It is good to wait quietly.
...it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.
-Lamentation 3:26
How have I never heard this verse before???
I am astounded that in my 24 years of life (and one entire year dedicated to reading the Bible, cover-to-cover), this verse has never struck like it has today. It's sinking its teeth deep into my brain like a zombie from one of those zombie TV shows. (Which zombie TV show, you ask? I don't care, pick one. Any show you like. The show's not the point.)
I digress. I have a slight problem with being too talkative... I have always been a talker. Once, in Pre-K, my mom actually made a deal with me where if I DIDN'T get my name written on the board that week for talking, she would buy me ice-cream. No joke.
I DIGRESS AGAIN!
Let's get back to it.
Humans are so, so bad at waiting. I think since we're the top of the food chain, we have this power complex where we think we are in control of literally anything that happens to us, and if we don't like something or some situation, we have the absolute power to change it.
Other than straight-up animal instincts, I don't think any other species really takes control of its surroundings unless it directly affects their ability to seek food, shelter, or a mate. They don't sit around think "Hmm... I don't really love my job in the bee colony. Should I try and look for a more fulfilling one?" or "This dam really isn't doing it for me. I think I should move downstream where there's a better view" or "This other lioness is really ticking me off. I should really talk to her and let her know how she made me feel. But first, I'm going to gossip about her to all my other lion friends so I can feel better about myself."
Humans are weird because when we're uncomfortable (and trust me, a lot of really stupid things can make us uncomfortable), we spring into action and our human instincts kick in. We won't wait for things to get better or take our time waiting on something if we can just do it ourselves... and faster, and with more pizazz.
You see, somehow we've convinced ourselves that we control our own destiny and we can predict what's coming next. Not only that, but we can see far enough into the future that we can actually alter it with the decisions we make today. We are over-hyper-ultra-sensitive to a life that doesn't stack up with the ideas and plans we had about life beforehand. And when things don't go according to plan, we hate it.
I've just been reflecting on how much of my life is up to me, and how much of it is just... life. In a broken world, with broken people, and broken situations. I can pretend like I'm in control, hustling and bustling to make things better and easier and more beautiful for myself, but so far that hasn't really turned out anything like I had hoped.
And I don't say this to sound depressing or fatalistic. I'm not advocating for a world full of couch potatoes who moap around and say things like,
"What's the point of having any plan for anything? Things are never going to get better anyway. It doesn't matter what I do... I'm not in control. Come what may... but it's going to suck."
In fact, it's actually the opposite, I think. I want to be the kind of person who is hopeful and confident about the future... not because I had anything to do with it, but because I know Who is really in charge. And friends, His plans are good.
What if I surrendered control and hastiness and waited quietly for what God had for me next? I don't want to become passive, of course... and that's a super important point to make... but I think it is possible to envision a world of NON couch potatoes... a world of action-takers who live their lives each day saying:
"God knows the plans He has for my life! Things are going to be better one day and as long as I remain in the Vine (that's Jesus,) I don't have to be in control! Come what may... if God's in charge, then it's going to be good.
There are plenty of verses in Scripture about being strong and courageous, and stepping boldly out in faith. There is certainly a time for that, and for some, this comes easier than it does for others. Maybe God is calling you to be more bold and take more risks for Him. If so, you should talk to Him about that.
For me, right now, I think God is calling me to wait on Him. And not only wait, but to wait quietly. To be patient. To seek His face. We all know I could probably slow down just a little and everything would still be fine. I could probably shut up a little more, too.
for the salvation of the Lord.
-Lamentation 3:26
How have I never heard this verse before???
I am astounded that in my 24 years of life (and one entire year dedicated to reading the Bible, cover-to-cover), this verse has never struck like it has today. It's sinking its teeth deep into my brain like a zombie from one of those zombie TV shows. (Which zombie TV show, you ask? I don't care, pick one. Any show you like. The show's not the point.)
I digress. I have a slight problem with being too talkative... I have always been a talker. Once, in Pre-K, my mom actually made a deal with me where if I DIDN'T get my name written on the board that week for talking, she would buy me ice-cream. No joke.
I DIGRESS AGAIN!
Let's get back to it.
Humans are so, so bad at waiting. I think since we're the top of the food chain, we have this power complex where we think we are in control of literally anything that happens to us, and if we don't like something or some situation, we have the absolute power to change it.
Other than straight-up animal instincts, I don't think any other species really takes control of its surroundings unless it directly affects their ability to seek food, shelter, or a mate. They don't sit around think "Hmm... I don't really love my job in the bee colony. Should I try and look for a more fulfilling one?" or "This dam really isn't doing it for me. I think I should move downstream where there's a better view" or "This other lioness is really ticking me off. I should really talk to her and let her know how she made me feel. But first, I'm going to gossip about her to all my other lion friends so I can feel better about myself."
Humans are weird because when we're uncomfortable (and trust me, a lot of really stupid things can make us uncomfortable), we spring into action and our human instincts kick in. We won't wait for things to get better or take our time waiting on something if we can just do it ourselves... and faster, and with more pizazz.
You see, somehow we've convinced ourselves that we control our own destiny and we can predict what's coming next. Not only that, but we can see far enough into the future that we can actually alter it with the decisions we make today. We are over-hyper-ultra-sensitive to a life that doesn't stack up with the ideas and plans we had about life beforehand. And when things don't go according to plan, we hate it.
I've just been reflecting on how much of my life is up to me, and how much of it is just... life. In a broken world, with broken people, and broken situations. I can pretend like I'm in control, hustling and bustling to make things better and easier and more beautiful for myself, but so far that hasn't really turned out anything like I had hoped.
And I don't say this to sound depressing or fatalistic. I'm not advocating for a world full of couch potatoes who moap around and say things like,
"What's the point of having any plan for anything? Things are never going to get better anyway. It doesn't matter what I do... I'm not in control. Come what may... but it's going to suck."
In fact, it's actually the opposite, I think. I want to be the kind of person who is hopeful and confident about the future... not because I had anything to do with it, but because I know Who is really in charge. And friends, His plans are good.
What if I surrendered control and hastiness and waited quietly for what God had for me next? I don't want to become passive, of course... and that's a super important point to make... but I think it is possible to envision a world of NON couch potatoes... a world of action-takers who live their lives each day saying:
"God knows the plans He has for my life! Things are going to be better one day and as long as I remain in the Vine (that's Jesus,) I don't have to be in control! Come what may... if God's in charge, then it's going to be good.
There are plenty of verses in Scripture about being strong and courageous, and stepping boldly out in faith. There is certainly a time for that, and for some, this comes easier than it does for others. Maybe God is calling you to be more bold and take more risks for Him. If so, you should talk to Him about that.
For me, right now, I think God is calling me to wait on Him. And not only wait, but to wait quietly. To be patient. To seek His face. We all know I could probably slow down just a little and everything would still be fine. I could probably shut up a little more, too.
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