Dear God, When Is It My Turn?Sample

Day 4: Wait, Authentically - Part II

Here's something we don’t hear often enough that will mature your wait, “God can handle your tough questions.” In Genesis 12 God called Abraham to leave his homeland and to go to a land that He would show him. God tells Abraham that He will make him a great nation. We applaud Abraham’s courageous faith as he sets out having no idea where he was going, but several chapters later, in Genesis 15 Abraham doesn’t hold back his hard questions from God.

"But Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I [b]go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one[c] born in my house is my heir!” Genesis 15:2-3

Can we question God? Isn’t questioning him considered doubt? Not at all. As sons and daughters we get the privilege of walking intimately with our Father and intimacy is where we get to bare our hearts. Verse six tells us that, “he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” Can you believe that? You can believe and bare your heart. It’s not doubt, it’s dialogue, and while we may not receive the kind of response Abraham did, we mature our wait by shifting from tantrums, ultimatums, and silent treatments, to faith-filled communion with God.

I’ve been guilty of receiving a promise from God and then running off prematurely without stopping to ask and wait for the details. Rushing out of God’s presence has resulted in wasted time and resources, saying yes to the wrong opportunities, and embarrassment. God has details to reveal and refine as we lean into moments of intimacy not transactional but an ongoing posturing of our heart.

Prayer:

Dear God, help me to wait with wide-eyed wonder. Open my ears to your details and instructions as I actively wait on your promises. Forgive me for being frustrated with the unknown and allowing it to create distance between us in my waiting. Help my unbelief so that I may be counted as righteous because of my faith. In Jesus' name, amen.

Pro Tip For Seasons of Waiting:

Make a list of all the details that don’t make sense to you about the promises you are waiting for God to fulfill. Go for a walk and have a conversation with God, asking Him the questions that you wrote down. Don’t be in a rush to leave His presence. Practicing mindfulness while you wait creates intimacy with God and an opportunity for Him to answer in return.

Reminder:

Don’t allow your waiting to create a wedge of silence between you and God. Intimacy is where we get to bare our hearts and God bares His in return.