Waiting....

Waiting.....

Waiting is hard, isn't it? I have been waiting for a mountain of things....phew! Good things.....

But have I been waiting on the ONE thing I should wait on?

I have been studying through the book of John. I have been pondering the story of Lazarus' death. Jesus is ministering and gets word that Lazarus is sick. Jesus says, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the lory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it." Jesus loved them very much, but He did not go right away to Lazarus. He had His reasons. He waited two days. Jesus was reminded by His disciples that the place where Lazarus was, was the very placeHe was about to be stoned on a pervious visit....Do you sometimes avoid going to places you know you should go? Jesus goes anyway and finds that Lazarus has already been in the tomb for 4 days. Martha and Mary greet Him upset saying that if Jesus had been there, their brother would not have died. Are you sometimes upset at the Lord for the way things are going?

Jesus tells them that He is the resurrection and the life. He asks them to remove the stone from the tomb. They objected a bit. Do you ever object a bit? Question? Jesus then asked again, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" They removed the stone. Jesus prayed to Father with thanksgiving, saying, "Father, I thank You that YOu have heard Me. And I know that you always hear Me, BUT because of the people who are standing by I said this, that THEY may believe that YOU sent me." Jesus calls Lazarus out. With His voice. In one moment. It is finished. Lazurus lives again..... Do you need a breath of life from the Giver of life?

I wonder how it is that we respond to waiting? Do we get impatient and grow restless? Does it challenge our patience and our trust in the Lord? Do we question Him? Lord, if only? Have you ever asked the Lord why? Have you ever said to Him "If only....?" Have you played the blame game? I am guilty of all, ashamedly so, many times.

Mary and Martha said: "IF only You had been here...." I know for certain there is a purpose in waiting. It is for my good. It is for HIS glory. He LOVES ME! He asks me today in my waiting: " Did I not say that if you believed you would see the glory of God?"

If I stopped and thought about it, everything I have ever waited for in my life, was well worth the wait and the results were far better that I could ever imagine or think up. The end result was sweet. Instant gratification brings cheap rewards from the world. Waiting purifies my faith....It is really where the rubber meets the road in my journey of trusting the Lord in ALL things. I must believe that His timing is perfect. I must desire that HE RECEIVES as much glory as HE IS DUE....it's not about me waiting...

Romans 8:25 But is we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

Do you know for certain in your heart that HE has heard you, and that HE is waiting for the optimal time to reveal His glory for your good?

The Lord gave me an awesome picture in this....He showed me fruit on a tree. If the fruit is picked to soon, it is not ripe and not good for eating. If the fruit is left on the tree to long, it rots and is spoiled or the birds get it. Fruit ripens in its own time. There is a window in which it is best eaten. Can I trust the Lord to bring the fruit in my life, In His timing? In perfection? as I wait.....and keep waiting....I want Him to be glorified, because I can trust Him to work ALL things for my good.....Can I say YES to the question He asks: "Did I not say to you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God."

Written 2-4-10