Iām joining Kate Motaung for Five Minute Friday. One word prompt. Five minutes. No editing. Lots of women. All of us writing on that same word.
Today the word prompt is ā¦ Wait.
Not many of us like to wait.
Wait … it seems to have the connotation of being inactive when one should be busy. But what if we are not to be busy? What if something is actually happening in the midst of the wait?
“So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.” (Isaiah 30:18, NLT)
The Lord Himself must wait for us. He longs for us to come to Him so He can show us His love, His compassion. He is faithful to wait as long as it takes for us to come to our senses and come to Him. He waits so that He may be gracious to us. He knows we are weak and in need of His strength.
But here is the thing … we, too, must wait. We must wait for His help.
We must not rush ahead of Him in an attempt to solve our own problems or those of others. We must not take matters into our own hands. Instead we wait, we remain inactive yet actively and eagerly looking for Him to bring help. We wait, and instead of relying on ourselves, we rely on His power and goodness to come to our aid.
And in this we receive blessing.
Blessed are those who wait for his help.
Today I am joining … Five Minute Friday and Fellowship Friday and Everyday Jesus and Faith Filled Friday and Blessing Counters .
I’m slowly learning to wait for Him and it’s a beautiful process. Thanks for your post: I really enjoyed reading it. {A FMF friend}
You’re right – it is a beautiful process. And I’m a slow learner too š
Learning to wait for Him is a beautiful lesson, but hard! Love this Joanne! (always enjoy reading your take on #fmfparty!)
Nicki, it is a most hard lesson. But one I’m discovering is so worth it! I tend to make a mess of things when I hurry ahead. Grateful for you!
Waiting is one of the things I’m the worst at. Seems a lesson I can’t quite learn, like algebra! But, I am thankful for how the Lord is gracious in his waiting for me. Stopping by from FMF.
You’re comment about algebra made me smile. I loved algebra! It was such a challenge & I so wanted to master it rather than have it master me. Maybe that is so it – we must discipline ourselves in order to learn the hard lesson of waiting š
I love that God is waiting for us to come to Him so that He can bless us. Wow, He is so amazing! Thanks for the reminder š
Isn’t that an amazing thing to think on? I loved that verse when I read it yesterday! Glad it spoke to you as well. Blessings!
This is so well put. You’ve drawn my attention to the Lord waiting for us… how did I miss that? Of course he knows how it is to long and hope and wait… This really motivates me to come to him, and the sooner the better!
Ruth, I think we miss it because we are so focused on ourselves having to wait for Him š I am glad it motivated you in the same way it did me. Blessings!
Thank you, Joanne. What you wrote and the Scripture you shared really has spoken to me. Wait has those two different sides. I love the part where you share how God waits for us and then when He is doing His work we need to wait on Him and not get ahead of Him but jumping in and trying to help. I love you and your blog.
Marilyn
Mare – it was so eye opening to look at this other side of waiting. I don’t hardly think about it from God’s perspective. Goes to show how selfish I can be at times š Thank you for always being so encouraging!
Timely, timely word for me today, Joanne. Just said my see you laters to my beloved at the airport this morning. Already awaiting his return. Praying this minimum 9 wk Ranger school training (with no technology to communicate– snail mail only) passes swiftly as I rest in the Lord. Thanks, sister.
Sharita, thank you for sharing about your hubby being away for 9 weeks. I will be praying for you. It sure can be a long time with minimal communication & our ability to be in touch in an instant. May you be able to wait & rest in God. Blessings! XO
You have put this so well. My five minute friday write up did not come out so eloquently! I did not post it. Maybe next time. Thanks for sharing these wise words.
Blessings,
Donna
visiting from #FaithFilledFriday
Donna, you should have shared it anyway. Someone might have needed your very words. That’s the beauty of the word prompt – we don’t need to think about prettying it all up š Thank you for stopping here!
Great thoughts here. I am an inpatient person. Waiting is hard…BUT I am learning that there is a purpose for the waiting. It’s not time wasted. I imagine God behind the scenes busy at work..working for my own good, while I wait.
Waiting is most difficult work. And yet, waiting does the most difficult work in us š Such a paradox. Grateful you shared as you made me realize this aspect of waiting as well.
Learning to wait on the Lord has been the most difficult and ongoing lesson of my life . . . and the most freeing–I love, love , love these precious verses: Psalm 27:13-14: “I am still confident of this; I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord, be strong and take heart, and wait for the Lord.” Blessings to you, sister in the Lord.
Aren’t we glad He tells us to be confident of this – we WILL see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living as we wait for Him. Grateful you stopped & shared!
What a beautiful post Joann! We often think of waiting on God, but how rarely we realize that HE WAITS FOR US! Beautiful insight on our faithful God on your blog today, friend. I’ll share later on Twitter. (when people on your side of the world are awake! š )
Betsy, it was such an eye opening thought to me as well. I am grateful for you as you are most encouraging! May you have a good week!