The Rest of Your Story 25: What if you're waiting?

To start from part one, click here.

The Israelites had a holy GPS to the Promised Land and the journey still took a long time.

Jesus knew He was called to be the Messiah but He didn't officially begin His ministry until age 30.

Esther spent a year on beauty treatments before she even met the king (sign me up for that one!).

It's just one little letter but know is not the same as now.

I can feel guilty when I get to a place where I better understand God's plan or what He's calling me to do and it hasn't fully come into being yet. Anyone else? Let's just kick that to the curb, ladies. 

I've done a lot of waiting over the last five years. And what God has gently revealed to me is this, if our hearts are open and we're saying "yes" to what He asks of us each day then we're where we're supposed to be.

It may not make sense. It may seem small. It may feel silly. But sometimes God just has us stay.

Beth Moore said, "Hearts entirely surrendered to God can ordinarily be trusted." If we have yielded to Jesus and handed Him the pen but all has not come to pass in our story then it is not time yet. Or God has something else for us that we're being prepared for now. Either way, we have done our part.

That's what this series is about...not making something happen but getting to the point where we are open and ready.

Our role in the story is to simply place our fingers on the edge of the paper and say, "God, I am here and waiting. Turn the pages as you will. And with all I am, all I have, I will go with you."

p.s. Have you told us how we can pray for you?

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TODAY'S QUESTION: What's your heart waiting on right now?

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Comments

[Patty]

This reminds me of how I need to be faithful in the small things. Faithful in what He has already given me to do. Faithful now as He prepares me for later. Now is an area I need to work on ~ faithful daily.

[Becky]

Dear Holley,

I really don't know what I'm waiting for right now but I am open to whatever it is and I am waiting.

My whole life has changed (except for my job) since my husband's death about 15 months ago. All of my previous hopes and dreams pretty much died with him. However, I'm certain I'm still here for something and I get excited when I think that God is "up to something." I just don't know what that "something" is. I'm waiting. It's difficult for me. Last summer, I began reading through the Bible. All of the stories of those who had waited on the Lord stood out to me, too. The one that hit me first was Noah. Even when he knew that the ark was finally on dry land, he waited on God before leaving it. He was obedient. And those kind of stories really helped me.

But those who wait on the LORDShall renew their strength;They shall mount up with wings like eagles,They shall run and not be weary,They shall walk and not faint. (Is. 40:31) Some versions begin, "But those who hope in the LORD." I love both versions. :) I'm waiting and hoping.

Holley, thank you for this post. Being reminded of this always helps me to wait more patiently. It'll be for the best. :)

Blessings!

[nancy]

God showed me months ago that change is coming... and I still don't know what that change will be. Sometimes I get impatient and want to know now, but most of the time I'm content to wait, to grow, to listen, and to thank God that His timing and His ways are always right, always best.

[Natalie]

For the door to be open... I am trying to be patient and wait for His timing in all things. In order for the door to open I need to seek God daily through reading and studying the Bible, in prayer and respond to His nudges.

And, yes, I too need to be reminded and encouraged to wait patiently... for the Best is yet to come.

[Paula Jean]

The two words that come to mind when I think about your question are: direction and peace. I'm not sure which one needs to come first for the other to follow. They feel like they're bound up together for me right now.

I'm really quite unsettled in my heart right now. It's uncomfortable. I haven't felt this way in a long while...but, I will choose to take this as a good sign that change is brewing for me.

[Tammy@If Meadows Speak...]

Waiting for the process of repairing and restoring a farm HE brought us too. Our promised land, if you will. I've mentioned it before on my blog. But I'll repeat it here. The process will take a few years to bring the farm back to the purpose it'll be used for. A purpose for which it has been in the past but has fallen into severe disrepair over the years. This also requires to wait for building a house. So we live in an old farmhouse in the meantime. Waiting. Patiently. Sometimes less patiently than others. But I feel such life lessons in this process. Ones that'll be spilling forth in my writing. There are so many and WAITING is one of'em.

[Cindy Faulkner]

My heart's waiting on my life to begin at this location. After more than a half dozen moves in twice as many years, I just want to put down roots. I am especially anxious for a new church family. But, while I wait, I am serving and worshiping, as the song says.

[kathy]

My heart is waiting on hearing more clearly what direction God wants us to take. I want to hear clearly, not with my bias, but HIs. I want my husband to hear clearly & rest in the grace of God, instead of striving in his own understanding. God knows all the answers, even before we ask. I just need to follow & obey. It's taken a long time to get off the merry go round. But praise God He's there with open arms constantly, patiently waiting. thanks Holley for this thoughtful question. love, kathy

[Tammy Luccioni]

Tammy's post @7:55 am sums up what I am waiting on, for God to repair and restore the "land of my life" so it can be used as He originally intended.

[Melinda]

Healing and preparation for bigger Ministry. I'm in the middle and on the way. I now know why God hides the caterpillar in the cocoon. It's ugly in there!