Do you ever feel like you’re playing the waiting game?
Often we find ourselves waiting in line at the grocery store, the post office, and this time of year at the ice cream shop.
We wait for what seems like forever at red lights, or for the man in brown to deliver that package we’re expecting.
Sometimes our wait is for things much more serious such as watching the hands of the clock move so slowly while a family member or friend undergoes a tricky surgery.
Are tired of playing the waiting game?
Yeah…me too.
I’ve been waiting for quite a while for God to move.
In fact last year, I wrote a post, where I talked about how I had pretty much lost my patience in waiting.
And here it is…a year later…and we still wait.
I came across this verse in the Bible that caught my attention…
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him!
Did you see it too?
Blessed are all who wait for him!
I don’t know about you….but that is a huge comfort to me.
Each day this week we had been expecting an email. Every evening my husband checked and it wasn’t there.
We know God has perfect timing.
We know that he has done and will do amazingly more than we can ask or imagine.
So we trust him and wait.
And we’re blessed.
Really?
That’s what Isaiah 30:18 says.
After all our waiting…tomorrow marks five years of waiting…we know that there is a blessing in waiting on God.
Forcing things and making our own way may give us a sense of moving towards our goal. Waiting on God seems to go against logic. Waiting on God often goes against popular opinion. Yet, there is a blessing in waiting on God besides the final outcome.
Striving on our own does not give us peace.
But have you noticed that waiting on God, while truly difficult, produces peace?
Have you ever thought that your willingness to wait demonstrates your trust in God?
The same verse from The Message reads like this…
But God’s not finished. He’s waiting around to be gracious to you.
He’s gathering strength to show mercy to you.
God takes the time to do everything right—everything.
Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones.
God takes the time to do everything right—everything.
I have no words for this….I just know that reading this makes my heart glad. Very glad.
Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones.
While we wait we don’t feel very lucky to be waiting.
Though if we look back we can see that our wait increases our faith and trust.
If all my answers came quickly, I wouldn’t have developed this greater capacity to believe and trust God.
Hmmm….maybe that is the blessing.
Are you waiting for something to happen?
Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
Today is Joy Day!
There is no question…we move the heart of God when we continually give thanks.
And when we do….we receive the blessing of joy.
Join me in looking back over the past week and counting ‘seven’ –
both the good and the not-so-good.
I’ll start…
Thank you God for…
- helping me see the blessing in waiting.
- one dollar sundaes under the golden arches.
- placing an amazing amount of hope in our hearts.
- being worthy of our trust.
- the stupendous sunrise the other morning, too magnificent to capture in pixels.
- challenges in relationships that make us pray and try harder.
- long walks and wildlife watching.
Now it’s YOUR turn!!
Join me in counting ‘seven.’
Scroll down to the comment section…Share Your Extraordinary Thoughts….and list your ‘seven.’
I dare you!
Want even more joy? Take the Joy Dare here.
Thank you for stopping by today.
I appreciate you and your sweet comments make my day.
Joyfully!
Diane
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I’ve been waiting for some things for a while myself. It’s not been easy, but it really does produce patience in us.
Today, I am thinking God for:
1. My mother is continuing to get stronger.
2. Side work for hubby!
3. Celebrating my son’s 11th birthday (early) tomorrow at the park.
4. Summer is almost here and school is almost out.
5. For His relentless pursuit of my heart.
6. Dollar store finds.
7. A family day out!
Blessings!
Diane,
Thank you, Diane. You had no idea how much I needed to read these scriptures today! P
Hi Diane, as you well know I also have been “waiting”.July 28th will be 2 years..But feel the Lord is getting ready to move in a big way on my behalf!
Thank you God~
l. That things are starting to move in my case….
2.For giving me a message last week making me aware that I was focusing to much on my situation!!
3.For making me aware that I should Thank and praise you all through out the day and keep my focus on you and your word.
4.for Dear friends who “hold my hand in prayer”!
5. for friends who speak words of Faith over me instead of feeling sorry for me
6. for beautiful,breezy summer days, filled with birds and bees and all your glorious creations!
7. for a $50 gift card to Red Lobster on Friday that my Son and I enjoyed immensely!
Diane, you are a true example of a hero of faith! And, yes, you are blessed…while you bless so many others. I continue to lift y’all up in prayer. God is faithful, and He gives us peace!
Thank you, Father, for:
1. Friends like Diane who are the example of our own waiting…5 years down the road. That’s encouragement!
2. Your confirmation, once again, to keep my focus on You.
3. Your comfort, patience, and steadfastness as we ask so many questions.
4. Our secure home, our haven, You have provided.
5. Your strength as we serve you in spite of great pain.
6. The encouragement of others.
7. The encouragement of one another, husband and wife.
Amen
i don’t know how to list these in numerical order so I am just writing them. 1. my son returned home safely from his vacation.2 I relaxed today totally and I don;t do relax well at all.3. my own place safe and secure.4. calm and peace after emotional turmoil in my life.5 prayers from others and for others.6.Health and cancer free seven years.and number 7 praying to our God who does do all things in his time not in ours and the ability to fully accept this.These are my lists of seven pass it on
Diane,
Thank you so much for today’s post. You bless me each day with your writing.
