Waiting Challenged

I am 'waiting challenged', and this culture (and my physical limitations) only magnify this internal disability.

Having physical limitations, causes me many opportunities to wait: for someone to help, til I feel well enough to give it a go, recovering from giving it a go... My mind can whirl with thoughts, ideas, plans; but my body will interupt those, and cause much spectulation about the reality of being able to accomplish those myself, or even with help. Guess it helps weed out a lot of the creeping-charlie in my mind.

Our culture runs on high gear...instant this, instant that; with offers of even better-faster-instant! Yikes! How have so many people survived all these many years without having things, or hearing from others- in an instant? Wasn't that long ago when I would wait, with great anticipation of a postal letter- or maybe a phone call. I can remember us gathering around the phone, waiting for an overseas call from my brother, who was stationed in Germany with the Army... Then we would even have to wait during our conversation- just after we would say 'over' once we were finished with our comment. To some, this would be archaic...so less and less- they remember these as the 'new and improved' methods of communication; and speedy ones, I might add.

On top of all this (the list could go on and on), we experience spiritual waiting times. These come in a variety of ways as well. The older I get, the more I am discovering their value- and though I do not open the door to them and proclaim, "OH GOODY!", I do recognize it at the door sooner, and resign myself to its stay more quickly, and try to make it a more welcomed guest.

The Bible is full of 'waiting stories'. We have the benefit of 'hind sight' when we read them- skimming over the sentences which declare the number of YEARS of waiting there are, in many cases. Faith in the Unfailing One undergirded these saints, and the many saints since then.

Every stepping stone of waiting can be used again, to build upon the foundation of our Faith. Perhaps we are building a pathway, or bridge, for others to discover the Unfailing One,our Strong Tower...

With each new stone of waiting- we learn to step more assuredly, trusting to be held securely until the next stone is plainly in sight- marked with the Stone Mason's own hand; His Light illuming it.

Each step strengthens us for the next.

"I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me our of the pit of despair, our of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along." Psalm 40:1-2

When in those moments when I value speed over strengthening- I stumble. Fall flat out in some way; and usually it takes me even longer to regain my footing than if I had just .... waited.

If you are in a 'waiting time'- breathe it in, soak it up, observe. Thank the Unfailing One for this time- and ask Him to reveal His Mystery to you in the moments. There is so much He wants to show you, reveal to you.

It is worth waiting for.

"As for me, I look to the LORD for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me." Micah 7:7