Waiting. Waiting in lines. Waiting on test results, or the phone call with the message we long to hear.

Waiting. Waiting for an answer.  Waiting for the much needed check in the mail, or the promise of help in a time of need.

Waiting. Waiting for a loved one to arrive home safely, or to know God, or to be healed.  Waiting for deliverance from addictions, anxieties, fear.

Waiting. Waiting for a breakthrough, or a glimmer of hope in a difficult situation, or for any stream of light to shine in our places of darkness.

Most people admit it; we do not want to wait for anything.  We are an impatient people.  Why should we have to wait?  Life is short.  There is no time for this.

Throughout my life, impatience has been a big part of my make up.  It has been deeply set in my fabric to be impatient in the waiting sense.  I may have patience with some other things, but who wants to wait around for the things that we know are important?  Give it now.  I am too busy for waiting!

In my conversations with my Heavenly Daddy, I have often reminded Him, ” You know me!  You made me!  Why would you wire me for Full Speed Ahead when you knew all along you were going to have to slow me down?! ”  (Seriously, why would He DO that?)  Waiting can be downright painful!

For one very long period of time in my walk with God, the only answer I could clearly hear was a soft but firm, “Rest in Me.”

“But Lord, I really just want to know… ”

“Rest in Me.”

“I understand what you’re saying, God, but I’m thinking if you would just…”

“Rest in Me.”

“So, okay, I will, but how am I going to…”

“Rest. In. Me.”

Like a good parent, never losing His cool; not interested in the argument, He repeated only what I needed to hear. He made His point.  This essential lesson for my life- for my best- He knew I had to learn this first.  “Rest in Me.”  I finally became so completely frustrated with hearing the same answer over and over, that I yelled at the sky, ” I DON’T KNOW HOW TO REST!”  ” I don’t even know what it means to rest in YOU!  If you want me to rest in you, then you are going to have to teach me how!”

(“Ahhhh!” I am certain now that He must have sighed, “Finally.”)  And so, of course, He then began to teach me, with love and gentleness. God’s sweet correction showed me how to seek after Him and not just for a quick-fix, but to spend time getting to know Him for His heart and not just His hand.  How satisfying that is to understand.  Peace is available for the waiting time.  Satisfaction can be had during the stretch of the unknown, between promise given and promise fulfilled.

So, what does it take?  How do we become better ‘waiters’?  How do we wait more patiently?  In what posture will we wait for our promises to come to life?

Searching the Word for scriptures of promise eases the pain, diminishes the doubt.  Learning who God is and how He operates gives good comfort even in the most prolonged and difficult waiting times.  We can begin to understand, at least in part, how God moves by studying the Word.

“Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.” ~ Joshua 21:45

“God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.” ~ 2 Samuel 22:31

“Praise the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the wonderful promises he gave through his servant Moses.” ~ 1 Kings 8:56

“The Lord’s promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over.” ~ Psalm 12:6

The list goes on.

“He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.” ~ Psalm 91:4

“For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.” ~ 2 Corinthians 1:20

When we learn enough of His nature; that He is true to His word, then we can come to a place where we wait with the hope of the unseen; in faith, we can then say, “But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord;  I will wait for the God of my salvation.  My God will hear me.”  ~  Micah 7:7 (NAS).

With a new way of seeing the unseen, we can wait as an expectant mother, knowing the time will be certain for us to see in the now what things God has prepared for us.  Feeling the very life of it stirring within.

I see clearly everything that is!  There is nothing blurry about My vision.  

Choose this way to see through My eyes!

Have your vision corrected by my very presence and nothing else!  

Take off your man made glasses and your manufactured lenses!  

There is a much better way to see clearly all I have for you!

 

It is oftentimes the very thing you strain so hard to see that becomes a clearer picture when you relax your eyes.  All of the straining takes work to see what I easily hand to you to hold for your own!  

Relax in that understanding!  Stop straining and struggling so hard for things of which you have no need.

 

There is a MUCH BETTER WAY!

 

Listen for My words.  View your challenges from My vantage point.  

You are correct in saying, “This big mess is great!  God will show up in a BIG way!”

 

For I am the God of Everything – as you say – it is – For you, I am and for your vision I am 20/20.  

Seeing perfectly the vision I have for you – so see it with Me!

 

What is it to see these other things?  Anyone can easily see the vast array of items cast around their own yard!  The hard to see things are better for they require faith in Me and My vision – not your own!  

And the ones which are IMPOSSIBLE to find?  Those are my GLORY, of which you are well aware!

 

Don’t let anyone else tell you what is to come!  My vision for you is perfectly clear.  There is no doubt about what I see for you. There is no question what I have in my hand is all yours, and I offer only good things!

 

Now wait like this expectant mother, whose full term has not yet arrived.  Her hands are cradling her belly although no baby can be seen, she is there and Mother knows it!  She longs for her child expectantly, loves her child completely and knows without a doubt that day will come when she holds her child fully.

In the light of her loving eyes is HOPE for her unborn child- understanding that this is a gift from Me- knowledge that her life is about to change forever and satisfaction that the time is near!  And so she prepares in every way for this unseen child!  She expects it to take time and is willing to wait patiently, using the waiting time for PREPARATION!

 

So is your preparation for My coming!  Expectant, urgent, satisfying, full of hope and wondrous anticipation!

Do not despise the waiting times in your life!  Give them to Me, for we wait together!  

What could be better than that?

And with clarity, we see what is coming – By faith, we expect the best outcomes for every situation!  Your unborn children are all healthy and vigorous!  And there are many of them, so prepare as though you know it!  Because now, you certainly do!

 

Your babies are all mine first, and yours second; My gifts to you!  Expect them this way.  Cherish them this way.  Know it with a full and excited knowing!

 

There is a birthday party about to happen for you!  Celebrate it! Balloons with cake and confetti!   Jump around and play games and dance, for you are celebrating Me, and My gifts to you are endless and priceless!  Turn on the music now for this party is about to heat up!  Can you see it?  Are you ready?  The guests are arriving in full regalia and it’s a surprise party worth waiting for!

 

Celebrate this way with Me every day while you wait! This glorifies My name more than anything else can do.  Your expectant, happy waiting is different from the way others wait!  You are assured the party will go on as I have planned it for you!  BELIEVE this and enjoy the waiting like the child counting on her parents to put on the best of parties to celebrate the time of her birth!

 

You think you are the one waiting, but I am waiting for you!  I am the parent who longs to see you reach the next place in our walk with Me!  Stepping one careful foot at a time, you were wobbly at first, you know!  Holding onto my fingers and finally letting go, knowing I am right there waiting with open arms to receive you!  When you fall into my arms, we both celebrate together, but I wait over and over again for you this way!  Throughout your life, I have held out for you, even when you knew nothing of it!  Now, you can know it in full assurance!  I will always be there unconditionally, protecting you, providing all your needs.  The promises I make are all true and I never go back on my words of love!

 

So, what are you waiting for?

Here I AM!

I’ve been right here with you all along.