1 TIMOTHY 3:16-17

"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us...God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work."

Sunday, July 24, 2011

PSALMS - Wait A Second...Or More

Ever notice how much time we spend in our lives waiting?

I live in Southern California – and let me tell you, I know a thing or two about waiting…

Last weekend, the 405 freeway was shut down – for the WHOLE weekend. Now, unless you live in California, this isn't going to make a lot of sense. But, let me clarify for you – the 405 is considered the busiest freeway in the nation, handling over a half-million cars a day (that’s 500,000 folks!). So, this shut-down made national news.

It was (not so) lovingly nicknamed "Carmageddon."

Traffic in Southern California is a major source of waiting.

But think about it – what about waiting for a table in a restaurant, waiting in line at the bank, waiting in a doctor's office, waiting in a drive-thru fast food place, waiting for a tax refund…you can fill in this list with your own stuff – I just know you can!

This waiting can be annoying, exasperating, frustrating…

But it's still part of normal life.

But what about the *other waiting* – the waiting for test results from the doctor, waiting for someone to land safely while flying, waiting for someone to call, waiting in a waiting room…you can fill in THIS list with your own stuff, too…

The waiting that is torture, fearful, nerve-wracking, draining.

It is the soulful waiting – the waiting that challenges our faith. That causes us to question and doubt. That makes us look to God in agony.

Today's "Bible Pick 'Ems" landed me in Psalms again. I guess God has some more to say to me through the words of David:

"Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge." (Psalms 62:5-8)

These words of David were written during the days of Absalom’s rebellion (see 2 Samuel 15-18) – a time when David once again found himself literally running for his life.

In a time of plenty and peace, these words would have been comforting and sweet. In a time when one's life is in danger, they are powerful and courageous. These are not the sweet sentiments of a man "having a good day!" These are a war cry – a pure statement of unshakeable faith in a God who is able…

We have to place ALL hope in God.

Knowing that He is in control allows us to wait patiently for Him to rescue us.

However, true relief does not come when the problem is resolved – because more problems are right around the corner – that's life. And sometimes God does not resolve a problem the way we want – nor does He always "rescue" us from difficulties, suffering, and pain.

What to do then?

Trust – trust, trust.

Only in trusting in our Rock and our Salvation can we change our outlook on life. True relief comes from an enduring hope in God’s ultimate salvation – the eternal rescue that we confidently look toward.

Only then will all things be resolved.

And how are we to wait?

Grumbling, doubting, fearing, complaining, whining??

No, we are to wait quietly before the Lord - with ALL that we are. To me, that means - a quiet mind, with thoughts under control, not running rampant - a quiet spirit, with a peaceful acceptance of circumstances - a quiet heart, with confidence in the future, whether here on earth or in eternity -

Let ALL that I am wait quietly...

In the meantime, when we rest in God’s strength, NOTHING can shake us!


Fill in this blank with your own sentiment:

When I am ____________________, I will WAIT upon the LORD.


(Linked today with Charlotte and Ginger at Spiritual Sundays, and Peggy at Soaking On SONday. Please feel free to hop on over to my other blog during the week - Sharon Sharing God)


"When in doubt, search God out!"

9 comments:

  1. Great post. Waiting is hard, but if we put our trust in God thee waiting will be worth it (in most cases), but even in the worse cases we still have God's promise that He will take care of us.

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  2. Sharon, I usually visit you at your other blog but for some reason, when I came to visit you, this was where I landed! Not by chance certainly, for the passage you mentioned is one of my top favorites. And WAITING is a major thread in the fabric of my life. It really is.

    THank you for sharing so beautifully, but you always do anyway... except that today, this was really special for me.

    Loved the way you shared your heart and mind here, Sharon.

    Blessings on your week...

    Much love
    Lidj

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  3. I needed this post.. A reminder.. I am in a time of waiting.. But I have forgotten to wait with a quiet mind, I have allowed my thoughts to run away with me. I know God has a plan, He is allowing me to grow. To lean and to build faith, blessed I am to have a God who understands. I will put my trust in Him and wait.

    Thank you for breaking this down for me in words I could understand! Very thought provoking post for me!

    Blessings,
    Misty

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  4. Sigh...waiting is just so hard. While I'm waiting I'm confident that God is "going before me and making the crooked places straight."

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  5. Hi Sharon,
    A most needed reminder. I am one of those who hates waiting. Usually I am "Grumbling, doubting, fearing, complaining, whining" when I am waiting.
    Blessings,
    Ken

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  6. Amen Sharon; Personally, I think waiting is the toughest thing in the world. I feel like God is always teaching us to wait to teach us patience in some area, but his grace is sufficient. I am keeping you in prayer about those health issues. God is in control and HE will never fail you:)

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  7. Sharon...
    I really needed the witness of this word today. Trust, trust, trust, and do so quietly! I've been fretful over a few things in this past week. It's time for me to slow down and quietly receive the peace of Christ.

    Praying for you and with you as you wait.

    peace~elaine

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  8. I hate to wait too. I guess everyone does. It is important to wait upon the Lord though. I know about southern CA. I lived there for many years. I lived there before there was even one freeway. It was really a wonderful place to live in those days.
    Blessings,
    Charlotte

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  9. Alice - I don't think I could have said it any better. We wait for God to *save* us, so to speak - but even if He doesn't make everything *all right* - He is still there with the promise that He will take care of us...always.

    Lidj - Thank you so much for your kind words. I earlier today read your post about redeeming the time. It seems to me that I need to change my mind about *waiting* as a waste of time. Never. God is not wasteful - and in the times when I must wait on Him, He is redeeming the time for a greater purpose than I could ever know!

    Misty - Thanks for sharing. I have just spent a week when my thoughts have run rampant! Evidently, I'm much better at writing these words than living them. You said something that really spoke to me - sometimes God's purpose in waiting is just that - for us to grow. Growing pains are tough, tougher when we're waiting. But, God's love and understanding will always carry us through.

    Pamela - I love that Scripture. I think it's me that makes those paths so crooked. How can God lead me when I'm not willing to follow? I am claiming this promise that you shared - thank you.

    Ken - Yup, me too. Funny how easy it was for me to come up with those words - it's because I'm often an "Israelite in the wilderness" - mumble, grumble. Learning...slowly...how to trust with a better attitude, and a more trusting heart.

    Toyin - Thanks for the encouraging words. Yes, HIS grace is sufficient. My toil is not. My worrying is not. My impatient waiting is not. I like how it is said that His grace is sufficient - brings to my mind how He provided manna A DAY AT A TIME. Daily bread - that is crucial. Learning to only look for daily bread, and knowing that God's sufficiency is more than enough.

    Elaine - Trust...my biggest faith battle. Doing it quietly? Wow, that's even harder! I like how you said that we need to receive the peace of God. Someone last week just told me that all my fretting and striving will never help me FIND peace. It isn't something for me to gain. It's something that God will PROVIDE - it's a gift to be received.

    Charlotte - My family has been in Southern California for years. And their stories of the *early days* sound idyllic. Waiting is tough - and I think it's even tougher in this stupidly fast-paced world that we live in. There isn't too much room for quiet walks, evenings without television, and solitude. Maybe that's why God makes us wait - to learn the blessings of QUIET.

    GOD BLESS!

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"So I have been greatly encouraged in the midst of my troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives me new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How I thank God for you!"
(1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!