Recently I wanted to embark on a journey I thought was a nudge from the Holy Spirit. It is sometimes hard to tell, because I am one of those people who keeps looking for assurance and reassurance that it is truly God’s prompting and not an ego stroke from this Satan soaked world boosting my pride. So, like Gideon, I have been asking for multiple confirmations. I prayed, went on a liquid only three day fast, prayed some more, and on the third day told God that I was ready to hear what He had to say.
I am sure He was speaking to me loud and clear, but all I heard was crickets, and I pictured myself as Vizzini in “The Princess Bride.” “I am waiting.” I chanced upon a Bible verse, Isaiah 40:31, that spoke about waiting.
“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
— Isaiah 40:31
Then I watched a short video by a brilliant writer, and she quoted Psalm 27:14. This is getting weird, I thought. And then my day ended with a new book I have been reading on why Christians should not be offended, by Brant Hansen. He has an entire chapter on waiting. At this point I am assuming that God wants me to wait. I can take a subtle hint.
“Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!”
— Psalm 27:14
Maybe I was hoping for a booming voice from above, but a Scripture, a video, and a book all converging on the same word should be more than enough assurance that the Holy Spirit wants me to wait. I published an article about praying and waiting once. I suppose now it is time to actually practice it.
I am sure of two things: my lack of patience, and God’s goodness. While I am walking around in circles like the unflattering Vizzini version of myself, God is working behind the scenes, moving things into place for me. He can move mountains for us. He can rearrange our lives and make them beautiful. All we have to do is stop meddling, wait, and enjoy His handiwork. After all, everything good comes from Him.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”
-James 1:17
If you are like me today, waiting, I hope it ends in something beautiful from above. God bless you.
Dear God,
Thank You for putting up with me. Thank You for teaching me patience and guiding me gently into Your ways. Please help me focus on You and not the outcome. May my thoughts, words, and deeds bring You glory. I pray in Your name, Jesus. Amen.