Photo by Xu Haiwei on Unsplash
This is the hard part. Whether you are in a season of scared or overwhelmed…even broken hearted, there are times when you have to wait. There is nothing about waiting that is comfortable. For some temperaments, it comes easier than with others, but it just is NOT easy,
We don’t like it. We often chafe. We don’t want to be scared anymore. We want to know how the story will come out. If we are a friend or loved one, we don’t want to see our person in pain. we want them happy and fixed again. We often try to do that on our own. I’m learning that it doesn’t help! As we live in overwhelm and work our way out of it, we have times we need to pause and wait for aspects of the process to work through. Sometimes, we have to rest. (I talked about that yesterday.)
When we are overwhelmed, there are some things our friends or family can do to help us, but often we need to know what to ask them for. We have to sort out ourselves enough to know what to ask for. That takes time. It is a painful process. Some of it involves waiting.
There are similarities when it comes to being broken hearted. There are aspects to the grieving process that we have to wait through. They are dark. They are lonely. We know we will come through on the other side from talking to others, but it doesn’t feel like we will.
What do you feed your mind with while you wait?
So as we wait, we need to find ways to feed our minds…with the good, positive and true.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable,
if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise,
think about these things.
What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—
practice these things,
and the God of peace will be with you.Philippians 4:8-9 ESV
This includes GOD’s Word, but isn’t exclusive to it. It is a guideline to what we read and watch. Do the things we watch and read promote a view of men and women that sees them as made in GOD’s image? That includes their attitude toward those who view life differently from our view. It has deep ramifications. But so much of what we watch and read puts down those who are different from us politically, racially, sexually…and you can go down a very long list! This Scripture challenges us in terms of the way we feed our minds, especially while we wait.
What are you waiting to happen? Have you asked GOD to work in specific ways? Will you recognize it when He works? Do you see Him as the One mentioned below? Or is your view of Him different?
It also reminds us of the character of the One we are waiting for. He loves us steadfastly! His mercy never ends! He is good. This is the One we are waiting for. There is no doubt we are waiting for something worthwhile!
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul who seeks him.
It is good that one should wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.Lamentations 3:22-26 ESV
