The Waiting

"The waiting is essential to ensure...structural uniform strength to accomplish its end use" (the development of its real strength...) - Pastor Kelvin Walker

hmm... many people ask the question, can you hear God speaking?  I don't know... can you hear it???  If I can't hear God's voice in these words from Pastor Kelvin, then I must be deaf.  This was part of a description of metallurgics and how metal is heated & cooled to become what it needs to be.  How fascinating that nature and everything else that we have "come up with" happens to mimic God's creation and His plan for working in us... as Rock likes to say... "God is borderline genius"... ha ha.  Kelvin goes on to say, that progress comes in the process.  I love that.  THAT is encouraging to me.  Not only in my physical health but in my spiritual journey.  Progress is coming in this process of learning to be patient, learning to live my life amidst cancer & treatment rather than free again from it, learning to rely on others to get through my daily life, learning to let go of "my way" of doing everything (at least for a time, because it IS still the best way... right Janelle???  ha ha)... it is comforting to know that in all of these things, I am making progress to my perfect "end use"!!

And, as if this wasn't enough of a message that my "waiting" is a very important time in my growth and development in the Lord, Sarah Young follows that up with this devotional today (emphasis is mine):

"Lie down in green pastures of Peace.  Learn to unwind whenever possible, resting in the Presence of your Shepherd.  This electronic age keeps My children "wired" much of the time, too tense to find Me in the midst of their moments.  I built into your very being the need for rest.  How twisted the world has become when people feel guilty about meeting this basic need!  How much time and energy they waste by being always on the go, rather than taking time to seek My direction for their lives.

I have called you to walk with Me down paths of Peace.  I want you to blaze a trail for others who desire to live in My peaceful Presence.  I have chosen you less for your strengths than for your weaknesses, which amplify your need for Me.  Depend on Me more, and I will shower Peace on all your paths."

How can we ever hear the still, small voice when we fill every moment of our lives with noise??  Why are we so loathe to slow down and listen?  Are we afraid of what we might hear?  Our kids are too busy, we are too busy and then we are surprised when the wheels fall off.  We cry out to the Lord and we don't even know what His voice sounds like so how can we hear His answers?

Lord... help me to actively wait with You here today.  Slow me down when my life picks up speed again and remind me regularly to take quiet time with You.  I think that it is fair to say that one of my biggest fears now in returning to my normal pace is that I will forget what I have learned while I have been waiting...