Waiting and hoping

"Wait on the LORD; be of good courage. And He shall strengthen your heart. Wait, I say, on the LORD."  Psalm 27:14   NKJV 

Waiting must be one of the hardest things to do, whether you are a believer or unbeliever. It can seem an eternity to wait for somethings. For the Christian, this is where, many people lose their faith and give up. It can be like climbing up a mountain pass wondering if you will ever make it. Inside, you want to call it a day and give up. However, deep down inside you, there is something that keeps you going, because just around the next corner, you may have achieved your goal.

This is where we have to rely on our faith. James Hudson Taylor, the great missionary to China said of Matthew 6:33 :If we can only wait right up to the time, God cannot lie, God cannot forget. He is pledged to supply all our needs.' Hudson Taylor, was a great man of faith. When he went on a mission, he would take with him the small amounts of cash that had been gifted to him and, from thereon he would trust God entirely for all he needed - clothes, food, somewhere to stay etc. He sometimes had to wait a long time for God to give him what he needed but, he never gave up and even though God made him wait to the last moment, he always received from the Lord what he had asked. Was he ever tempted to doubt God's Word? Of course he was, after all, he was human just as we are. The difference was, he knew God would supply; he was convinced and nothing would persuade him differently.

We should never consider giving up when we are sure God has promised us something. The thing is, knowing that you are in God's will. If not, you may wait a long time. We need to always acknowledge God for directions for our life (Prov 3:5-6). He is the one who knows best and it can be foolhardy to just grab a verse out of the bible and claim it as yours. God's Word is true but is it for you? This is a little anecdote you can write in your bible - no expense charged. Yes all of God's Word contains the truth but, we need to be wise. Many have just taken a verse from the bible, sold up everything and gone out on a mission only to find they were wrong and it failed. So check these things out with God first of all. If He doesn't give you an answer, do nothing until He does.

If you know that you are in God's will, then you still need to be wise, taking each step little by little until you have the fuller picture. You may have to wait for this, you may not, it may be quickly delivered. 

What about you? Do you feel God stoking the fire within your belly? If so, take it easy and ask God for confirmation of this. He will show you. Don't ask too many people for their opinion, or you may get overwhelmed by all of the confused comments. Seek someone you trust and ask God to speak through them, to you. Believe me, you will know when it's God because the stoking of the fire will become hotter.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

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