Day Twenty Four of a Thankful Heart: The Blessing of Waiting When our boys were little we would declare “Adventure Day” at our house. Unbeknownst to them, I would pack clothes for overnight or a picnic lunch-or had ordered tickets-prepared things for a day at the lake or someplace special. I remember the first Adventure Day we took the boys on. A friend of ours invited us to GE Days at Kings Island. We were to meet her at the front gate at the park at a specified time. While the boys were sleeping the night before, I packed lunch, sunscreen, and other necessities and they were hidden away from the boys in the trunk of the car. We woke the boys earlier than usual. Since it was summer, they were used to sleeping later and weren’t too pleased to have their sleep interrupted and breakfast waiting for them at the table. We explained that dad and mom had an adventure planned and that we were declaring it ADVENTURE DAY. Once we got in the car the questions began…where are we going?...how long will it take to get there?…will there be kids our own age?…dad, are you sure you know the way? We answered their questions as best we could without giving details and we assured them that we knew the destination was beyond their imagination and that they would have a good time. After about 45 minutes into the drive, their questions and concerns took a different tone. They were getting impatient with the drive and with not knowing what to look for and where they were going. So, Michael began to change his strategy and it wasn’t long before he and Phillip started saying things like, “I bet the place we’re going to is a dump.” “You’re probably taking us to another church meeting.” “Yeah, it will be something that big people want to do…it won’t be for kids.” So the boys were totally becoming discouraged and impatient. We encouraged them to settle down, enjoy the view and if we heard any more complaints, it would be just as easy for dad to turn the car around and go home and there would be no adventure day. The closer we got to the park, Mike began to show a little more enthusiasm because he saw signs advertising King’s Island. And then that started another line of questioning…is that where we’re going…if it is how much farther…I’ve heard it’s a neat place and they have all kinds of rides and shows for kids…Old dad and mom tried not to give it away, but there sure was whooping and hollering going on in the back seat when the clicker went on the directional signal for the Kings Island exit. We had a wonderful day with friends and with the boys and Tom and I felt that Adventure Day was a success. Well, the next time we had an adventure day and woke them early there were not the complaints or the questions from them. They remembered how much fun it was to be surprised and the great day they had at Kings Island, and now they were more willing to be agreeable and more patient all the while wondering what this new adventure would bring. So, they learned that there were blessings in waiting…that the anticipation of arriving to the destination was all part of the adventure. Adventure days are one of our fondest family memories. Recently I read this from a devotional: “ Most of us don’t like waiting for anything! We live in a society that wants everything now. We don’t like to wait in lines; wait for a long-expected letter; wait for a promised check or a visit from someone special. We don’t like waiting on slow people, or waiting at the doctor’s office or in line at the grocery store. These aren’t real problems, waiting for the things we have to wait for is merely an inconvenience or just another thing to add to our hurried schedules. But all of life is composed of waiting periods. The child must wait until he is finally old enough to ride a bicycle…the young man anxiously waits until he is finally old enough to get a license to drive…the college student waits for that hard-earned degree…we wait for a promotion…we wait until the right person comes along to marry…the young couple waits out the nine months until their child is born…and on and on. So waiting is a fact of life. There are also times in the Christian’s life when we must wait for some hard things. For prayers to be answered, for lost loved ones to be saved. We are not exempt from losing employment and have to wait until another job opens for us; we have to wait for medical diagnosis or wait for hurts to be healed from broken hearts. We are blessed when we are patient with others in the short run of things, but God wants to bless us even more when we have to wait in faith for the harder things of life.” There are several blessings to be derived from waiting when we see the actions of God toward us for waiting. I would encourage you to read Psalm 40:1-3. 1. vs. 1 I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. We get God’s attention-he turns to us and hears our cries-even when we don’t think he does or is close during our “waiting times.” So a blessing during waiting is the nearness of God. 2. vs. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit; out of the mud and mire. He encourages us through His word, through a song or through the actions and words of others. So, a blessing during waiting is God’s encouragement. 3. also vs. 2 He sets my feet upon a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. During the waiting times we have a sure foundation to stand on-there is security. There is the knowledge that our times are in God’s hands and that our patient waiting will produce fruitful results. He will keep us in a firm, solid place. A blessing of waiting is on the sure foundation and in security of God. 4. vs. 3 He put a new song in my mouth-a hymn of praise to our God. Notice that this will be a new song…a song never sung before. It will be a hymn of praise about “this” period of waiting in your life. And this will be a song of praise that will be heard by others…A blessing of waiting is another story, another chapter of grace in your life where God has brought you through and you praise Him for it. 5. vs. 3 Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in Him. Our testimony to others of how God kept and blessed us during these waiting times encourages others to put their trust in God. A blessing of God in waiting is a testimony that you can share with others to encourage them. We will be like Michael and Phillip and not complain the next time because we have to wait because we know that waiting produces wonderful results and experiences beyond our wildest expectations. Our waiting…our patience…our hope in God’s timing in all things will reap a blessing in our lives and by our testimony of God’s grace in our waiting times, He will receive the glory. And don’t forget- the anticipation of arriving to the destination was all part of the adventure. Hey,Jesus, where are we going? How long will it take to get there? Are you sure You know the way?
Posted on: Mon, 25 Nov 2013 03:08:19 +0000
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