After an intense few days of ministry, I curled up to relax and read before moving on to the next few events. The book I’ve been reading is called The Lazarus Life by Stephen W. Smith. I came across these words yesterday, “Waiting on Jesus is not a passive act. Waiting on Jesus is soul work.” Isn’t that the truth? Waiting for the presence of Jesus is a faith stretching, soul searching, often gut wrenching time when we “relinquish control, surrender our wills, give up our false hopes and realize that if anything is going to happen at all it will have to be God’s doing.” But seasons of waiting are crucial to our spiritual transformation. They provide us time to grow in God-awareness and self-awareness.
How does praising God during these seasons of waiting beneficial? As I have thought about that question, I realize that learning to exalt the Lord above my waiting times has been crucial to quieting my inner agitation and calming my anxieties. Ultimately, as I choose to praise HIm while I wait, the Holy Spirit strengthens my soul to trust and rest in God’s timing. This is a mystery to me because by nature I am impatient. I need reminders that God’s primary goal in my life is not my comfort or even happiness. God’s primary goal in my life is that I am transformed into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. If you remember correctly, Jesus was never in a hurry.
So how do we praise God in the season of waiting? Music helps me and using scripture helps me. Songs like Christy Nockels, “Waiting Here for You” has been very beneficial for me during those nail biting seasons of waiting. Verses like Psalm 37:34, “Wait for the lord and keep His way. He will exalt you to inherit the land” remind me that I can trust God’s timing. He often seems slow, but He is never late.
My question for you today is, how do you quiet your inner anxiety during seasons of waiting. I have a $10.00 I-Tunes gift card and The 30 Day Praise Challenge to give away. Leave a comment and I’ll toss your name in to win both of those. All you have to do is leave a comment………
5 Responses
Courtney
I have always had a hard time waiting but this year has been extremely difficult as we’ve had our lives turned upside down and I wanted stability. I wanted next steps, now! And I have lots of reasons why I NEED those next steps now. Waiting for God’s leading, while living on support has been crazy hard. Most of the time I didn’t succeed but some of the things that did help me were: 1. Staying off social media. I didn’t feel the eyes of everyone on me as much. 2. Being very vulnerable with those closest to me because it broke the feeling of shame that I wasn’t doing enough. 3. Reading the Word. It reminded me that I was not alone and that God was in fact real, even when He was very silent.
None of these made / make my struggle with waiting go away. I keep coming back to it. But they do ground me and squash lies that I end up believing.
Nikki Shipley
I have found praising God for His wisdom and guidance helps remind me, I am not in control and/or it is not my problem. I am a fixer and when it comes to my kids, I want to fix to much. Praising God helps remind me that God is the great healer and that He is in control. His timing is perfect.
Becky R
I listen to scripture put to music. I really struggle with anxiety and fear. I also struggle with quieting my mind to read and pray. I also go for a walk outside. It seems to be the only thing that calms me down. Thank you for your ministry. Listening to you on Midday Connection today.
Tamara Coleman
I was feeling very anxious today for no apparent reason and I heard the Holy Spirit tell me to spend some time in or worship, then start over. As I was preparing to go, I heard Becky on Midday Connection
Teaching on 30days of praise. I was so thankful that The Lord confirmed his word to me through this show.
Thank you Lord!!
Jennifer A.
I resist anxiety, stress, and worry at its onset by repeating Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I repeat this verse over and over until God strengthens and delivers me. Thank you.