Patience has never been a real strong suit of mine. Little did I know, the Race would be an 11 month long opportunity for growth in that area. Waiting is a common theme on the Race – wait to be picked up by your ministry contact, wait at a border crossing while customs digs through your pack, wait for the bathroom, wait to hear the schedule for the day, wait to hear changes to the schedule for the day, wait for the civil unrest in the country you’re in to dwindle down after elections, and so on.
But I’ve been learning on this journey that The Lord is teaching me not just about patience in the day-to-day workings of my life, but learning how to wait on Him as well. It’s not just about learning to be content and patient amidst unpredictable changes and cultural differences, but rather learning to surrender my heart, my dreams, my desires, my plans, into His perfect tempo.
“For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons and daughters, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” – Romans 8:19-25
Everything in all creation waits perfectly on the Father. Everything falls in perfect submission to its Maker’s Hand. Every year of an oak tree’s life has been observed, every beat of a hummingbird’s heart is counted, every bent branch and thunderstorm is intended. Everything abides. Until you get to me (and my fellow sinful men) who for some reason begin to question and resist, to distrust and reject. Our tendency to wait for superficiality, materialism, blessings and prosperity, for the latest technology, for the perfect spouse, for attention, favor, and status, takes the place of our souls waiting desperately for intimacy and deeper awareness and revelation of our great God that was placed by Him in our hearts.
This year is a time of waiting for me – not just waiting for buses and take-out orders, but waiting for The Lord to act through me, to direct and guide my heart, to deliver on His promises, to reveal deeper levels of Himself to me, and for Him to satisfy the desires He’s placed on my dreaming heart. This year is a time for Him to allow me opportunities to either wander or abide, and to glorify and delight Him by my choice to remain in His love. This year is a time for me to say, “Despite this dream and this expectation and this desire, Jesus, I will choose You every single time.” And I’ve already found that sometimes He delights in giving me both.
Lord, this year I will wait. I will set up camp in all that you are. I will rest in you. I will lay aside my self. I will worship you through abandonment. And I will learn to crave you more, not through WHAT you bless me with, but WHO you’re making me to be.
Today, trust Him. Trust Him deeply. Trust Him fully. Take a step away from yourself and towards Him. See what happens. Regardless of what you set down, you will NEVER regret pursuing deeper intimacy with Him. I love you friends!
