Seasons of Waiting

Genesis 15:1-6 was not only the scripture used in week 3's message, but also the scripture that pastor Casey spoke on at Reality LA on sunday.  God must have really wanted me to hear this part of his story!  These two messages focused on different themes, but in looking at the two of them together, they are teaching me a lot about my anxious heart right now.

The message on Sunday looked at this scripture in the context of Advent - it discussed Abram's waiting for God to fulfill his promises.  So often we are waiting for God to DO something and we may trust that God is going to do it, but HOW he does it is what makes us uneasy.  In the context of this passage, Abram was starting to lose faith in God's promise and wondered if he should take matters into his own hands by naming another man in his household as his heir.  But the word of the Lord came to him and reassured him that he would receive what he was promised - God still had plans to make him into a great nation - As many stars as there are in the sky, so shall his offspring be.

Waiting is frustrating, agonizing, and annoying.  It makes me feel so out of control at times.  There is a temptation to seize control and fall onto myself and my own ability instead of maintaining faith in God and his ability (which seems pretty stupid when I think about how great He is and how weak I am).  I think about where I am at right now in worrying and waiting to see where I will be after graduation - and especially how I am going to get there.  What classes will I take.  What job will I have.  Where will I apply.  Which schools will accept me.  Which program is right for me.  And in this waiting my faith is being tested, just as Abram's was.  I have faith that God will lead me where He wants me, but my worry is in HOW He will get me there.  When things don't go the way that I want them to or they don't go the way that I planned, God is asking me to respond just by saying "AMEN".  Just as God was telling Abram, so he is telling me "You will not be forgotten.  You are not alone. You will not be abandoned.  I am still working.  Trust in me.  Believe in me.  Say AMEN."

Amen!