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.Isaiah 30:18 (NIV)
I think I'm actually developing an appreciation for the period of time I've come to know as "actively waiting." You know the time I'm talking about. It's the time in between the time when something you value ends and something different takes its place.
It's the span between your husband telling you he's lost his job and announcing he's accepted a new position. It's the duration between receiving a difficult medical report and the health issue being resolved. It's the period between listing your house "For Sale" and signing closing papers that transfer ownership, and mortgage payments, to another person.
Actively waiting involves living energetically in the here and now while knowing full well the world as you know it is dramatically changing. It's an exercise in blending passion with patience.
To keep a household functioning and children thriving during these periods, I've learned a few fundamental do's and don'ts.
Don't complain or argue. It only makes a situation worse.
Do develop a thankful attitude. Your heart will be much healthier.
Don't panic or worry. It's a complete waste of precious emotional assets, which are already in short supply.
Do hurl your anxieties into God's lap. It makes for a lighter load to carry. Besides, He's bigger, stronger, and more capable of handling anything you cast His way.
Don't go it alone. Remain involved with friends and in church activities, groups, and organizations.
Do get up, get dressed, give thanks, and expect something to happen each day.
Don't get down on yourself when you feel tired or weary. Jesus is gentle and humble in heart; find rest in Him.
Confident expectation in God and His control of the situation is a must. When we actively wait upon the Lord, our strength is renewed. We lose our strength if we wait upon the "thing," e.g., an event, date, or person.
I've been fortunate. The longest span of time I've persisted through actively waiting began the day my children and I watched their daddy drive away to take a job hundreds of miles away in another state. It ended the day we joined him 10 months later. I have friends who've endured much longer periods.
Of this I am sure, my friend. The Lord longs to be gracious. He rises to show compassion. There truly is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Sometimes that time is an in-between time of actively waiting.
Blessings, dear friend.
Faithfully Following
It's the span between your husband telling you he's lost his job and announcing he's accepted a new position. It's the duration between receiving a difficult medical report and the health issue being resolved. It's the period between listing your house "For Sale" and signing closing papers that transfer ownership, and mortgage payments, to another person.
Actively waiting involves living energetically in the here and now while knowing full well the world as you know it is dramatically changing. It's an exercise in blending passion with patience.
To keep a household functioning and children thriving during these periods, I've learned a few fundamental do's and don'ts.
Don't complain or argue. It only makes a situation worse.
Do develop a thankful attitude. Your heart will be much healthier.
Don't panic or worry. It's a complete waste of precious emotional assets, which are already in short supply.
Do hurl your anxieties into God's lap. It makes for a lighter load to carry. Besides, He's bigger, stronger, and more capable of handling anything you cast His way.
Don't go it alone. Remain involved with friends and in church activities, groups, and organizations.
Do get up, get dressed, give thanks, and expect something to happen each day.
Don't get down on yourself when you feel tired or weary. Jesus is gentle and humble in heart; find rest in Him.
Confident expectation in God and His control of the situation is a must. When we actively wait upon the Lord, our strength is renewed. We lose our strength if we wait upon the "thing," e.g., an event, date, or person.
I've been fortunate. The longest span of time I've persisted through actively waiting began the day my children and I watched their daddy drive away to take a job hundreds of miles away in another state. It ended the day we joined him 10 months later. I have friends who've endured much longer periods.
Of this I am sure, my friend. The Lord longs to be gracious. He rises to show compassion. There truly is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Sometimes that time is an in-between time of actively waiting.
Blessings, dear friend.
Faithfully Following
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