Waiting Isn’t Lazy

“Waiting for God is not laziness. Waiting for God is not going to sleep. Waiting for God is not the abandonment of effort. Waiting for God means, first, activity under command; second, readiness for any new command that may come; third, the ability to do nothing until the command is given.”

G. Campbell Morgan (1863-1945), British evangelist, preacher, teacher and author

This is a message I need to hear. I come from a family that valued hard work above all. Right now, I’m in an in-between state. My husband retired from the ministry, and so I gave up many duties that I had assumed, over the years. We’re still attending that church at times, but not regularly enough to take responsibility for on-going projects. We’ve been visiting and attending other churches where my husband fills in. I don’t feel like I have a stable church home right now. And I feel lazy. What is the next big thing God wants me to do? I don’t see it yet.

That’s why I’ve been reading and studying about waiting this month. I’ve learned that resting is a discipline, too (not one I’m particularly good at, as you can see). I’ve learned that peace comes from embracing the blessings of the present moment; and it means trusting that “at the very right time” God may have another task for me to complete, and when that time comes, He’ll also make sure I don’t miss it.

It’s been a fruitful month for me, learning about waiting. What about you?

For previous posts about waiting see:

Waiting…

Weak and Waiting

Waiting For God

Disturbing Words

“For the word of the Lord is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow;  it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”  Hebrews 4:12

Sometimes studying the Bible can be unsettling.  We read or hear things that we don’t understand;  things that don’t seem fair, even things we don’t like or agree with.  The verse above tells us that this is to be expected.  Studying the Bible sometimes reveals just how sinful we are, how far from understanding God and living according to His will.  When that happens it is up to us, not God, to change.  This is the process of sanctification and for our own good, we should welcome it and participate in it.  Will we ever be perfect?  No.  Will we ever completely know God?  No.  But we need to study the Bible seriously so that we can grow toward being the new creation God wants us to be.

Here’s a quote I like about this:

“You know no disturbing voice?  God never points out to you a pathway altogether different from the one you had planned?  Then you, my brother, you are still in the land of slavery, in the land of darkness.

G. Campbell Morgan

Has God’s word ever called you to do something you hadn’t planned?  Tell us about it.