Hold On!

July 7, 2009

~Denise Grant

 

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:20

 

Something to Think About:

 

~Have you ever felt forgotten by God –like He wasn’t really working in your life?

~What situation are you praying about today?

~Why do you think we sometimes have to wait for God to accomplish something in our lives?

 

     God promised to make Abraham the father of a great nation, with descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky – “He took him outside and said, ‘Look up at the heavens and count the stars – if indeed you can count them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’” Genesis 15:5  Despite Abraham’s great faith, can you blame him for questioning when this was going to happen when he was still fatherless at age seventy-five? – “So Abram left, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran.” Genesis 12:4

 

     Samuel anointed David as king of Israel in response to Saul’s spirit of disobedience – “The Lord said to Samuel, ‘How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, I have chosen one of his sons to be king.’” 1 Samuel 16:1 The problem was that David was hunted like a fugitive for the next seven years – “But an evil spirit from the Lord came upon Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. While David was playing the harp, Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear, but David eluded him as Saul drove the spear into the wall. That night David made good his escape.” 1 Samuel 19:9 No wonder he cried to God, “Why have you forgotten me?” “Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?” Psalm 42:9.

 

     Moses led the Hebrew slaves from captivity into the Promised Land – over the course of forty years – “The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan.” Exodus 16:35. Jesus spent the first thirty years of His life as a child, son, student, brother, and carpenter before the right moment came along for Him to begin His ministry – “Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry.” Luke 3:23.

 

     Why doesn’t God bring about His plans in our lives right this minute – yesterday, even?  Could it be that one of the ways God makes us like Jesus is through allowing us to express our faith in Him through waiting?

 

     Solomon points out that “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a lifelong fulfilled is a tree of life” Proverbs 13:12 And Paul’s testimony that “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18, is a powerful reminder that God may not be early – but He’s always on time with what we need and when we need it.

 

     Is your soul weary with worry? Are you frustrated waiting to know what God wants to do in your life? Growing a bit impatient while waiting on an answer from the Lord? Well, hold on! God is on the way right now.

 

God will…

 

Protect you – “Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will trample down their high places.” Deuteronomy 33:29

 

Guide you – “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” Isaiah 30:21

 

Use your trials for your good – “But rejoice that you participate in the suffering of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:13

 

      Maybe you can recall an older adult who has walked with God a long time?  Ask them to share a few stories about when they had to wait patiently for God to act or move on a special need in his or her life.

 

Dear Lord,

 

     Great is Your faithfulness. Thank You for being true to Your Word that You will never leave or forsake me. Just knowing that I belong to You is all I need to make it through another day of waiting. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Denise Grant - Just "clay" in the Master Potter's hands.

The man who walks with God always gets to his destination.

If you have a  pulse you have a purpose.