“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
(Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV)
It can be very difficult to trust and have faith in God’s perfect timing when we are struggling with difficulties. But yesterday I absorbed three stories which were rewards – gifts – for waiting and praying patiently.
- an almost stranger gave me a sweet and unexpected word of encouragement in a difficult area of my life
- a young mom who was informed by a doctor that she’d need surgery told him that God was in control – and three days later the issue had been healed
- a young man called his parents on Father’s Day to thank them for praying for him and tell them he’d come back to God
In my own flesh I am one of the most impatient people I know – partly because I can SEE what things SHOULD be like and am very frustrated when they don’t just get there! But God in his mercy is working things out for my good. His ways and thoughts – and timing – are higher and much more perfect than mine. He knows what needs to happen when. And he has the perfect timing for those things to happen. We have to be faithful in our waiting – and then rejoice when we see the fulfillment of these things for which we have waited.
“Days like these are just a test of our will.
Will we walk or will we fall?
Well, I can almost see the top of the hill,
And I believe it’s worth it all.
“In a little while,
We’ll be with the father;
Can’t you see him smile?
In a little while,
We’ll be home forever,
In a while
Were just here to learn to love him
We’ll be home in just a little while.”*
God of Infinite Mercy and Grace,
Thank you that you are compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love and faithfulness. Thank you that your plans for us are perfect – especially when we can’t see or understand what you are weaving together. Thank you for stories in our lives and lives of others that confirm our faith and trust in you – and your goodness to us. Give us more of Holy Spirit so we have more patience and faith as we wait, pray, trust, and then celebrate what you are doing. In Jesus’s name we pray, Amen.
“I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:24-26 NIV)
“But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” (Psalm 86:15 NIV)
““As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9 NIV)
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NIV)
*”In a Little While” by Amy Grant / Amy Grant Gill / Brown Bannister / Elliott B. Bannister / Gary Chapman / Gary W Chapman / John Shane Keister; lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Capitol Christian Music Group, Capitol CMG Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc