Hurry Up and Wait: Six Days of Joy in the MeantimeSample

Removing Obstacles...

...Build up, Build up the highway!
Take out the stones,
Lift up a banner for the peoples!
Isaiah 62:10

Often, our seasons of waiting can seem like a long and dreary road trip. We’re feeling cramped in the middle seat of a crowded minivan with everyone on board getting tired, cranky, poking at each other, and wondering when we are going to arrive at our destination. Sound familiar?

We forget the wonder of looking out the window and seeing a whole new world. We sideline our hope in waiting by fixating on the speedometer instead of rolling down the windows and breathing in the air of expectancy that God truly does know what He is doing and He has perfect timing. Even though we may be waiting in one area of our lives for something we are seeking, that doesn’t mean He isn’t gloriously moving in all the other aspects of our lives simultaneously.

In other words, we can miss the beauty of now by focusing only on the future prize.

In our impatience, we can make a significant blunder. It is the urge to take matters into our own hands by grabbing the wheel of our wait and trying to help God out so we can get there faster.

As if we could. But still. We try.

Yes, we may try to shorten the journey of waiting by taking shortcuts, determining our own course, asking the wrong people for directions, or getting the Holy Spirit’s directions but not taking them. These maneuvers can create stones or boulders that may impede or completely detour our progress. Just think of Israel and their few days of sojourn, which ended up being forty years of walking in circles.

Yet, in the Lord Jesus, we find outrageous mercy and scandalous grace.

If we’ve interfered with our time of waiting, let’s pull off to the side of the road and spend time with Him. Ask, what was the last instruction He gave me before I veered off course? What did I engineer or attempt to manipulate in frustration or unfaithfulness that has become a stumbling stone? Now, fresh surrender to Him is in order.

Jesus has extraordinary things in and through our lives now, so let’s not miss them by taking matters into our own hands for something in the future. Okay?

Let’s jump back into the minivan, roll those windows down, and enjoy the ride!

Let’s pray about this...

Lord Jesus, I come. I ask for the Holy Spirit’s help in letting me know where I have been taking matters into my own hands while I wait. In this moment, I surrender these things I have done or been doing ______ (take time to name them). I release my control and surrender afresh to You completely. Please strengthen me while I wait. In Your All-Powerful Name, I pray. Amen.