To wait quietly.

It was only recently that I understood how much of my life has been spent waiting on God.  An inventory of those around me shows I am not alone in this.  And I suspect at some point--if not nearly every point--in your journey, you have similarly waited on God.

Nearly every person dear to me is waiting on God for something: for a door to open; for God to restore a broken loved one; for a relationship to mend; for physical or emotional health; for a spouse; for a baby; for a job; for a friend; for the return of a prodigal child; for a purpose; for a plan; for the turmoil to cease; for the darkness to flee; for the pain to subside.

Maybe you're like me.  Maybe you impatiently await whatever circumstances you've manufactured in your mind--often instead of waiting for God.  But if the Lord is truly good and so much of our life is spent waiting, surely the waiting can be good.  This can only be so in light of the Lord.

It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

When we wait for the Lord (and not a specific circumstance), it is in that quiet and in that waiting that we become enveloped in the Lord.  Suddenly, it becomes less about the waiting and more about God's overwhelming presence in the waiting.  It becomes less about the door we want to open and more about the hallway before the door; less about the turmoil and more about the peace despite the turmoil; less about the darkness and more about the joy amidst that darkness.

In this chapter of waiting, lean into this: Our Lord is good. What our Lord has for you is good. But far better than whatever circumstantial good you anticipate and perceive is God's presence and grace in the waiting.

"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will for him.'  The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."  Lamentations 3:21-26 (NIV).

"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him."  Psalm 34:8 (NIV).

"I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning."  Psalm 130:5-6 (NIV).

This beauty is the perfect balance between bitter + sweet: one medium mocha with a hint of lavender coming atcha.  She won't let you down.

 

Much love to you,

Paige