Worth the Wait
Being attentive to God influencing our thoughts and our lives we begin to get glimpses of “something more”.
We begin to see more of His intent in what we thought ‘ordinary’. We begin to see a gentle orchestration – His shaping and forming us. More fulfillment. More of what He designed us for. We have more clarity in how to love our spouse and children best. And the ‘joy of the LORD’ becomes ours.
But when we don’t see these things – particularly when we long for Him to reveal them to us – life becomes frustration. We feel alone. Rudderless.
In times of darkened vision – having to push on, uninspired, with little joy – we can come to obsess about knowing how that part of our journey will conclude. To know it turns out well for our child, our family’s future, or our personal longing for fulfillment and love.
But the conclusion is never ours to know. Not even the joys and struggles of next week are ours to know.
Even if our unease could be soothed by knowing, our newfound knowledge would soon immerse us in this aged truism: The more we know, the more we realize we don’t know.
Academics are sometimes hit with this reality when they push too far into self-confidence regarding God and His designs. The ocean is too deep. Their thirst for assurance begets wave after wave of new mystery – uncertainties – threatening to drown them.
Sometimes God does give us a glimpse into how He is working the ugly into something new and beautiful. Oftentimes that glimpse is only in retrospect.
But even when we aren’t privy to His means and ends – His goal is always to offer us more. More of what He designed us for. More clarity for loving our spouse and children well. And making the ‘joy of the LORD’, ours.
The hidden things belong to the LORD our God,
but the revealed things belong to us and our children forever.
– Deuteronomy 29:29a
The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,
to the person who seeks Him.
It is good to wait quietly for deliverance from the LORD.
Let [that person] sit alone and be silent.
For the LORD will not reject us forever.
Even if He causes suffering,
He will show compassion according to His abundant, faithful love.
For He does not enjoy bringing affliction or suffering on mankind.
– selections from Lamentations 3:22-33
Keep your hope. His work of creation/redemption may seem slow, but His gifts are known to be worth the wait.
* If you or your children are in a situation of abuse, it is never God’s heart’s desire for you. God can and will turn what hurts us toward ‘His good ends’. But ours is a God of goodness, beauty, and redemption. Many wrongs are waiting for us to take action against as His co-creators and co-redeemers. To oppose evil and heal the harm with Him, empowered by Him. There is redemption waiting for you. But the longer you remain silent the more damage will be done.