In the wilderness of waiting...Patience

This past week our character trait that we focused on was patience.

I loved this chapter as I have found my self here many times.

I would not say that I am an impatient person but I would say that God has used this in my life many times. For example: when we couldn't have kids for three years and he brought a child into our life through adoption,and when me moved to Portland, Oregon with 2 small children and I hated it and made every minute miserable until I decided that maybe God had a better plan. God taught me so much there and I learned to love it.

She talked a lot about the wilderness of waiting and used the examples of Moses and the children of Israel. Moses was 40 when he killed the Egyptian and went to live in the desert for 40 years, then God used him. The children of Israel wondered in the desert for 40 years.She suggest two things we can do when we are in these places Resist or Relax.

I agree that these are not pleasant places and sometimes we can fall in to despair trying to understand what God has in store.But these are the times that God meets you, refreshes you and grows you.Sometimes this is the only way God can get our attention. Then He has you, at center attention. We are so low that all we can do is look up and draw closer to Him.

She offers really great suggestions that I have found to work in my life.

When we find ourselves in this place:

1. Don't just do something:Stand there!

Wait and use this time to pray.Don't steamroll over the roadblock.Invite God to stand with you and don't make a move until He releases you.

2. Count the Cost

Think through and pray about all the possibilities. She used the example of Sarah when she was barren. God had promised she and Abraham a legacy, in her confusion of waiting she didn't count the cost and Did something. It turned out to be a lifetime of mistakes when she offered her husband her handmaid, Hagar.

3. Remember God is not a God of Confusion.

Don't do anything if you feel rushed,

if you and your husband don't agree,

you feel confused or you are getting conflicting advice.

God is the God of Peace, He will make it clear and you will have His approval

then you will will feel His perfect Peace.

I remember while we were waiting on children.

I was panicked.

I even thought of calling a Psychic Hot line to find out if I would ever have kids.

How stupid is that.

We did all we could do with medical procedures and then waited.

Until one day His answer came in the form of a phone call from a dear friend this lead us down a road that I was scared to death of. My first reaction was NO, I threw up, couldn't sleep and waited and then God's perfect peace filled me with His answer.

After that it all happened so quickly as He took care of every detail.

He had a plan.

I'm glad that Darci Joy was part of it. I can't imagine life without her.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him;do not fret.

Psalm 37:7