Waiting for God
“I’m just waiting for God to give me direction.”
“God says ‘yes,’ ‘no,’ or ‘wait’. Right now I’m waiting.”
“I don’t want to get ahead of God.”
We’ve all said these things. They’re part of our ‘Christian-ese,’ our ‘church-speak.’
But are they true? Biblical? Helpful? Or error . . . even folklore?
“Waiting for God is incarnate unbelief if it means I have no faith in Him: I wait for Him to do something in me that I may trust in that,” says Oswald Chambers. “God will not do it, because that is not the basis of the man-God relationship.”
We want a sign. A dry fleece. A burning bush. We want to know this is God’s will before we move.
Chambers continues . . .
“We have faith only in our feelings. I do not believe God unless He will give me something in my hand whereby I may know I have it, then I say- ‘Now I believe’. There is no faith there.”
My wife and I are in the midst of making a big decision. We’ve sensed God’s direction and have been moving with Him, even though it seems risky, somewhat irrational . . . even painful. Because it’ll bring death to some things we’re comfortable in right now.
Then last Sunday, there’s this great sermon about obedience. “Life is only made possible when something dies,” he says. “Life always comes from obedience . . . The pain of obedience always leads to the promise of obedience . . . Losing something to obedience brings meaning to that loss.”
That’s a lot of pressure on obedience. Means we’d better hear Him right. Better know that’s His voice. I think “You have to get this one right, Regi!”
So I go to the Lord the next morning. “Lord, I need more than your permission. I need your instruction. I need a command. I need an order to obey!”
Here’s what gets written in my journal:
“Regi, I’m not going to take all the mystery out of this. Look at how your feelings have changed as you’ve talked with me about this decision. Look at how Miriam’s feelings have changed. Look at how your feelings have changed about other alternatives. Look at the peace you have. You have to trust me.”
Chambers one last time . . .
“Why does God not do this and that? He has done it, the point is – will I step into covenant relationship? All the great blessings of God are finished and complete., but they are not mine until I enter into relationship with Him on the basis of His covenant.”
. . . which takes us back to His timelessness and His love. He’s already written the script. He knows how it all turns out. His covenant says He loves me, He is with me and will never forsake me. It’s up to me to live my life one day at a time, move forward in faith, and trust Him for every outcome.
Question: Is there something He’s called you to do? Are you waiting, wasting, or walking?
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Responses (4)
I’ve been saved for 15 years. I’ll just be real I have stepped out so many times hearing his voice is so important. In stepping out it all seems like they were mistakes. I have learnt great lessons through the hardship of the choices. Honestly to a point where I don’t want to step out anymore. Not that I lost faith or my belief. Through some of the choices. Have had drastic consequences. Even repented (threshing floor ) so awesome article. I really need to hear his voice. Thanks for writing this. Blessings.
Col. 1:9b-10 “fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding ” I pray this verse every day. I have a group of guys who ride motorcycles together, some of us attend church together. God has impressed upon me to form some sort of ministry with this. We have even come up with a name and verse together, “ETJ” Judges 18:6 ” go in peace, the journey on which you go is under the eye of the Lord”. ETJ Enjoy The Journey. I want to be sure this is what God wants me to do. I am considering talking to my pastor about this. I do not want this to be for MY glory only HIS. Phillip
When I saw the title to this email, I almost didn’t read it because I had a great knowing of what it had encompassed in it. It was exactly what I needed to hear though. It hurts, but I know that this is a tome where I know that I need to seek out if God wants me to wait or move. I thank God for my family, for my wife, for my children, for my job, for every breathe that I am blessed to breathe. I thank Him that He is leading and guiding me in every step and with every plan and with every choice. I thank the Lord that I have His wisdom to make choices that are leading me to a stable life filled with his blessings and honor! Thank you for this wonderful devo today Regi!
Hello,
I feel as though God has called me to lay over relationships to the cross, more forward with dating . I have gone against it so many times, because I felt it was weighing down my life, like it wasn’t pleasing God. It may me feel sick. How do I know when i’m ready for it? Because Im so happy I gave that part over, because being single is so good for me.