On March 18th, I flew with Etihad and my squad from New Delhi to Abu Dhabi, to JFK (ridin’ into the danger zone).
I felt God telling me to Not Hurry (like my next step) which brought me to thinking about a popular book by John Mark Comer “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry “
Me, not being the biggest reader, I decided to listen to many of his podcasts on this topic, as well as delve into many other Spiritual Disciplines. Check it out on Spotify.
Upon arriving, I was so blessed by my family, to get to stay in the perfect place, a small cottage on the lake, where I could practice self-discipline and solitude. After my blissful 2week Self Quarantine, I was provided with a Work Exchange Program in Buffalo, amidst community. Though Buffalo Vinyard Church, I am working on an amazing farm called 5 Loaves Farm.
On April 16th, I had a good thought about WAITING.
I wrote a journal entry that was sparked from a quote by my old professor:
“It is poverty to be so restless that you cannot peacefully wait”
Let that sink in.
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength;…….
So why is it that so many people who are Christ – Followers are not being strengthened in Him?
It could be because, instead of waiting on Him, we are waiting on all these other things that are not Him.
We are waiting for Uncertainty to be over. We are waiting for a future moment that hasn’t arrived.
We are waiting for our anxiety, boredom, and current circumstance to be over. ….
WHAT we are waiting on and focusing on is not the Lord. And even HOW we are waiting is often not joyful or even fun.
When I was a server and bartender for 10 years, I waited on people. That required focus on them, and their needs. Listening, Obeying. Sometimes that meant a level of befriendment through conversation, and it always required acts of service.
waiting is active.
It takes a degree of activity and focus to choose to be still, to rest in Him, while many people want things from us, while my brain is trying to move on to plan my next move.
III.
The God of the universe, who is so deep, decided to delight in me. He brought me out to a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. Psalm 18:19
The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. Zephaniah 3:17
there is so so so much more, but those are the first two i thought of personal to me.
So what could it look like, if in my waiting, I truly delighted in Him?!!!
My God, waiting is but a delight.
He is the source of life. He is life. So of course, as I commune with Life, my strength will be renewed.
Being with God is the ultimate refreshment. It’s not boring or mundane or condemning, or stressful or restless. its literally life.
I’m not saying its wrong to want things in life. but dont wait on those things as if your LIFE depended on it. He is your life.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27
I admit, I am not perfectly content in Him yet, in every moment and circumstance, but I have experienced His word as truth, as I draw near to Him, He gets closer to me too.
Waiting on Him in the pandemic and even in our broken world can be a delight, trust Him.
