While We Wait Hero Image
While We Wait Hero Image
Oct 28, 2010 / 4 min

While We Wait

The Porch

By Chris L

Remember the days of the “first available” seating option in a restaurant that allowed smoking? These were the days when cancer stricken clouds of smoke were magically halted from coming over the half-wall at your favorite restaurant, protecting you from the plume of doom? Well, it’s a great example of our utter impatience. Even at the expense of our impending demise, we are impatient! We have microwaves that can cook turkeys now!! We have cars that can go 0-60 in less than 4 seconds. We want what we want RIGHT NOW! The detriment of this impatience comes when we do not learn from our very own past mistakes, or even the mistakes of others that derived from our hearts natural (fleshly) desire to take control!

“A wise man learns from his mistakes, a wiser man learns from someone else’s mistakes” – Unknown

Knowing that God is in control of the details of our lives is a comforting realization that everything will be alright. Therefore, patience should be a byproduct of such knowledge. Sometimes we want to move ahead of God’s provision in our life when we are called to wait. What does waiting mean? Do we sit under the tree on the bench at the park and wait? Or are we called to obedience in our waiting? We should be überly encouraged by the work that can be in progress while we wait! Abundant life is available through Jesus Christ, our ALL sufficient King, who has our best interest at His center. Although we fail, epically at times, to position him at our center, He will never leave us nor forsake us!

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and BE CONTENT with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.' So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?'" ~Hebrews 13:5-6 (NIV)

Learning how to love, give, and serve obediently while waiting for that next promotion, that next job, that special someone, or that answer from God on your life’s next steps is precious! The blessings from this waiting are some of your prized moments in your life that you will NOT want to live without once you obtain the resilience to face the waiting while focusing, not on the object of your waiting, but on God and your neighbor!

"Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' ALL the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." ~Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV)

Whenever I am not working on a Saturday morning, I spend time with “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40) in South Dallas with Solomon’s Porch. This is small example of actively waiting. Rick Warren reminds us in the first few words of “The Purpose Driven Life” --- It’s NOT about you! South Dallas has men and women that have forgotten about the God they once loved. They sometimes meet God for the first time through a salvation experience, or maybe receive a reminder through encouraging words of love from those that are able to volunteer their time. After all, I think LOVE is spelled T-I-M-E. Where do you spend your time?

Personally, I cannot articulate in words the abundant life that comes from following Christ in obedience. Sometimes it is tears of joy, or it can be a peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7). JP hears Watermark missionaries account for “never feeling so alive” when returning from pursuing the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). It’s a blessing guys and gals to Love, Give, and Serve WHILE WAITING! I can promise you that I have not had an ounce of regret when I have chosen to follow Christ instead of myself. God is constantly blessing His children, and I know God desires to bless you beyond your imagination! He knows you, He made you, and He has your best interests at heart. Trust me when I say you should TRUST HIM WHILE WAITING!