Waiting for word
From this morning's lesson, we learned that God moves the hearts of men in accordance with His good and perfect will. It was time for the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple, so God laid His will upon the hearts of the king of Persia and the remnant of His people Israel.
Ezra 1:1 - Cyrus
Ezra 1:5 - Israelites
Even in matters of life, God lays His will upon our hearts. Some are called to be doctors or merchants or pastors. He has a plan for each person. My question is this:
What do I do when I do not hear the call of God or feel Him moving my heart in any particular direction?
At times like these (like now) it seems like God is silent. As if He is not at work in my life. But this is not true, as we learned in John 11:4. Though Jesus did not respond at that moment to the request, it was so that greater work could be done later. So, though God may not have given me His word of guidance, that doesn't mean He is ignoring me.
No, this is His special work.
His silence is speaking to me.
"And behold, the LORD was passing by! ...but the LORD was not in the wind...the LORD was not in the earthquake...the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing." 1 Kings 19:11-12
In the silence, faith is tested, tried, and forged anew. I think of Job. I think of Jeremiah. "It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD" Lamentations 3:26. I need to be sure, not wavering, that God has control over things in my life. Even when He is silent, I need to be sure that He is right there beside me and that there is a reason for it.
Waiting is not an act of non-activity.
Waiting is in fact very challenging.
In order to wait, I have to be strong of heart and focused, hoping with confidence.
"Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD" Psalm 27:14
"I wait for you, O LORD; you will answer, O Lord my God" Psalm 38:15
"In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."
Psalm 5:3
So I will wait.
Ezra 1:1 - Cyrus
Ezra 1:5 - Israelites
Even in matters of life, God lays His will upon our hearts. Some are called to be doctors or merchants or pastors. He has a plan for each person. My question is this:
What do I do when I do not hear the call of God or feel Him moving my heart in any particular direction?
At times like these (like now) it seems like God is silent. As if He is not at work in my life. But this is not true, as we learned in John 11:4. Though Jesus did not respond at that moment to the request, it was so that greater work could be done later. So, though God may not have given me His word of guidance, that doesn't mean He is ignoring me.
No, this is His special work.
His silence is speaking to me.
"And behold, the LORD was passing by! ...but the LORD was not in the wind...the LORD was not in the earthquake...the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing." 1 Kings 19:11-12
In the silence, faith is tested, tried, and forged anew. I think of Job. I think of Jeremiah. "It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD" Lamentations 3:26. I need to be sure, not wavering, that God has control over things in my life. Even when He is silent, I need to be sure that He is right there beside me and that there is a reason for it.
Waiting is not an act of non-activity.
Waiting is in fact very challenging.
In order to wait, I have to be strong of heart and focused, hoping with confidence.
"Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD" Psalm 27:14
"I wait for you, O LORD; you will answer, O Lord my God" Psalm 38:15
"In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."
Psalm 5:3
So I will wait.