And I think, sometimes, we forget that during those times, while waiting for deliverance, waiting for freedom, waiting for healing, they were doing just that — waiting. They did not know the end of the story. They did not yet see God’s intervention. They didn’t know how he was going to work things out for their good, how he was going to fulfill his promise to them. So they waited. Some waited well. They “strengthened themselves in the Lord,” as David did in 1 Samuel 30. They fixed their eyes on the Lord rather than their circumstances, they chose to trust him, not their emotions, and they were determined to walk by faith, not by sight. Others waited, well, badly. They focused on their pain. They focused on their circumstances. They took matters into their own hands, afraid that God would fail them. And the results always proved tragic. The deliverance was delayed, their relationships damaged, and often, their testimonies tarnished. I want to wait well.I want to wait like David did, for God to deliver him from Saul, refusing to take matters into his own hands. I want to wait like Hannah, who cried out to the Lord in her place of brokenness, and the Lord heard her. I don’t want to wait like Abram and Sarah,who decided that God was taking too long, and decided to have a child through Hagar. I want to wait like Joseph,who faithfully served the Lord by submitting to the authorities in his life with respect and humility, even when he was treated unfairly and things got worse instead of better. I don’t want to wait like Jacob, who kept manipulating his family, his circumstances, and even tried to manipulate God, out of the fear that God would let him down. I want to wait like Jehoshaphat |
10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 11 “All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. 12 Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. 13 For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. |
to take us by our right hand.
God takes our power. He takes our strength. He takes our method of control.
Why? Because he loves us. Because he is good. Because he’s in control of the situation,
and he doesn’t want us to mess it up, to experience more pain than necessary. He wants us
to know he’s on our side. We don’t have to fear; he is with us. He is helping us. He is the one
at work, and he knows what he’s doing.
And you know what else?
His grip is strong. His right hand takes our right hand. And he’s not going to let us go.
It’s time for us to walk by faith, to stop fighting, stop controlling, and give God our right hand
in surrender.
Waiting is never easy. But it can be good. Are you ready to wait well?
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bethany HARRIS
In a word: passionate.
About Jesus, church, ministry, music, reading, family, friends, and sometimes even
iced skinny soy mochas.
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