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Are you waiting for something? Do you bring the same request to God day after day and yet still wait for His answer?
I think most Christians give a hearty, “Yes!” to that question. Even if it’s not today, we remember that time when we poured out our heart’s cries waiting, waiting for the promise,
but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
I love this verse. I’ve read it and recited it countless times in my life. But recently I realized that when I hold tight to this verse, I only cling to part of it. I want it to say,
but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles.”
And stop it right there.
I wish to soar. I wait for God to grab me up out of my current place and carry me on eagle’s wings to a new, better place. I pray and I plead not for all of this verse but just the piece that brings me wings.
Because the rest kind of disappoints. I don’t feel like running. I don’t want to walk. I seek rescue not resources to make it through. So day after day I beg for God to show up, when day after day He does show up, just not how I expected.
We recently moved (again) into a part-time place near my husband’s work. While I unpacked our lives and tried to settle in, aches of uncertainty and questions of purpose plagued my soul. I talked to God often, asking for relief from the weight of my worry.
Then one day a family friend told Luke to look for cardinals. Like the bird. Cardinals.
We didn’t think much of it until cardinals started showing up in our yard. We dug a little deeper and this is what our friend said,
“The cardinal reminds us to stand a little taller and step into our natural Spirit-led confidence in the area we were born to lead with grace and nobility as Christ lived His life.”
I wonder how long the cardinals had been in my yard. Were they there the whole time and I never noticed?
Now I peer through my windows looking for a cardinal. And most of the time I see one. A sweet reminder of God’s confidence in me and my purpose in Christ.
When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” Isaiah 43:2 (NLT)
Could God be in your situation, too? Maybe it’s not a cardinal in your tree, but maybe He’s walking you through. As you pray, ask God to show you what He’s already doing.
You may have to go through deep waters and tread rivers of difficulty. But you will not go alone. You will not drown. You will not faint.
Look for God, today. Peer out your heart’s window. Ask Him to alert you to His endless love that surrounds you.
God will show you something as you walk through life with Him. He wants you to choose Him and the mercy and grace he offers through his Son Jesus.
Copyright © 2021 by Katy McCown @https://katymccown.com/2014/08/04/what-are-you-waiting-for/ No part of this article may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from Lifeword.org.