February 20, 2023
Psalm 27:14 – “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
Kim Martin ’12 Levengood
Stay-at-Home Mother & Wife
I’ve never thought of myself as someone who must always be doing something, someone who can’t sit still or relax.
My mind and thoughts, though, tell a different story.
In stress, anxiety, and fear, I either avoid the situation all together (eat something delicious, clean the kitchen, find someone to talk to…) or quick act on the situation to get it over with.
Resting my mind in the midst of the unknown seems ludicrous, uncomfortable and strange. To think about the situation, understand why it stresses me out, and then take it to the Lord and wait to hear from him feels so passive.
How long will God take to reveal what he wants me to do or not do in the situation? What if I mishear him or don’t hear him as quickly as I want an answer? I often think, “I have so many other things going on right now, I don’t have time to wait. I’ll just use my common sense and wisdom and come up with a solution.”
Every time I do this, I cut Jesus out of the picture. I allow fear to take over and then lose a chance to draw closer to the Lord. I miss out on the journey of asking, waiting, and experiencing the Lord’s peace through this ongoing cycle. Although my created outcome may be fine and good, what transformation could He do if I was willing to rest in the unknown while I wait?
It’s as if I don’t trust that God could truly reveal his will to me.
Or as if I don’t think he cares enough to do so.
Psalm 5:3 – “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.”