The Wait
By Jen
Wollner
“I would
have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the
LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He
shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!”
Psalm
27:13-14 (NKJV)
An eight-year-old boy, abandoned by
his mother, lives in an orphanage in Eastern Europe with his nine-year-old
sister. His dark brown eyes sparkle with life. He desires to help people and
dreams of one day becoming a policeman. He hopes for a family, though it’s an
unlikely prospect. Children of his age, with an older sister in tow, are rarely
chosen by an adopting family. But, God has a plan…
A young couple in America, full of
life and love, desires to have children. Tears flow as they say good-bye to a
baby they never got to hold in their arms. Their dream for a family burns
strong in their hearts, but after many years of marriage, they still don’t see
an answer to their prayers. They wonder if it’s just simply not meant to be.
But, God has a plan…
As the children wait in the
orphanage, God is working...
As the couple waits in their quiet
home, God is working...
Waiting is difficult. Oftentimes,
excruciating. I believe it’s so frustrating partially because we feel as though
nothing is happening. God isn’t hearing us, much less answering. When we go
through long periods of waiting, we often don’t see any movement in our
situation…and we begin to lose hope.
But, dear friends, take heart! God
has not forgotten you! He is here. He hears all of your prayers and collects
all of your tears. And, He is working. Nothing is impossible for Him! Not
rescuing two children from an orphanage and placing them with loving parents
half a world away. And certainly not bringing joy and life to a home once plagued
by infertility and disappointment.
You may not see it yet, but one day,
His plan will unfold before your eyes. It may not look like you thought it
would. The timing may be off. The answer may be very different than you
imagined or desired. God may say to you, "Not this...but this
instead." But, as you seek Him and surrender to His will, you will step
out of the wilderness, the waiting, into the glorious promised land divinely
designed for you.
God has a plan. Rest assured, He is
working.
GOING DEEPER:
1. What desire of your heart are you
waiting to come to fruition? Take heart in the truth of God’s Word and
character!
FURTHER READING:
Jen
and her husband are busily parenting three children. She serves
on the leadership team for Mission: Hope, Oakwood’s orphan care ministry.
