Well, that is a little what my life feels like right now. I have mentioned before about some circumstances in my life that tend to get me down every once in a while.... well... just when I thought that they couldn't possibly get worse... and still be in God's will... they did. So... now what??
I long to know that God is doing something for me in this. And the thing is.... I know He is. It may not be the "something" that I want.... but it is definitely for me. God loves me beyond measure. He wants me to be just like His Son. I know that my job is to walk by faith.... allow His pruning.... cooperate... and wait. So.... here I am, in a holding pattern. Seeking His face. Praying that we don't miss the "point". This is not a class that I want to take again. I need for us to pass this one this time. This is not a trip I want to take again. I think that if I ever get off this plane... I will probably not get back on one.
I love the fact that I can be real. I don't want anyone to ever get the wrong impression that christians have it easy. We go through the same things that others do... the only difference is that we wear different glasses. The glasses of faith and hope. We know that God is working... on His plan... not ours. His plan is always better than ours. Maybe not by the world's standards... but by His.
In honesty... I ultimately want to be right where He wants me. And this is it for now. So I choose to give thanks and praise to Him for His perfect plan.
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 says "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
I will admit... I am still working on the joyful... but the prayer and thanks come easier. I will continue to hover and wait.... praying and thanking Him for His will for me in Christ Jesus. The "in Christ Jesus" is the best part. In Christ.... that is where I am. AND, for me... it is the only place I would want to be. Even if I am in a holding pattern. Wait... especially if I am in a holding pattern.
1Peter 3:15
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared in give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
7 comments:
I'm praying for you, Lynn. May God's grace abound to you in the wait (weight?) part of your journey with Him. And may you see a breakthrough soon.
Melanie
Lynn,
I so know that holding pattern! It’s no fun, joy is hard to grasp, and we cling to every small thing that brings a smile or hope to our soul. Hope is sometimes all one can claim! I'm praying for His endurance and peace for you!
I couldn't help but remember this passage in 2 Cor. (below) We are just jars being filled!
I'm with you in spirit and in truth! I remember how long, tedious, and painful the last trial I endured in the Lord. His plans are to prosper us! His Word is sure and true! I can say all that in one way, but in another way I am still waiting myself, but now I find that He’s being spilled out all over the place... my testimony of Him being poured out. He wants us to be fruitful and multiply in Him! So we can be abundant in Him and His truth so that we can spread His seed, His gospel, and His word.
I’m praying for His face to shine upon you, dear Lynn! And for us all who are enduring the “press”.
2 Corinthians 4:7-9
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
Thanks for your honesty. I think it's great that you are using your head to express your faith and belief that God is at work even though your heart and emotions want to tell you otherwise. One of my favorite things to remind myself about during times like that is Abraham and Isaac. I'm convinced being a mother myself that Abraham didn't "feel" happy and joyful to be taking Isaac up the mountain to sacrifice him, but he "knew" in his head that God would provide the ram...even if he was struggling with "feeling" good aobut it. This often encourages me when I am in a holding pattern.
Lynn ~ we do wear different glasses. They are called a "Biblical World View." Which is exactly what Pastor Tom spoke on yesterday at church in the AM and PM service. You may feel like you are in a holding pattern because things don't seem to be going in the direction you want them to or as quickly as you want them to. . . BUT our Faithful, Loving, God is always at work in us. And He has many promises for those of us that wait faithfully for Him to reveal to us what it is that He is doing. Here are a couple that just come to mind:
Isaiah 64:4Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
He WILL act on our behalf if we are waiting on Him. Our waiting won't be in vain!!
Isaiah 30:18 Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
He longs to gracious & compassionate to those who wait on Him, and they will be blessed! I believe not only will you be blessed for waiting but others will too because God is using you as a witness for Him.
P.S. I missed you yesterday in church. . .I hope & pray that Jenna is feeling better.
Been there. Still there. Beginning to think that life is one long wait. In fact, I know it is. And while God brings to pass his answers in his time, he longs for us to wait in expectancy for those answers.
It's the hardest thing to be in a holding pattern. Even this very moment, my heart aches with a hold that frustrates the heck out of me.
So be encouraged...you wait not alone. I will pray for you today, even as I pray for myself that God will reveal his presence to each one of us in the midst of our pause.
Be blessed, Lynn.
peace~elaine
I've too been in a holding pattern lately. Know that God will finally make a landing with us both, we just need to wait on Him as He shows us where to land.
I came across your blog while reading Elaine's Peace for the Journey...
After reading your post the words to Twila Paris' "I Will Listen" came to my mind. This is a song very near and dear to my heart - I hope you find comfort in the words as I did (and still do)
Also - John 16:33 - I won't print the words - I will let you find them. It still is one of my favorite verses!
I Will Listen by Twila Paris:
Hard as it seems
Standing in dreams
Where is the dreamer now
Wonder if I
Wanted to try
Would I remember how
I don't know the way to go from here
But I know I have made my choice
And this is where I stand
Until He moves me on
And I will listen to His voice
This is the faith
Patience to wait
When there is nothing clear
Nothing to see
Still we believe
Jesus is very near
I can not imagine what will come
But I've already made my choice
And this is where I stand
Until He moves me on
And I will listen to His voice
Could it be that He is only waiting there to see
If I will learn to love the dreams
that He has dreamed for me
Can't imagine what the future holds
But I've already made my choice
And this is where I stand
Until He moves me on
And I will listen to His voice
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