He Cares About Your Wait

"Yes, your dreams for that loved one o'ernight could come true,

But the loss! if you lost what I'm doing in you!" - Russell Kelfer

This morning I was pondering Isaiah 40:31: "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

And I had an image in my mind of actually waiting ON God - as in sitting on His shoulders or even on His back, like dads like to do with their kids, playing pony. When you were little enough to sit on your dad's shoulders, it was a fun treat. 

Your view is broadened. You can see farther - things you couldn't see before - like an eagle. And you're at rest because He's carrying you. If your little legs were tired, now you are "renewing your strength" for the next bout of walking and running.

I like this vision (especially because I'm also imagining an ice cream cone!). ;)

I came across the poem below (Wait by Russell Kelfer) several years ago when I felt God was being pretty slack in fulfilling a promise to me. (Ahem, I'm still waiting for that by the way, Lord.) But reading these words set me on my Father's shoulders, giving me a higher perspective on what He was (and is) busy doing in my life.

I do believe that we must take action steps (says the coach in me!) towards the things we desire. Though we may not be able to bring an outcome about, we can always seek to prepare ourselves for its eventuality. But sometimes, we're just tired. Or there's just nothing more we can do but climb up on Daddy's shoulders.

You know, right now, there's a place for you there.

Read Russell's words, my friend, and be encouraged.

Wait

Russell Kelfer

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried.

Quietly, patiently, lovingly, He replied.

I pleaded, and I wept for a clue to my fate,

And the Master so gently said, "Child, you must wait."

"Wait? You say wait??" my indignant reply.

"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why.

Is your hand shortened?  Or have you not heard?

By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word.

"My future, and all to which I can relate

Hangs in the balance, and you tell me 'wait'?

I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign,

Or even a 'no', to which I can resign.

"And Lord, you have promised that if we believe, 

We need but ask, and we shall receive.

And Lord I've been asking, and this is my cry:

"I'm weary of asking: I need a reply!"

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate

As my Master replied once again, "You must wait."

So I slumped in my chair; defeated and taut

And grumbled to God; "So I'm waiting, for what?"

He seemed then to kneel and His eyes met with mine

And He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.

I could shake the heavens, darken the sun,

Raise the dead, cause the mountains to run.

"All you see I could give, and pleased you would be.

You would have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.

You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint;

You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.

"You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;

You'd not learn to trust, just by knowing I'm there.

You'd not know the joy of resting in Me,

When darkness and silence was all you could see.

"You would never experience that fullness of love

As the peace of My Spirit descends like a dove.

You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,

But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

"The glow of My comfort late in the night;

The faith that I give when you walk without sight;

The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask

From an infinite God who makes what you have last.

"And you never would know, should your pain quickly flee,

What it means that 'My grace is sufficient for thee.'

Yes, your dreams for that loved one o'ernight could come true,

But the loss! if you lost what I'm doing in you!

"So be silent, my child, and in time you will see

That the greatest of gifts is to get to know Me.

And though oft' may My answers seem terribly late, 

My most precious answer of all....is still...wait." 

Thoughts?