WAITING (Oldie but Goodie)

"We're not doubting that God will do the best for us, we're wondering how painful the best will turn out to be." --Clive Staples Lewis

WAITING.
I had a conversation with a friend the other day that really got me to thinking. As I've mentioned before, I would LOVE to be courted like back in the day...I mean really serious stuff. I want the type of thing that from beginning to end, we both would know it's just right because every step of the relationship would be ordained by God. But, one thing I realize is that in order to get to that, I have to WAIT. One thing I've learned about myself lately is that I'm a pretty impatient person. I loved to consider myself a patient person until I finally really stepped back and looked at this area (among others) of my life. What I discovered is that I'm not patient...AT ALL. I say I want that man, that relationship that God will be pleased with but I'm not willing to wait for it. If the opportunity presented itself today or tomorrow with certain people, I would so jump into it without even consulting God. Now that's backwards. James 1:2-4 (NLT) says, "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles (trials, testing) come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing." Since perfect is a touchy word in Christianity, I like the word used in the New International Version, mature. So...first thing, the testing. Clearly, I consider this time of waiting a time of testing. I mean, am I wrong to do so? I'm a 20 year old female in college. Living holy isn't the easiest or most popular thing. Sexual purity is old-fashioned. But then there are just those times when, like any human I'm sure, you just want someone to be there. My parents are there but you want someone to BE THERE. My friends are there but I want someone who can BE THERE (when I say hello to the world..lol j/k Jackson Five song). By now, you get what I'm saying. So...next it says that the testing should be considered an opportunity for great joy. Hmm...I can't speak for anyone else but I can remember times when my life decisions have caused me some serious temporary hurt. Nevertheless, I survived it. And before it's all said and done, there might be some other hurts because of my decision but the scripture clearly tells me that it's an opportunity for great joy. WHY? Because by going through the testing, it produces PATIENCE or ENDURANCE.

Now, it would be so much easier if I never had the urge to randomly go give myself away to someone or if I never wanted to deeply fall in love with someone I think the world of or if I never looked around me and felt pressured because it seems like everyone is in either love or lust (choose whichever you fall into). Life would be so simple. But MESSAGE: It's not. And because it's not, the Bible tells us that it is an opportunity to build our endurance. To flex our spiritual muscles. The tension caused between the temptation and my will to do God's will makes me stronger. The stronger I get in my faith, the more I am able to combat the temptations as they come one by one. Get it? But remember, it's always a choice I Corinthians 10:12-13 says "If you think you're standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than what you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure." Verse 4 starts out by saying "Let it grow." It doesn't sound like a question to me...it's more of a request, demand, or suggestion. Take it for what it's worth. Anyway, the point of the statement is that we're to let patience grow. This means not taking the easy way out. I know, I know....easier said than done but the promise is that when it's fully developed, you will be mature and complete, not lacking anything. WOW. That means that everything you need (wisdom, patience, etc.) will be taken care of once your patience or endurance has grown. What a picture.

So I know it get hard sometimes but it's so much better to just wait on God, friends. Once you come to the conclusion that it's never about you and life should be for Him and Him alone, it will be much easier to wait. The problem is that we live in a society that tells us it's okay to rush into things and we live in a world of instant gratification. But remember the friction you're feeling is a result of the patience and the endurance building up. It's like an athlete....you don't become a good athlete overnight. You workout and practice, practice, practice. Does it feel good at the time? No. But as a friend of mine used to say, "It's a good hurt." because in the end, you build endurance.

Meanwhile, our responsibility is this:"I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried person can spend his time doing the Lord's work and thinking how to please Him." --I Corinthians 7:32

It gets hard sometimes ya'll but I'm determined. "..neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing..." --II Samuel 24:24b. Be that difference!

For the love of God and the PEOPLE,
Ash B.