Peace in the Wait

My mother and I have been enjoying a long awaited vacation.  We’ve travelled to the Lake District of England, thru the Cotswolds, and have seen several sites of historical interest. It’s all been relaxing with beautiful views along the way.  There was one challenge — the GPS — or perhaps more accurately — the challenge was with myself.

There were many times the GPS would say, “take the next left.”  The next left just didn’t seem right to me.  I couldn’t believe the woman’s voice on the GPS had it right.  I surmised that it was all taking too long. This robot woman’s voice had to be mistaken.   Surely we would have been there by now! In spite of my doubts, thankfully, I chose to follow the directions given.  I was not patient but I obeyed what I was told to do.  Finally, to my surprise every time, the voice would announce — you have reached your destination.  Well blow me down!  The GPS was again!  The problem was in my difficulty to believe while I was waiting.  So do we do this in our spiritual world?

Perhaps we find yourselves in a situation that needs comfort so we pray, but as soon as we say “amen,’ the thought comes, “well, I still feel worried.”  We mistakenly tell ourselves that the directions aren’t working.  We ponder with doubt the words of Jesus when He said, Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28 NLT).  When we pray, say amen, and discover the worry has not ceased, or the grief still weighs heavy, or we still don’t sense clear direction, a melancholy drapes over our senses, heavy and smothering. When this happens, and impatience seeks to draw us away from keeping to the direction of God’s Word, we must remember one important thing — waiting on God can be a beautiful, faith building venture; the venture is called, Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10 NLT).

Waiting on the GPS woman was a bit nerve wracking at times, but when at last I let myself rest in her guidance, I sensed a peace that the GPS woman would indeed get us to our intended destination. I encourage all of us today and in all the unknown days of tomorrow — Be still in His presence.  It is in the stillness that we rest before Him. When we are still, we are focused, the ears of our heart ready to hear. Ask and wait.  Seek and wait.  The Holy Spirit is the One waiting for us to prepare our hearts and minds to receive.

He will always be what we need; just peacefully wait.  Blessings will come at just the right moment in time.