Wednesday, June 25, 2008

in God's waiting room

I received this daily devotional from The Purpose Driven Life, and it really speaks to me. It's something I know in my head, but I'm still trying to grasp in my heart. I need reminders like this throughout my journey as Baron & I wait for a baby.

Risks in Faith: When God Delays
by Rick Warren

For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. Habakkuk 2:3 (NIV)

If you ever find yourself in God’s waiting room – waiting for an answer, a change, or a miracle – you just need to stop and trust God. He’s never late or in a hurry, because his timing is perfect.

When I started Saddleback Church, I had no idea that it would take 15 years and 10,000 weekly attenders for us to have our own land and our own building. At Saddleback’s very first church service I said, “Someday we’re going to buy at least 50 acres. But we’re not going to do it for the first five years because we’re going to put all our money into people and programs.”

Seven years after that first worship service it looked like we were well on our way to having our own building. Our people had sacrificed to raise money for land – canceling vacations, working second jobs, selling diamond rings, and giving from their pensions.

We finally found the right piece of land but we needed another $1.2 million to close the deal. In the last 60 days of 1987, the people in this church gave the needed funds and the land was ours.

Two years later, though, we still were working out zoning details with the county supervisors and they decided to delay us indefinitely.

My wife, Kay, was upset with me – and with God. She prayed: “God, you have been unfair to us. We have tried to do this exactly the way you told us with faith, honesty, and integrity. God, I don’t know what game you’re playing, but let me in on it because I don’t get it!”

God responded: “Kay, what is it to you if I allow every church on the face of the earth to have a building and land and Saddleback never does? Will you still follow me?”

She answered, “Yes, Lord, I will.”

That experience helped me really know the truth of John 13:7, when Jesus said: “You do not realize now what I'm doing but later you will understand” (NIV).

That same truth is communicated in 2 Corinthians 1:9: “This happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead” (NIV).

So often it looks like God is delaying or denying us, but his timing is perfect. Next time you feel like you’re in God’s waiting room, trust that God is working in his own perfect time on his own perfect plan – which is so much better than anything we can plan or dream.

© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved.

4 comments:

  1. Someone forwarded this same one to me. I'm finding comfort in Psalm 6 and 143. Read it in "The Message." Thanks for letting Baron stay out late tonight to play. :)

    jon

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  2. These are good thoughts. I have been giving much thought lately to how we pray. I heard it first in others, then realized that I do it also. We pray the "name it and claim it" prayers that basically TELL God what is best and that we want it done NOW. I am struggling to pray as a form of hearing more than telling.

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  3. This devotional has some great thoughts. It makes me think of one of my favorite verses that I have to quote to myself almost daily: Romans 8:28 "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

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  4. I've been there and only later did I know how good it was. Waiting is so hard while you are doing it. But, the reward is amazing!

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