Be Still and Wait

As for God, his way is perfect:
The Lord’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him (2 Samuel 22:31).

Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:

²²Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
²³They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
²⁴I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him” (Lamantations 3:21-24).

When I begin to write my posts on Friday mornings, I read passages in the Bible, but I also look at the calendar. When you’ve lived as long as I have, there’s a lot of history to review and the month of April has many memories.

One stands out particularly, though. Sometimes, we make decisions that change our lives forever. Like when we choose to follow Jesus Christ. I did that many years ago as a little four year old girl. I hadn’t lived very long, yet I knew I needed God to help me with my sinful nature. I wanted to go to heaven when I died. I wanted Jesus to help me be a better person. Although I was very young, I can trace that decision as the most prominent one I’ve made. Others are right up there, a decision to enter a certain study in school, saying yes to a marriage proposal.

Today, I look at my calendar and realize that there was a time when God intervened in my life in a way I didn’t expect, yet as I look back, I’m so grateful God did what he did.

You see, I was engaged to the wrong person. I was engaged for the wrong reason. I had been grieving and I thought being married would take the pain away. But all through the few months of this relationship, I felt uneasy. I kept praying (he did, too) for God’s will.

One morning, however, I prayed differently. Here’s approximately what I said, “Lord, if this marriage is not in your will, you will have to end it, because I cannot.” It really was uttered by the Holy Spirit, because after I prayed it, I wondered if I really said that to God. I went about my day.

That evening, I received the answer to my morning prayer. A phone call that ended the engagement.

Although I was embarrassed, felt rejected, I remembered my prayer and rested in the answer.

I decided to go away. I had a lovely home where I was all alone, but I wanted to be away from everything and everyone.

While away, I read my Bible and prayed. I asked God to help me adjust to my life without a husband (I’d been widowed twice). This verse stood out to me:

Their strength is to sit still (Isaiah 30:7b KJV).

I needed to remain still and wait for God to heal my wounded, sad heart and I realized it wouldn’t be a relationship or marriage that would heal it, but God himself. I read in an old devotional Streams in the Desert, how sometimes we need to sit still and wait. I read, Be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10).

I don’t know where you are or what your circumstances might be, but I can tell you that sometimes we don’t need to do anything but wait. Wait for that still voice. Sit still. Remind yourself of the verses above where he will:

♥ Shield all who take refuge in him

♥ Be compassionate every morning

♥ Be faithful

♥ We sometimes must wait for him

I don’t know what your circumstances are today, but God does. Go to him with your need or problem. Ask him to guide you. Sometimes he answers right away, like the prayer I uttered twelve years ago now. Other times, it takes years for the answer. I can tell you that is also true.

“Lord, Jesus, God of the universe who loved us so much you died and rose again for us, I ask you to be near to those who take refuge in you. Be their strength to sit still and know you are God. In your name, Jesus, Amen.”