Covid-19. While many businesses are re-opening and people are going back to work, the company I work for is still closed. I have worked for this company for 15 years and trust their proven character and integrity. But I am also smart enough to know that there is no business as usual these days.

There is no way any company that has been closed for two months to just restart as if nothing has happened. I know that they are being conservative in their strategy and that things will not be the same. I know it is possible that not everyone will have a job to come back to. That is just the way it is these days. I am believing that I will have my job, but just don’t know when I can count on it.

I want to know that my job will resume before I run out of unemployment benefits. I like having a detailed plan. I like knowing what is going to happen next. I want a date so I can plan around it. I want to know that I can go back to my job and things will be as they were before.

I want it wrapped up in a nice package with a pretty bow.

But I am not promised that.

During my furloughed time I have spent a lot of time being still and resting. I’ve lived on my patio most days. I have been writing more and reading. Relaxing and enjoying my family. I have been making my house a home again. I have balanced my stillness with those overdue projects that make us feel like we’ve gotten stuff done. I was determined to not waste my time off and allow God to restore my soul in the process. I had no idea how weary I was. I was running on fumes and didn’t even realize it. If I could do this fulltime, I would.

Are you weary, too?

Worried?

Wondering what is next?

I wish I had the answers for us. But I know someone who does, and He is not limited by the plans of any government or municipality. He is not caught off guard by a virus that has changed all our lives. His plans do not depend on man, but on his eternal purposes. “The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” Psalm 33:10-11

I am choosing to trust His heart. I may not know what is next, but I know Who does and I am going to put my trust in Him. I am going to trust in the one who is trustworthy.

One of my all-time favorite passages is found in Proverbs 3:5-6.

Lord, help me put my trust in you. I know you are not limited by time or space and you know all things. I may not understand what is happening or have all the details, but you do. I am acknowledging that I need you to help me know what my next step is. Thank you that you will show me and make my paths straight towards your will for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

I encourage you to look up some of these “power” verses and set your mind on where your hope and trust are found:

PS 33:20-22 “We wait in hope upon the Lord. He is our help and shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.”

Ps 130:5-6 “I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his Word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.”

Micah 7:7 “But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.”