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God's Words For US
by Cecelia Lester
Waiting in General
People have to learn to wait. As children we had to learn to bide our time until our birthdays and Christmas. When we got into trouble, our mothers might have told us, “Wait until your father gets home!”
As children, we found it hard to wait we wanted what we wanted right then. But we had to do it. In retrospect, we were in training for the ‘grown up’ world.
Presently we find ourselves waiting for warm weather. As I make initial input on this article, it is the fourth week of April and we have temperatures in the 30 degree range. I want to set out some hanging baskets of flowers but I haven’t bought them because I want them to be pretty for as long as possible.
Waiting on God
Believers in Jesus also may have to bide our time and wait for Him to act. When we pray for something, He can answer one of three ways. He can say, “Yes.” He can reply, “No.” His third alternative is, “Wait awhile.”
When Jesus responds with His third option, His reasoning might be that we are not ready for what we ask. One year, our son was too young for everything he asked for for Christmas. He noticed it. He voiced it to his grandmother one day when she was taking care of him. She kindly told him he was too young for what he asked for. About nine months later, my husband brought home one of the toys our son had asked for.
When I was a child, I thought I wanted a pair of snow skis. I would ask for them for Christmas. My dad told me we didn’t get enough snow to use them. Unlike my son, I never got those skis. It was just as well, I didn’t realize I wasn’t coordinated to handle them. Also, I am sensitive to the cold.
Waiting in the Bible
Hannah prayed and waited to have a son. She went through a lot of ‘stuff’ at the hands of Peninnah. But Hannah’s faith allowed her to stay strong. God answered her prayer. She had a plan—she would give that son back to God.
God heard her prayers and her desire to give up that son to Him. He rewarded Hannah with 3 more sons and 2 daughters. (1 Samuel 2:21)
Abraham and Sarah were older, by our standards. God kept telling Abraham that he would become the father of many nations. (Genesis 17:4-5) Sarah got impatient and came up with a plan. She discussed her plan with Abraham. He agreed to it. She gave him her handmaid, Hagar. The way the plan worked out caused jealousy between Sarah and Hagar. Hagar left them twice; the first time God made her return to them. The second time, He blessed Hagar and Ishmael, her son. Down through the ages, our world has seen the consequences of Sarah’s unwillingness to wait on the Lord.
The resurrected LORD instructed His disciples to return to Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit to come upon them.
Dear Lord God:
Please teach us to wait on You for the answers to our requests. We understand You are in control. Guide us as we abide in You as you work things out for our good. We will give You the glory. In the Name of Jesus, we pray. AMEN
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Cecelia Lester has been serious about her writing for over two decades..
She composes Christian essays and posts them to her blog quietspirit-followingmyking.blogspot.com/
She has served in a faith-based organization, Grace In Action by writing two newsletters and searching for possible grants.
In July 2017, she published her first book, 'Times of Trouble Bring Rays of Joy.'
She and her husband of 54 years live in central Indiana. They have one grown son.
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