waiting – BibleJournal.net

The Pain behind the Wait

“Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.””
‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬-‭4‬, ‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Today’s reading passages comes from Ezekiel and the 11th Chapter of John, one of the common links between these two passages is: waiting. Ezekiel shows us that there is a watchman that is waiting. The watchman is waiting for news or a change in the current predicament. The watchman has been given a charge of telling when something is going to happen.

In John, I realize that there is a lot of waiting that is happening. From the previous times of reading this passage, I see the waiting of Mary and Martha, where they are waiting for Jesus to come to be with him doing their brother’s, Lazarus, death. While re-reading this I can see the waiting of Christ. When you breeze through the passage, you assume Jesus takes his time to get to Bethany, but he is purposefully waiting.

But when you really look at it from a new perspective, we can see how much the pain of knowing what’s going to happen affects Christ. Christ understood that he needed to wait for Lazarus to pass away and noted that God‘s glory could be shown in and through Christ. But Jesus was human and he felt all of our emotions. He knew that his friend was dying. He knew he had to wait. He knew that he had to allow that things to happen that he could have prevented. Let that sink in us. How much pain and strength do you have to go through and to know that what’s on the far end is going to be for God‘s goodness and glory.

As the watchman is waiting in anticipation of something that he doesn’t understand, but knows something is going to happen. The watchman has a duty to stay there in anticipation of what’s coming. The watchman has a duty of giving the news good or bad. The watchmen is in it for his mission.

“After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” ……Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” ….Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” … Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” … Jesus wept.”
‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭11‬, ‭14‬-‭15‬, ‭21‬-‭23‬, ‭25‬-‭26‬, ‭35‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Christ knows what is going to happen. Christ has a bird’s eye view of what’s going to happen. But he is faithful to the fullness of God‘s glory. We acknowledge and see how painful it was for Christ when he comes to see his friend. One of the most powerful verses in the Bible, which is the shortest is here and John 11… Jesus wept. This is not just a weeping. This is a mournful cry, a deep agonizing cry, a visceral wail, and a mournful response. Jesus experienced the pain of waiting, and it was evident here.

This brings Jesus’ experiences as human into a different light for me. It shows me that Jesus experienced before the cross, very hard situations in which he had to allow things to happen in order for God‘s grace and mercy, and God’s glory to be revealed. It’s not stating that he didn’t have for remorse or pain, but to the contrary, he experience all of this, in light of being all powerful. Christ, love for us, extend so much that he would, and did take all the pain all the suffering, and he experienced it for us. When we are waiting for things to come, Jesus is there with us. Jesus has experienced the same pain of waiting that we have. And through his experience, he can comfort us. And in our experience when we get to the other side of the waiting we can comfort others as well. Let us be a blessing to others.

Be Blessed

Embracing God’s Ways: Habakkuk

Through his back and forth dialogue with the Lord, the prophet Habakkuk gives us so many lessons in just three chapters. As he tries to understand God’s ways, he learns to embrace them, which is the very definition of his name.

Here’s a breakdown of the three chapters:

I love that Habakkuk has boldness to ask the Lord what’s on his heart. He doesn’t shy away from the tough questions of why, when, how, (and then more ‘why’ questions). He’s asking similar questions I find myself pondering today:

Why do you allow evil, God? Why do awful things happen to Christ-followers? The helpless? The unborn?

Why are you allowing the wicked to prosper? When will they be judged? This world is a hot mess – hurry!

As you read through this dialogue, do you notice how Habakkuk verbalizes to God his character in verse twelve? It seems as though he is reminding himself who God is, right as he is asking God his second round of ‘why’ questions.

He knows that God is holy, everlasting, eternal, a mighty rock, an establisher, and faithful. He even says We will not die. He knows that God will not let them die, and will continue to fulfill his promise to his people (Abrahamic covenant).

As Habakkuk continues with his questions – WHY use THEM? I have to admit I’ve had similar thoughts. And then I also can’t help but wonder WHY God uses ME. Or any of us. While the world wants to live in the comparison game, we know that only God’s judgement is righteous and fair. He isn’t looking at me compared to anyone else. On judgement day I will be standing solo. The Chaldeans may have made the people of Judah look less awful… but God saw wickedness across the board. And He uses it all as He sees fit. And judges it when and how He sees fit.

