Daily Journal: 12 September

Beyond the Waiting

How long, Lord? How long?

If you’ve said this once, you’ve said it a thousand times.

• Holding on, and living beyond the waiting that we used to have patience for, is hope.

  
  

• Holding on when we deeply feel a sense of loss, is trust.

  
  

• Holding on when we don’t see fruit of our long-held hope but we still carry a seed in our heart, is faith.

  
  

God has a plan. Do we trust Him?

Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Confidence is having faith in God and His plans.

Confident assurance doesn’t include fear, doubt, worry or frustration.

Living beyond the waiting is to continue growing in God, searching for new understanding and being moldable in His hands.

Living beyond the waiting is to continue reaching out for Him, knowing that when we’re ready and the time is right, He will release us into more of what He has for us. "More" is just another step forward. Each step, even in the waiting, is His positioning and His "more".

• Live as if we have our shoes on ready to head out the door even if we’re not going anywhere yet.

  
  

• Live as if we’re waiting to hear news tomorrow, until tomorrow comes.

  
  

• Live with purpose today so that we're ready for tomorrow.

In the waiting, we can sometimes get focused on something we’re waiting for and use God as a vehicle. He isn’t the vehicle. He’s the engine. We're the vehicle.

The "more" of what God has for us includes more of God Himself.

As we pray for our future, God will develop us today. Receive His development, which can be painful, with thanksgiving, with patience, and with singing.

Isaiah 51:11 (NIV)

Those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Keep singing your song of hope, of trust, of faith as you walk out your journey. Don't become disheartened even if your journey isn't what you expect. It's in God's hands. Keep going and you'll enter your reward with singing if you don't give up.

Galatians 6:9 (NLT)

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

Do you carry a sense of failure, or despondency because what you're waiting for is long in coming? Bring it to God and recommit to Him as you thank Him that your life is His, and it's safely in His hands. Surrender the outcome to Him.

Lord help us not to give up, and not to grow weary. Help us not to have expectations that let us down. Help us to surrender our lives again so that you can complete your plan for us the way you intend. Keep our hope, our trust and our faith in you alive.