Sunday, March 09, 2008

Pain

Sometimes it hurts: physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually.

Pain from exercising.
Pain from losing a loved one.
Pain from wondering.
Pain from caring.
Pain from realizing that things don't always go as planned.

But, then comes that really crappy, unexplainable pain. And I wonder how long will it last? And I ask Jesus if/when he will heal me. And I wish there was an explanation for wanting to break down every time I blink.

But . . . I have no reason.

It just hurts.

Monday, March 03, 2008

Waiting

My phone's banner says "Wait on Jesus". Why do I need this constant reminder? I guess its because I am a gung-ho kind of person. When I want something, I go after it and I don't always wait for God's timing. Inevitably things don't work out so well.

So, I put a reminder on my phone, "Wait on Jesus," because I see that reminder at least 15 times a day (I've seen it 3 times already today). I know there are things happening in my life right now that could fall apart if I don't do just that . . . Wait on Jesus. There are opportunities, doors that are cracked open, and I want to push through them but I can't. I need to Wait on Jesus.

Knowing in my heart that I need to wait on him, I looked to my Bible for some encouragement. Here is what I found:

Psalm 27:14 "Wait for the Lord: be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

Psalm 130:5 "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope."

Isaiah 30:18 "For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait on him."

Acts 1:4 [Jesus commands] "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised."

1Thessalonians 1:10 "...and wait for his Son from heaven - Jesus who rescues us from the coming wrath."

Romans 8:19 "The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed."

You know what I've learned? It is good to wait! It is hard to wait. Psalm 130:5 says while we wait we need to put our hope in HIS word. Seek God out . . . maybe that's why he wants you and me to wait. Romans 8:19 says we wait eagerly. If I am constantly jumping into things, the excitement can't build. I don't give God time to prepare me for what lies ahead. You can't jump into a battle or a game without preparing for it! When we get pumped up and train, we are SO much more driven.

I guess waiting on Jesus is hard, but it is SO worth it. Where is God saying in your life, Wait on Jesus?