Waiting Coming to an End

Waiting Coming to an End

Genesis 8: Then God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the animals that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters subsided. ² The fountains of the deep and the windows of heaven were also stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained. ³ And the waters receded continually from the earth. At the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters decreased. ⁴ Then the ark rested in the seventh month, the seventeenth day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat. ⁵ And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month. In the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were seen.

 

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Noah and his family were probably terrified on the first day of the rain. It had never rained before and the first time it did, floodwaters came and rose the ark up high. Waves crashed and the ark was thrown around. “Where is GOD?” they probably wondered. Sleep was minimal for a while, but they may have gotten used to the waves and the rain.

 

But one day the rain stopped. “Is it over?” they may have rejoiced. They did not know another one hundred and fifty days would pass before the waters receded enough for the ark to rest. They thought they were forgotten.

 

My Observations:

• GOD did not forget Noah and his family, but Noah thought GOD had forgotten him.
• Noah was very used to walking with the LORD, so any number of days away from HIS conversations felt like being abandoned.
• Activity that Noah could see, felt like GOD had returned, BUT GOD never left.

 

All knowing and all seeing are qualities of GOD that says HE cannot forget or lose track of us. But sometimes it seems like GOD has forgotten HIS plan or promises for us. The waves of life toss us around, just like the ark. Meanwhile, the ark was kept whole. Humans, animals and insects were kept safe. Life was sustained. Noah finally saw some activity that he wanted to see. GOD made it rain and HE made it stop raining. HE saved mankind as promised.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about the timing of events?
• Have you ever received a promise from GOD that seems to be taking longer than you thought?
• Can you remain faithful to GOD even though HIS plan for you is still in progress?

Eager Longing

 

Eager Longing

Romans 8: ¹⁸ I consider that what we suffer at this present time cannot be compared at all with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ All of creation waits with eager longing for God to reveal his children. ²⁰ For creation was condemned to lose its purpose, not of its own will, but because God willed it to be so. Yet there was the hope ²¹ that creation itself would one day be set free from its slavery to decay and would share the glorious freedom of the children of God.

 

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“Did the mail come?’ I asked. I checked the mailbox but it was empty. I had heard from a friend that he was accepted into the one college I applied to. “Yes, but there was no mail for you” was the disappointing reply. I had to keep waiting and hoping.

 

• Many times I waited on something I really wanted.
• Many times I hoped for the future.
• Many times I eagerly longed for the thing, I thought, would provide me with purpose.

 

Paul explains that glory from GOD is far better than the suffering humans face on earth. He then talks about all of creation waiting for GOD to reveal HIS children. The stars that shine so brightly above, wait on GOD to reveal who really love HIM. Even the planets are tired of decay and long for GOD to set them free. Human creations wait with this same longing.

 

• GOD wants me to understand that HE is worth waiting for.
• GOD wants me to know HE has a purpose for me.
• GOD wants me to believe HE has set me free.

 

“How long?” is the question to GOD. This question is a longing to be with HIM for eternity, yet accepting the current state of suffering through life. I mean, GOD still has a purpose for me even though I wait eagerly on JESUS to return.

 

GOD gave me hope by placing the HOLY SPIRIT inside me and inside those who believe in JESUS as Savior. HE will one day reveal, to all of creation, who chose HIM and HE chose. I eagerly wait and hope for GOD’s deliverance.

 

• Did GOD promise you something and you are waiting for HIM to deliver it?
• Does it seem like it is taking forever for GOD to fulfill HIS purpose in you?
• Will you gain peace today, knowing GOD loves you and has chosen you to be HIS child and will one day reveal you to all of creation?

Heart Timing

Luke 1: ⁵ There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. ⁶ And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. ⁷ But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.

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“LORD can I please have ___” was a prayer I prayed numerous times. The first time I prayed it, I opened my eyes and was immediately disappointed with GOD because whatever I asked for did not magically appear. I tried something different. I tried being good for a while so maybe GOD would put the answer to my prayer in my stocking. HE was silent for years.

• Sometimes I got mad at GOD for HIS slowness.
• Sometimes I prayed in desperation to GOD only to be met with silence.
• Sometimes I asked GOD over and over and nothing came to fruition.

Zacharias and Elizabeth walked with the LORD and GOD was pleased with them, but they had no child because Elizabeth was barren and they were both well advanced in years. It sounded like they wanted children, but, alas they relegated their expectations to serving GOD without getting the desires of their heart.

• GOD wants me to place the desires of my heart in front of HIM without timing expectations.
• GOD wants me to ask for anything and expect to receive it, but not in my frantic timing.
• GOD wants me to depend on HIM for all my answers but do it with patience and endurance.

Temporary goodness is easily seen by GOD. HE can tell when I am trying to get something from HIM and when I manipulate the situation by straightening up for a second then immediately go back to my old ways once I get what I want. GOD wants me to truly follow HIM without pouting over HIS timing. HE deserves praise daily.

• Are you tired of waiting so you have started complaining about GOD?
• Has GOD taken care of you and you have not recognized HIS care?
• Can you continue to walk blameless before the LORD by telling people about the grace HE has given you today?

Anticipation

Mark 15: ⁴² Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, ⁴³ Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. ⁴⁴ Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. ⁴⁵ So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. ⁴⁶ Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. ⁴⁷ And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where He was laid.

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“Is the mail here?” I asked again. I was waiting to get a prize of a free kite from sending in some huge number of box tops from the cereal I had been eating. One day there was a box with my name on it. I had not received much mail in my life, let alone to have a “box” addressed to me from a company!  I hurried to open my prize and to my delight there was my first kite.

• There were times when I waited on something special to me.
• There were times when I sat and watched for something special to happen.
• There were times when I was filled with anticipation of something good to come.

Waiting on the kingdom of GOD was probably something Joseph of Arimathea had done since childhood. When he saw the miracles of JESUS, he immediately knew he had seen GOD in the flesh. As short lived as it was, he saw what he had been waiting for and wanted to serve this dead GOD one last time, or so he thought.

• JESUS loves when I wait on HIM with faith.
• JESUS loves when I seek HIS return on a daily basis.
• JESUS loves when I spend a little time with HIM each day waiting on HIS direction.

JESUS has promised HE would return someday. In the meantime, HE wants me to serve HIS kingdom on a daily basis. Yes, I want stuff and sometimes I get stuff and sometimes I lose stuff, but the kingdom of GOD is so much more. GOD gives me peace that stuff cannot.

HE walks with me, guiding my creativity so I can honor HIM for what HE has bestowed on me. I wait on HIM daily.

• What are you waiting on?
• Does the thing you are waiting on cause you grief?
• Can you set your anticipation on GOD instead of putting such high credence in the thing you are waiting on today?