Thank you, Father, for:
1. Giving us Diane.
2. The sunshine and 86 degree weather.
3. A week at a Christian Family Camp.
4. The perfect 1/2 size cooler at Target
5. The fact that everything on my shopping list was found at one store!
6. The sweet conversation with my oldest daughter and the opportunity to encourage her in mommyhood.
7. The incredible church service I was able to attend with my boyfriend.
Waiting . . . it is hard indeed. I looked back at your post from a year ago and it is so inspiring. Thank you for that and for all of the inspiration you spread throughout blogland Diane. Maybe my number 4. below will speak to you today just as it did to me.
Okay, so here are my seven:
1. Two new friends made in a city where I’ll soon be moving, all the way across the country! Coffee dates ahead!
2. The sale of our home to some of our closest friends.
3. Money saved on real estate fees. Time saved as we don’t have to stage our house and vacuum every day!
4. God’s word to me in Scripture today, “Do you doubt me? Do you question my power, that I can do what I’ve said? Just watch – you’ll see what will happen.” Num. 11:23
5. The special feeling of God’s presence beside me as I sat in church last night.
6. The amazing friends I have in this place I currently call home. It will be hard to leave them behind.
7. You Diane. An encourager, a teacher, a giver, a lover of God and his people. Pour out abundant blessings on her Lord.
1.thankful for Jesus
2. thankful that tho husband Allen’s riding lawnmower broke, someone bought it for $90 and Allen found a self propelled one for $60–no more riding mower after 28 years!
3. thankful for Craig’s list–see above!
4. thankful we get to work at church food pantry today and tonight
5. thankful for my health
6. thankful for all the blessing the Lord provides! way more than I deserve!
7. thankful for time with grand babies
I’m not the most patient of women. 🙂 I just prayed God would bring your waiting to an end.
1. Extra time with my daughter
2. Honeysuckle and peonies and a husband who fills my home with blossoms.
3. A safe 1200 mile trip
4. Grandchildren filling our row at worship
5. A husband who prays when pain won’t let me sleep–and the God who answers
6. Ribbon
7. Strawberries dipped in white chocolate
Diane – your blog post is so “on time”. Thank you.
1. Spending time with my parents and my 21 year old son who has left the nest
2. Offered overtime at work (just spent lots of money on new A/C for the home)
3. Worked overtime
4. Had lunch with a friend
5. Got through the day…
6. Worked in the yard
7. Enjoyed the day
Just a few minutes ago, I found your blog for the first time, through Met. Monday. I don’t know your history or what you are waiting on but want to share a personal experience with you.
I was a widow at the age of 48, with two children in high school. We had a large house with a large yard. All through their college years, I kept things going but as the kids graduated from college, I knew I did not want to spend the rest of my life trying to maintain the yard. A kind neighbor offered to help me sell the home. After more than a year and several failed deals, I had decided the sale probably wasn’t going to happen in the manner that I had hoped.
The following Sunday, I arrived at church about 15 minutes before the early service was to begin. I was seated in my usual pew. A retired Methodist minister often sat behind me . We always spoke to one another but he did not even know my name. On this particular Sunday, he tapped me on the shoulder as soon as he was seated.
I will never forget what happened next. He said, “I have a message for you. That which is delayed is not denied.” I felt chills as he said the words and thanked him. Two days later I received an offer on my house that was far better than I could ever have hoped for.
I sold the house on my terms and now live in a smaller house with a tiny yard – perfect for me.
So don’t give up. “That which is delayed is not denied.”
God’s blessings to you as you wait.
All the posts were awesome, but Ren’s made my heart sing. I have great hope.
And I adore the photos….they’re phenomenal and just too darn cute. I saw the trust with the baby and mom….perfect!!
My joys….
…I had the Bug for the weekend. Days chalked full of joy!!
….being able to help someone who needed help.
…the monarch butterfly that visited the garden, just for me.
…the cute little ‘Nana’ bracelet himself bought me.
…knowing I’ll survive going through this hail damage again. I’ll become a pro at it!!
…the fairy garden in a wash tub! Hahaha…gotta love plan “b”!!
…hugs, hugs, hugs and more hugs!!
I too am waiting and I can’t say I’m very good at it. But I know that if God just took care of things right away I wouldn’t have time to notice Him acting on my behalf!
Thank you for your words of wisdom…..waiting is so hard and one of those things that we all have difficulty with!!!
I.Time with my daughter.
2. Getting to spend time with Jordan, my granddaughter.
3. Getting lots done at work this week.
4. Flowers in my outside pots, look so pretty.
5. Some extra money came our way this week, a true blessing.
6. Finding a mirror at the antique fair that matches the other one that I already own for our masterbath.
7. House is becoming a home.