I can see where God has used sin committed against me, to sanctify me. Draw me closer to him. Cry out to him. And the sins I have committed against others, He also uses. It’s pretty humbling to think of how He can use even my biggest messes.

In the final chapter, we see Habakkuk embracing God’s plan. He praises God for who he is and what he has done and what we will do. Do you see the three Selah pauses in this chapter? I always think of those as a dramatic call to silence and meditation in that moment of the passage.

And then at the end of verse 16 we see him waiting. Waiting on the Lord’s timing. Waiting on the Lord’s plan. Quietly waiting, all the while he is trembling. What a beautiful picture of faith – it doesn’t mean that we are without worry or fear, but that with the trembling, we obey. We quietly wait for the Lord. Not only does he quietly wait – verse 18 shows us that he also rejoices! So he has gone from questioning, to embracing, to rejoicing!

Can you apply Habakkuk’s approach to any questions or problems you’re facing today?

I get lost in the confusion of our political climate and ask a lot of why, when and how questions about world issues. I’m going to try to process those in light of Habakkuk’s example. What do I know about God and how can I more fully trust in his eternal and perfect plan?

I have challenging relationships that need this wisdom, and the reminder to not get stuck in the comparison trap. God uses each of us in different ways, that are far beyond my understanding.

Can I rejoice and find true joy in the Lord, even when I _______ his plan?

- - - am worried about
    - don’t like
    - am confused by
    - am trembling about
    - don’t want to wait for

God, thanks for giving us this amazing true account of your relationship with your prophet, Habakkuk! It teaches us so much about who you are and to have faith in you. You are Holy, Eternal, Almighty, and Faithful!

With Wings Like Eagles

This weekend, over a hundred people are gathering from Central Illinois to run a charity half marathon to benefit families living in poverty in Central America. It’s been a really neat journey, from the spring when everyone signed up, learning about the communities we would be supporting… to then training through the warm and humid summer months, and now getting ready to toe the start line. We will run the 13.1 mile victory lap of all the miles already run. The work is done. They hay is in the barn. The runners have done the hard training, and race day is the icing on the cake.

When I visualize running a successful race, it always comes with this image of leaping, and bounding, and flying – literally flying like an eagle. Isaiah 40:31 says we will mount up with wings like eagles, run and not grow weary!

When I thought about today’s journal entry post of Isaiah – of course I was going to share the parallels of this run supporting Central Americans and our strength from God. As I was packing and prepping for the race weekend, there were several things that came to mind and I was looking forward to putting pen to paper.

Right in the middle of all of this – I received some really awful news. One of our runners has a serious health condition that came on and definitely can’t join us. Our entire team is amazing… but this runner is also SO INSPIRING. She is new to distance running, and this would be her first half. The runs didn’t always come easy to her. And yet she continued to focus on the bigger mission, fundraised to help others, and week after week, she logged her workouts, coming back for more even when she wasn’t loving it. When it got hard, she showed up. She has encouraged and led others this summer, and I had no doubts she would cross that finish line – and I couldn’t wait to witness it.

I wish I knew why this isn’t her weekend, why this has happened. And why now? I wanted her to wrap up her summer with a big bow – that finish line ribbon! Having made this hard decision myself two years ago for a race I had to pull out of, I know she’s feeling sad, hurt, and discouraged. And it’s kinda lonely when everyone you’ve been planning and prepping with is moving forward and you’re not.

When I go back to our scripture – it’s that first part of this passage that I struggle with… you know, the WAITING.

For they that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength.They will mount up with wings like eagles, run and not grow weary, walk and not faint.

Have you had situations where you had the wisdom to make the hard decision to wait? Or, if you’re like me, sometimes you don’t wait, you keep pushing forward, and God has a way of forcing the waiting!! I can think of a few of those… and God knew that more time was needed.

Do you believe in the strengthening power of the Lord, that comes in the timing of waiting? Yielding? Listening? Being still?

Or do you view the waiting as a waste of time… unnecessary, or uncomfortable even?

Will you join me in praying for my friend that wisely made the hard decision to wait, that she will feel God’s comfort and strength in the process.

So why do you think God call us to wait? What has happened during your seasons of waiting?

From big things to little things, from waiting on medical test results, to a relationship to start, or for the promotion we’ve been working toward… there is a LOT of waiting.

