Do you ever feel like God is taking too long to answer your prayers? I do. I struggle with waiting and patience. I think God laughs. He’s constantly reminding me to “be still and know.” For years, that has been my bomberang verse, the one I try to throw away. But no matter how far I toss it, it just comes right back!
You’d think I’d have learned by now…when I wrestle with waiting, it has the opposite effect. Instead of being still and waiting patiently for Him to work, I try harder. Instead of ceasing to strive, I amp up. I perform. I perfect.
Then I get frustrated. And that’s when my bomberang verse slaps me in the face again!
While praying for a New Year’s revelation, I finally understood something I’m sure the Lord has been trying to show me for quite some time. It’s a small thought shift really. It’s kind of embarrasing to admit that it’s taken me so long to realize such an elementary principle. I guess that’s usually the way it is when we finally “get” something.
Here’s my great epiphany for 2013: Drumroll…. (okay, if you’ve read this far, you’ve noticed, I wrote this post 2 years ago and changed the picture:)
When I strive and perform, the pressure is on me to excel. In addition, the results are up to me. When I operate out of my purpose, however, a shift occurs. The pressure is off of me and the results are up to God. Then I can relax and enjoy the process. I can appreciate the scenery on the journey, not just the final destination.
So from now on, I’m going to cease striving. Instead of trying to perform, I’m going to operate out of my passion and purpose. He has created me uniquely to fulfill a purpose and if I allow Him to direct and steer my life, He will bring it to pass. He’s just been waiting for me to get out of the way!
Prayer: Father, please help me to be still and listen to your voice. Help me to discard my stubbornness and impatience. I waste so much time and effort when I try to do things my own way. Thank you that you always promise to direct my paths. You are so faithful! Amen.
Questions to Ponder:
1. Which song best describes your patience level?
◦I’m still pretty stubborn. Fleetwood Mac’s Go Your Own Way nails me.
◦I go back and forth. Sometimes I lead. Sometimes I follow. Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts pretty much pegs me.
◦I’ve been gripping the steering wheel too hard. I’m ready for God to take control. For me, it’s Jesus Take the Wheel by Carrie Underwood
◦Me and God? We’re like Ashford & Simpson’s Solid as a Rock.
2. In what areas do you need to cease striving?
3. Psalm 37:7a says this: Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act (NLT).
The phrase “wait patiently” comes from the Hebrew word chuwl which means to dance, to be brought forth, to wait longingly, to be made to bear. How does this definition change your perspective of waiting?
Scriptures to Ponder:
◦The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14
•Now then, stand still and see this great thing the LORD is about to do before your eyes! 1 Sam 12:13
•Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. Psalm 62:5
•But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. Psalm 131:2
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