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PINIMAGEAbby graduates in one month. Where has the time gone?
The most common question she gets in recent months is, “So, what will you do after high school?”
The answer…”I don’t know.”
It’s not for lack of trying. She’s visited colleges. She’s even made steps toward one in particular by registering and selecting a major. Mark and I were thrilled and we began going about business as usual. But there was an unsettling for all three of us. Perhaps God was stirring in another direction?
I began to ponder…Where was faith involved in this choice?
In what ways would we have to be dependent on God in moving forward on this path?
It’s been my experience since I surrendered my life to the Lord long ago that all the things He has ever called me to have been God-sized and would require faith. When I say God-sized I don’t mean like “running for president”…although maybe I should. I mean they were always beyond my ability to accomplish in my own strength.
All our decisions went back on the table. We were back at square one.
Lord, we want to follow Your plan. But, God, we’re running out of time.
God, it would be easier if we just went with a solid college and a solid major and see where things end up. But we don’t want easy. We want Your will.
Isn’t it funny that we warn God of things like timelines as if He isn’t aware?
We’ve been praying for God to speak with clarity to Abby and to show her what the next step is as she lives out His story for her. We know with certainty there IS a particular path written in. We just need to know what it is.
I didn’t realize that waiting on God would also involve building our faith as parents. We knew waiting is often part of the equation when following God’s plan. What I guess we maybe weren’t expecting is for the waiting to become extremely uncomfortable for Abby. Were we willing to see this through? Yes!
As we’ve prayed together, God has actually done something very unique. When Abby set out to look at college she felt like she would like to pursue a business degree. She has a great business mind so this sounded like a great idea. But in this time of waiting and praying He has spoken two completely different words to her: worship and missions.
Two words.
That’s it.
No specifics.
What do we do with that? I’m not sure, but I’m moved by this development and wonder to myself what would’ve happened if we hadn’t stopped to pray and wait.
We keep praying. And sometimes it sounds like this…
“So, God, when Your ready, just go ahead and do it. Just go ahead (and if You want to tell us now that’d be great) and reveal Your plan.”
Crickets.
Instead of answers we’ve received an uncanny sense of God at work behind the scenes.
This morning, Mark and I got a text from Abby.
“I’m stressed out.”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“Today is Senior Day at school where seniors share their goals after high school. I don’t know what I’m doing with my life!”
Yes, it’s true. She doesn’t know yet what she’ll do but she knows Who she serves.
The reality is, God’s paths DO come with a guarantee but seldom does it include details.
What we are guaranteed is that:
He will never leave us or forsake us. (Deut. 31:6)
He will lead us in paths of life. (Ps. 16:11)
He has plans, not to harm us but to give us a hope and a future. (Jer. 29:11)
I could go on.
Want to know what I said to her?
“Abby, God is seldom early, but never late.”
Friend, God is seldom early, but never late.
Psalm 27:14 says, Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!
The word wait here means expect, hope, look.
Our waiting should include looking, expecting and hoping!
I know this is Abby’s heart and desire. If it wasn’t, we would have already sealed the deal on college. But she wants God to lead. So she must look for Him, expect from Him, hope in Him.
And we stand behind her, (actually on our knees in prayer).
We are waiting for God to swoop in. And He promises He will.
Lamentations 3:25 says, “The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.”
What are you waiting for?
- Are you waiting for the pressures to lift because any moment you might crumble under the load?
- Are you waiting for the grief to become even slightly bearable?
- Are you waiting for direction, for God to illuminate the dark path ahead of you?
- Are you waiting for the loneliness to subside?
- Are you waiting for healing?
- Are you waiting for God to break the chains?
Are you waiting for a big move of God?
Maybe you shout out in despair…”God how long?!” “Certainly HE must act soon on my behalf! Certainly He will not tarry!!”
I offer a word to you in your waiting…
Friend, He has not forgotten you. He sees you. He loves you. He is for you.
Andrew Murray once said:
“The giver is more than the gift; God is more than the blessing. And our being kept waiting on Him is the only way for our learning to find our life and joy in Himself. Oh, if God’s children only knew what a glorious God they have, and what a privilege it is to be linked in fellowship with Him, then they would rejoice in Him! Even when He keeps them waiting, they will learn to understand better than ever. ”Therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you.” His waiting will be the highest proof of His graciousness.”
What are you waiting for?
Tina Kimble - Thank you for posting this today. I find comfort in the fact that we are not alone in our waiting. I have learned through the years to embrace the waiting. There was a time when waiting on God wasn’t an option for me. I would trudge ahead in my own strength over and over again not getting anywhere.I remember saying “God I got this.” Really? What was I thinking? When I look back on that perticular event in my life, I remind my self that it took 13 years for me to finally give it to God (talk about stubborn) and when I finally sat down and wholeheartly prayed and prayed and cried out to GOD, “Help me Lord; I cant do this!” It was then and only then that I realized all the years I had wasted worrying, and not waiting on God’s timing. It was exhausing! Soon after I gave it ALL to him, and sat back and said “I trust you God,” he made a way for our son. OUR GOD IS SO SO GOOD and HE is never late!!!! Tina