On the other side of these waiting periods in my life, I can look back and see how waiting has grown my patience and perseverance. Waiting has taught me how to rely more on the Lord. Waiting has transformed me. Think of Moses – from the start of his journey with the Israelites, through the end. All the waiting, yes, but also all the growth he experienced!

If you have a moment today, reflect with me on the waiting seasons you’ve experiences and write down what happened. How you handled it, what you learned, how your perspective changed. The next time you are in a season of waiting, dust off these notes and get encouraged by your own personal testimony of waiting.

Here are additional scriptures on waiting on the Lord:

I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He puta new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Psalm 40:1

The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. Lamentations 3:25

For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. Isaiah 30:18

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning. Psalm 130:5

If you’d like to learn more about the prophet Isaiah, check out chapter 6, which outlines his calling from God as a messenger to the people – and his quick and willing response! Isaiah 53 is the chapter of the prophesy of Jesus, including his rejection and suffering, for our salvation.

What Could Be Better?

A few years ago, my daughter Gracie received a gift card for her birthday, and she knew EXACTLY what she planned to purchase. She had her sights set on a deluxe Lego set that would bring the Frozen castle to life. When we got to the toy store, they were completely sold out. And the sets they did have were half the size of the one she wanted, but not half the cost. I laid out her options: order the set she wanted online and wait 3-5 business days OR get one of the smaller sets that she could take home and play with that same day.

She really didn’t take much time deciding – she chose to wait. She wanted the bigger and better set and was willing to wait it out.

This choice, while small in the grand scheme of things, was huge in her world. This was one of those milestone moments that showed her maturity. And truth be told, I didn’t see it coming. I fully expected her to want the immediate, the now, the joy of a new toy in the moment. She really blew me away that day, and I can vividly remember my heart swelling – my five year old is practicing good decision making, good self-control. Good stewardship. She understood the pros and cons, and even with something small like Legos, she made a big decision.

As we approach John 16, Jesus didn’t give the disciples any choices. He laid out what’s coming for Him, and what that means for them. They don’t get it, and I don’t think they want to get it. Jesus proactively answers the questions they’re all thinking, but aren’t asking out loud – He is so good to us! If the disciples were given a choice, my guess is they would choose to have Jesus stay with them in the flesh. I am sure I would have too.

As Jesus continues with His farewell + next steps, He lets them know He will send someone EVEN BETTER for them! And if you’re anything like me, your eyebrows raise at verse 7 when Jesus outlines all of this – I mean, WHAT could be better than having Jesus with us, sitting next to us, right here, right now?!

My longing for Jesus to return leaves me with some questions:

Am I fully aware and tuned in to the Holy Spirit that is here, NOW, and LIVING inside of me?
Do I trust Jesus completely, and fully believe Him that it’s to my advantage that He goes for awhile, and the Holy Spirit is in His place?
How am I a witness to the Holy Spirit’s power in this world? Guiding, convicting the world of sin, and glorifying Jesus?
Is the fruit of the Spirit, that’s living in me, evident in my life?

Gracie was able to see that waiting for the deluxe Lego set that she wanted would be better.

Am I able to see that having the Holy Spirit live inside of me, is better right now than having Jesus walk beside me? And if so, am I relying on His power in my life – the same power that rose Jesus from the dead?

Wait on the Lord

1 Samuel 26 and Psalms 27

1 Samuel 26 reads like a repeat of 1 Samuel 24, that we explored two days ago with Jennifer Armstrong. The circumstances are two different events, although similar, with Saul once again pursuing David. David has another opportunity to kill him, yet he shows mercy for the second time. The picture Jennifer painted of choosing reconciliation over revenge, and trusting God’s authority, is applicable to this chapter as well.

I love how Psalms 27 so clearly describes David’s experiences outlined in 1 Samuel. He shows us that putting the Lord at the center of his life removes his fears (verse 1). Surrounded by enemy armies, he declares his confidence in God’s protection (verse 2-3). Even when David had the opportunity to take control, kill his enemy, he chooses to show mercy and allow God to work how He will. TWICE!

Like David, we can trust God to deal with our enemies. Do you have a Saul in your life that you need to commit to the Lord’s hands? He is the supreme authority, the righteous judge, and the ultimate miracle worker. As a mentor once told me, “Let that go… it’s above your pay grade. That’s work that the Lord will do”.

