Waiting Well Addendum

‘You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh ; rather, serve one another humbly in love.’ Galatians 5:13

‘And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.’ Hebrews 10:24,25

In the shower, I was shown that my Waiting Well blog was not a finished story. By the way someone needs to invent a waterproof whiteboard so I can take notes in there and if that is a thing please let me know. Anyway, I forgot a couple of important ways that I know have helped me in the waiting and that I think are imperative for healing. In my initial blog I suggested these ways to wait well; Remember that our life is not our own, Seek Him, Be Real & Receive. Going through the process of waiting does not necessitate being idle. We need to participate in the waiting. The enemy’s plan is to steal, kill and destroy,  and this directive does not change. Waiting around for the miracle or change can cause us to become isolated. Often isolation is the devil’s vehicle to drive the destruction he seeks.

As the writer of Hebrews says above, spur one another on, do not give up meeting together, encourage one another. This is a necessary step to protect from being isolated. Who are your people? If you don’t have people, what are you doing to create that community to grow together with others and protect from seclusion. How are you serving one another in love? Or is it just all about you?

Community. The Lord tells us in Psalm 23 that He is our Shepherd and we lack for nothing. He is the Shepherd, we are the sheep. The thing about sheep is sometimes they aren’t very smart. We need to stick together so that we aren’t scooped up by predators who are carrying out the enemy’s plans. Sometimes we do have desert seasons in order to draw closer to God but in these seek others out. I know when we moved here 6 years ago, it was one of the most difficult seasons in my life. We moved away from a daughter who had barely graduated and was getting established and further away from our other daughter, the only people I really knew were my husband’s family and friends who all had lives. In this though we didn’t stop looking to create community and I held tight for a season to the ones we left. God stepped into our looking and gave us a greater community than we could have ever imagined through our church family. This has impacted every area of our life greatly and made our world larger. In community we can better deal with the things that waiting brings up in our character. Together we can fulfill the commission to tell others about Jesus. Renew your mind with these truths;

‘Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.’Acts 2:46,47

‘Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.’ 1 Peter 3:8

‘How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!’ Psalm 133:1

Serve. We forget about others in our pain. Isolation keeps our pain locked in. I once heard someone say, give to others the very thing you may be missing. If you are in need of nurturing, offer that to someone else. If you need an ear to hear you, listen to someone else. In giving you will receive. Do not make that your motive but it is a by-product of giving of yourself. I understand there are seasons, especially in loss where we need to be served but even in reaching out then, God meets us with healing. 2 weeks after my Mom took her life, I had to speak at a women’s retreat. God only gave me strength for that but I look back on that time and also see it served to create a place of great healing in me. Serving moves us from navel gazing to an outward focus. Serving is how God works through us as His hands and feet to meet the needs of His people. We are most like Him when we give of ourselves. Roll up your sleeves and look around you and see the countless needs. Renew your minds with these truths;

‘But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.’  1 Samuel 12:24

‘For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’   Mark 10:45

‘In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ Acts 20:35

Now go friends, Wait Well. Serve. Be with Others. See what He will do. Live amazed.