by Patricia Broyles
Oh the waiting…
Maybe you are going through this waiting season right now just like me. You can be questioning, and almost giving up praying for that subject. But God often requires a time of waiting before answering prayers.
You can be waiting to see someone that you have been praying for to be saved, it can be waiting to become a mom, it can be waiting for a job opportunity, you can waiting in a hospital, waiting for reconciliation, whatever is the case that you are in, the waiting can hurt.
Over time, the waiting can take away our rest, our encouragements, our patience, and with that there can originate complaints, doubts and anxiety. The valley can be deep, but we are not defined by what we are going through. As christians we have a new identity in Christ, so why live life defeated? We are not. So even when we don't see Him working we can still decide to seek Him, knowing that He is at work, and that His grace is sufficient.
During this waiting season in my life, time and time again God is teaching me to praise Him with my entire being - that includes my gratitude even when I don't feel up to it. Praising God in the waiting has not been an easy habit for me to create, but does God deserve my praise in this season? Of course! He deserves all the glory, all the praise, all the adoration in every circumstance. Easy days and also hard days are part of this season and because of that I had to find a way to get relief from that restless state and praise the Lord even for His silence. Christ is sufficient, even when we don’t understand His ways, He is enough! Is God only good when the flowers are blooming? No. He still is good even when He is silent!
I Pray again. And He is there.
Praying never gets old. “A person's actions prove what they really believe”. Do we still believe that God answer prayers even when we are in the midst of His silence? If so, pray! Raise your hands, bow your knees and turn your tired eyes to Christ who conquered death. The arms of Jesus are refreshing and when you can’t find the right words or if prayer doesn't come naturally to you, show up, and start with gratitude, praising Him for little things, big things and from there pour out your heart.
Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 and 18
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. James 5:13a
Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm 150:6
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? Psalm 13:1
I Sing. And He is there also.
When the words to our prayers disappear, singing to the Lord is a fountain of fresh water in the desert. Find songs that are full of God’s truths and sing, letting that song became your praise and prayer to the Lord. He is our song when we face the valleys.
But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. Psalm 59:16
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 89:1
A good motivation to praise Jesus in the waiting is that our eyes, heart and mind will be turned in the right direction - adoration - and when God decides that the time to show the next step is here, it won't go unnoticed and this is exactly what He wants, all the Glory for all His deeds. So praise Him for His goodness during His quietness. Remember God’s timeline isn’t the same as ours, but in the Bible we can find true Hope in this difficult and unpopular subject in our culture of not liking to wait.
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. II Peter 3:8
I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. Palm 130:5
But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me. Psalm 13:5 and 6
Let’s arise and praise Him for what He has done and will do because even in our moments of darkness and discouragement God’s grace is sufficient for us.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. II Corinthians 12:9
According to His infinity love, grace and wisdom He will answer and until God opens the next door praise him in the waiting!