Let us not grow weary

Having others know about journey is mostly a blessing ~ the words of encouragement and the prayers are so precious to me.  But there are times when I have to guard myself against what I think others may be thinking:  Isn't anything happening?  What if they end up disappointed if it never happens?  Surely God didn't actually tell her this.

That temptation to listen to the imagined thoughts is stronger in what feels like a dry season.  There have been times on this journey when the confirmations are flying all around us, when each day brings proof anew.  And then there are the seasons of drought . . .  seasons of doubt, if we're not careful.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. - Galatians 6:9


This morning I was reminded again that God's work takes time.  It takes time to raise a child.  It takes time to invest in people.  It takes time to live out His call in our daily lives.  


New directions don't happen in an instant.  It takes time for the fields of our hearts to be prepared for planting.  Once the seed is sown, it takes time for it to germinate underground before the tiny sprouts break through the soil's surface.  Even then, the plant doesn't yield its fruit immediately.  It takes time for it to grow and ripen. 


Sometimes it is hard to remember this, especially in our quick fix society.  A passage that I read the other day highlighted this.

That has always been the dark side of the American dream, the search for an easy way out, a belief in magic. The endless parade of promises that constitutes the heart of American advertising, one of largest national enterprises, testifies to the deep well of superstition in our national foundation, which has been institutionalized in the advertising business.  Easy money, easy health, easy beauty, easy education - if only the right incantation can be found. - John Taylor Gatto

If we're not careful, we can slip into similar expectations from God, looking for just the right combination of words or deeds to spur His action.   Forgotten God (Francis Chan) carries the reminder that we shouldn't pursue the miracles more than God, nor to expect God to give us particular experiences again and again, because they aren't an end in themselves.   In his sovereignty, God does miracles and gives us experiences when it fits His purposes and timing.  Chan reminds us to pursue God for who He is, not what He might do for us.   We should be modeling our lives after Jesus and desiring the fruit of the Spirit.  We should be listening for God's instructions through His Word and His Spirit, and obeying.

And all of that takes time.

Lord, may I not be so focused on the end result that I miss the journey.  Help me to find You and Your presence and work in each and every day, even (and especially!) the ones that feel utterly ordinary.  At the same time, prepare me for that end result that will really just be a new beginning.

God's timing

Every so often you read something that just stands out like a neon sign, sometimes in the most unusual of places.  And if that something happens to be written by a child, sometimes a simple misspelling can add a whole new twist to a familiar message.

They were working on  a mosaic that would share a message about God or Jesus.  She had pieced the squares together into a rainbow and written a message above it.

God never brakes his promises.

I've read so many times that God doesn't break his promises . ..  but this caught my eye.  God never brakes his promises.   Just last night (at our Higher Hope support group for those who have lost children) we talked about how we sometimes were sure that something was going to happen at a certain time ~ and then it didn't.  Did we misunderstand?  Hear Him wrong?  Not hear Him at all?

But this . .  . God knows.  He knows the perfect timing for His plans.  And what seems like a delay to us isn't a bump in the road to Him.   He knew it was coming, and steered around it, no brakes necessary, to arrive at the destination in His perfect timing.  So maybe next time I'm tempted to slam on the brakes and yank the wheel out of His hands, I'll remember to let Him drive.  Because He's got it all under control, even on a road that is filled with hazards and detours in my eyes.  He will get us there ~ not a moment too soon, not a moment too late, but right on His time.

Lord, I thank you for messages sent through children.  And for Your timing ~ even when I don't understand it.

PS:  Thank you, friend, for snapping that picture for me!  ;)

Sing to the Lord a new song

Ever get those dark spells, when it feels like life is pressing down?  When even your daily Bible reading is just there and God isn't speaking to you through it?  And you pray and pray and feel like David crying out for God because even though you know He's there, you can't feel His presence?  These past couple weeks had sure been a lot like that around here.  A spiritual drought of sorts, it felt, if I can mix metaphors here.

And then you start to see a cloud on the horizon.  Chance of rain?

Momentum starts building again, little by little.  A verse here, a quote there, a comment from a friend along the way, and things start to look up.  Heh, that's actually pretty accurate.  In the darkness, in the drought, it's hard to look UP, because you're so focused on what's happening  or not happening around you.

But then that moment comes where the rain starts to fall.  If you've ever lived in the desert, that first rainfall after the months of dry is unlike any other.  You just want to go outside and be washed by it, to let it soak you and dance around in it.

The past hours have been like that.  It began with 2 Chronicles 20 last night right before bed (again ~ this chapter has been coming up for me over and over in the past month or so).  King Jehoshaphat is facing vast armies that are surrounded from all directions, and goes to the Lord in prayer, praising Him in advance for deliverance.

15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. ¹⁶ Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. ¹⁷ You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.’”
 ¹⁸ Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD. ¹⁹ Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
 ²⁰ Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” ²¹ After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his^[c] holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:
   “Give thanks to the LORD,
   for his love endures forever.”
 ²² As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 

The night brought a dream that involved prayer and singing (note: I'm NOT a singer. at least not in public or on tune :)  ). and then this morning's scheduled Bible reading continued the theme:

So I'm soaking this morning in new songs, singing praises to the Lord, and ascribing to the Lord his mighty deeds.  And wondering how it is all going to end up playing out, while knowing that the One who will make it happen not only knows the ending, but all the steps from here to there.