For those of you who have been waiting with me, the wait is over. A dear friend, praying for me without being prompted, received a message that has God’s fingerprints all over it. The mandate was simple: let bygones be bygones, and look forward. This is particularly hard for me to do, and that is exactly how I know God expects me to do it. Not sure if you have noticed, but His commands are not always easy. Eat the scroll (Ezekiel 3:1-3). Sleep on your left side for 390 days (Ezekiel 4:4-6). Wait twenty five years for the promised son (Genesis 15:5, 21:5).
So, what am I going to do with this? I will try not to dwell on the past. Sometimes inaction is action. God was working on things and smoothing them over while I was waiting. I am not yet sure how to keep negative thoughts of the past at bay, but I will consider that a future problem and move on for now. The air feels crisper than usual today. The birds are chirping louder, and the day is shining brighter than it has in a while.
“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
-Lamentations 3:25
To the soul who seeks Him.”
This reminds me of the time my favorite pencil box broke when I was in first grade. It was pretty, the kind where the box slid out smoothly. But the hinge gave out one not so fine day, and I was devastated. I might have stayed sad for a very long time. I had to pry the bottom part open with my tiny little fingers just to get my pencils and eraser out. A few weeks later, I got a random gift from my parents, simply because it was “because we love you day,” as they liked to call it. It was a brand new pencil box, and it was way prettier than the one I had. It even looked like one of those grown up versions.
God showers us with “because I love you” days. His generosity is unconditional and bountiful. He has mended so many metaphorical pencil boxes in my life that I have lost count. Waiting does not seem nearly as hard on this side of it.
If you are waiting for a replacement pencil box, trust me, it is on its way. And if not that exact pencil box, then a better version, or maybe an entirely different kind of box altogether, is coming instead. You may not know what it will look like, but you are guaranteed a response from our good Lord.
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
-Philippians 4:19
I pray that you have the patience to wait and that your heart’s desires are fulfilled. God bless you.
Dear God,
Life gets tough sometimes, but You always come through. Your loving kindness toward an undeserving sinner like me makes living on this side of Heaven easier. I pray that You can help me show my gratitude through everything I do. In Jesus’ name. Amen.