I’m so encouraged by David’s cries out to the Lord in this Psalm, seeking wisdom and leadership (verse 11) in the middle of his drama. He chooses to WAIT for the Lord, even when under duress.

In contrast, my instinct is to take action. The Lord continues to give me opportunities to be patient and wait on Him. I’m a problem-solver, coming up with a mental action plan for the 12 “what-if” scenarios I create in my mind for any given situation. Inaction can make me uneasy, even when I know that immediate action isn’t always the best solution. Waiting – whether it’s on direction from the Lord, or for my kids to get in the car – does not come easy.

I can think of a big season of waiting in my life, while handling hurts at the hands of others. God used this time to grow my trust in Him, He provided more wisdom, and delivered hope. He protected my heart from seeking revenge, and in time, turned it toward reconciliation. Had I taken immediate action, the outcome would be very different. While the waiting can be the hardest part, in hindsight, we can see the beautiful work God does. For me, more time brought more truth. And more time and truth brought more healing.

Lord, Thank you for being a righteous judge. Please give us an ear to hear your direction and a heart to follow. Help us to know the difference of when you are leading us to wait and when you are leading us to action. Amen

While We’re Waiting…

Today’s reading is 2 Peter 3 and Psalm 37.

I’m always amazed at how God speaks to through His Word to tell us what He wants to tell us right when we need it. As I write this, we are anxiously awaiting our third child with my wife at thirty-eight weeks pregnant. Generally speaking, she is the more patient of the two of us, but she just left for a walk because she is willing to do just about every wives’ tale (except drink castor oil) to get this baby to come out. My grandparents on my Mom’s side were some of the most laid back people I’ve ever known. I have heard my Dad say if they were sitting on the couch in their living room watching TV and the house went up in flames my Grandpa would likely calmly look over at my Grandma and say, “Well..Berniece…the house is on fire..we should probably leave now.” Due to this, my Mom is also a very patient person. Around 3 years ago, she began to have undiagnosed back issues and has been in a wheelchair most of the time since then, not knowing if she would ever walk again. Through this, I’ve not heard her complain once. In fact, instead she will tell you this has brought her closer to God, and she’s been in the Word more than ever. She is amazing and truly an inspiration to me. Just in the last few weeks she walked up to communion and drove for the first time. God is good!

As I mentioned earlier, it is amazing how God speaks to us through His Word. These last few weeks I’ve become frustrated and impatient with some aspects of my life with things not happening how and as quickly as I would like them. Then, God smacks me on the side of the head with His Word (metaphorically speaking) with 2 Peter 3 and Psalm 37 on waiting for and trusting in Him.

2 Peter 3:4 tells us that others will get us to question Him and His promises, and I would add the we also do so in our own minds. We are reminded in 2 Peter 3:8-9 His timeline is not our timeline. He is not slow, but instead will give us what we TRULY need when we TRULY need it.

He also gives us instruction on what to do while we wait in these chapters. Psalms 37:4-5 says, “Seek your happiness in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desire. Give yourself to the Lord: trust in Him, and He will help you.” THIS is what I’m called to do during this time of waiting. Keep the focus on Him, not my worldly desires, and trust in Him. More of today’s reading points to this in 2 Peter 3:14-15, 2 Peter 3:17-18, Psalms 37:7-9, and Psalms 37:34.

While God does not promise to give us the worldly things we ask for that we think are in our best interest, He does promise to always be there for us and give us what is truly best when it is truly best (Psalms 37:4-5, Psalms 37:9, Psalms 37:23-24, Psalms 37:34, Psalms 37:39-40, 2 Peter 3:9, and 2 Peter 3:13-15). He delivered on His promise of salvation and gave us the only thing we really need in Jesus’ perfect life, death, and resurrection freeing us from the bondage of sin. When He allows us to have what we have been asking for, be healed, or walk again like my Mom (the details of this are a whole other story on God’s amazing provision), let us give Him and no one else the credit as Peter instructs us to do (2 Peter 3:18)! Glory to God..glory to God forever!

Check out this lyric music video for “Trust In You” by Lauren Daigle. I hope it can bring you strength and encouragement as it does me.