As we studied on Page 15, and in Isaiah 55: 9-11, God’s word will fulfill the meaning for which is was sent. With this said it's important to remember that timing is everything. In this world, where we are use to instant gratification it is pertinent that we spiritually practice the art of waiting. There are many scriptures that suggest that we “wait on the Lord”. There are blessings attached to these scriptures. Good things come to those who wait. Did you know that this common adage is based on scripture? Here are a few examples:
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 on Him!”
“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 on Him!”
Psalm 40:1
“I waited patiently for the Lord;
He turned to me and heard my cry…”
“I waited patiently for the Lord;
He turned to me and heard my cry…”
Lamentations 3:22-24
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
Isaiah 40:31
“…those who wait on the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.”
“…those who wait on the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.”
About waiting....
About a month before my husband and I closed our business I found myself in the mode of waiting. You would think that with a shop to close one would be in the mind-set that there is a ton to do...and there was. There were employees to tell, customers to tell, sensitive matters to attend to, financial and otherwise. Once the chiming on the front doors stopped on that final day you would assume that it was all said and done….but truthfully, my heart knew that God was not done….and that all the scriptures and guidance He had provided as we moved out in faith to open the store had great purpose and that there was more on the horizon. I knew there was more to it than just this!!!
During this time we were called to walk through painful financial decisions and down difficult roads to navigate. We stepped into the unknown and uncertain. Graciously, the one thing I did know was that God was there with us. I was certain of this! As I’ve discussed on previous pages, God is with us….even when we don’t feel it. Sometimes emotions are absent…and at times worldly circumstances will seem to contradict God’s word….and THAT is when we must wait in faithful expectation as God works things out.
About a month before my husband and I closed our business I found myself in the mode of waiting. You would think that with a shop to close one would be in the mind-set that there is a ton to do...and there was. There were employees to tell, customers to tell, sensitive matters to attend to, financial and otherwise. Once the chiming on the front doors stopped on that final day you would assume that it was all said and done….but truthfully, my heart knew that God was not done….and that all the scriptures and guidance He had provided as we moved out in faith to open the store had great purpose and that there was more on the horizon. I knew there was more to it than just this!!!
During this time we were called to walk through painful financial decisions and down difficult roads to navigate. We stepped into the unknown and uncertain. Graciously, the one thing I did know was that God was there with us. I was certain of this! As I’ve discussed on previous pages, God is with us….even when we don’t feel it. Sometimes emotions are absent…and at times worldly circumstances will seem to contradict God’s word….and THAT is when we must wait in faithful expectation as God works things out.
One particular day my emotions were indeed absent. About three years worth of business investing, goal setting, house selling, family moving, community leaving, church and friend good-byeing, economy collapsing, miracle loan attaining, store-front building, Grand-Opening effort…had come to a close. I needed to get out into the sunshine so I drove to a pond near my house to sit for a while and do my Bible Study. As I parked my car I noticed that there were large weeds growing everywhere that looked like sunflowers. It was a beautiful sight. I wondered why something so pretty would be deemed a weed. The sun was rising and a wind was blowing slightly creating shimmers of light that reflected off the water. These shimmers looked like brilliants stars. It was mesmerizing and I watched for awhile…my heart full of earthly concerns. I thought “God is giving me a shimmer of hope”. I looked down to read my Bible Study and looked back up and they were gone! I was disappointed because I needed that encouraging shimmer that day. But I realized that this was exactly what my Bible Study was teaching. The date was July 21st.
For a full understanding of that lesson that day read the devotional on July 21st in
Streams in the Desert By: Cowman
A sentence from this devotional says this:
“…for it is faith that believes God and His word when circumstances, emotions, appearances, people, and human reason all seem to urge something to the contrary”.
Streams in the Desert By: Cowman
A sentence from this devotional says this:
“…for it is faith that believes God and His word when circumstances, emotions, appearances, people, and human reason all seem to urge something to the contrary”.
That sentence is phenomenal! It literally covers ALL human reason. The key words are “for it is faith that believes God…”. If you'll notice, within Christianity, faith seems to be the point on which everything turns. On this particular day I am sitting in my car with despair so prevelant my emotions have gone quiet. I’m looking for any form of solace and so I’m seeking refuge at the local pond. Though it is a sunny day, dark valleys are in front of me that I must walk through. Dangerous places I’ve never been, I’m now being forced to go. This is the metaphor but the truth of it is this: I’ve always been confident that God led us to this business venture. Even before our business opened and then closed I knew that God was taking me on a spiritual journey and I was willing to go! Faith cleared the way!
I’ve shared with many friends and my family that this was not about the business venture …but a spiritual journey. God planned to lead me to a deeper faith, a deeper understanding and a deeper trust in Him…and He did! My best laid plans did not come to pass… but God’s did. The end result was not as I expected….but it’s exactly what God meant. He was not interested in my business succeeding per se….He was interested in my soul prospering. He wanted me to seek Him out, draw close to Him, get to know Him, depend on Him, cry to Him, wait on Him…and ultimately learn to totally trust Him….and I do!
I’ve shared with many friends and my family that this was not about the business venture …but a spiritual journey. God planned to lead me to a deeper faith, a deeper understanding and a deeper trust in Him…and He did! My best laid plans did not come to pass… but God’s did. The end result was not as I expected….but it’s exactly what God meant. He was not interested in my business succeeding per se….He was interested in my soul prospering. He wanted me to seek Him out, draw close to Him, get to know Him, depend on Him, cry to Him, wait on Him…and ultimately learn to totally trust Him….and I do!
We all must choose to trust God when earthly circumstances say contrary, when our emotions are dormant due to disappointment… and even when the shimmer of light is gone. God is good and His compassion is new everyday! Nature and creation shouts that God is quite bold...but God can also be found in a small shimmer of hope! Faith provides that shimmer! God is in the slight wind that moves the waters of circumstance. On this particular morning he blessed me with weeds that looked like sunflowers …and momentary shimmers of light that danced with hope on the dawn of a new day.
As of now....the elements are still against us due to our business closing… but early on, just as I started down the path of this spiritual journey, God said to me:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
for I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel,
your Savior…!”
Isaiah 43: 1-3
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
for I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel,
your Savior…!”
Isaiah 43: 1-3
Because of His love we have not been consumed! We trust in the Most High God. "Great is His faithfulness." We are waiting in Faithful expectation for the Lord, our God to fulfill the words which He gave us and fulfill the meaning for which they were sent.
Amen and Amen.
Song Recommendation
Praise You In This Storm
By: Casting Crowns
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