God's Woodshed

Waiting on God is the special process through which the Lord causes our eyes to turn to Him for help in time of need. By extending the duration or distress of our trial even a little bit, our weaknesses become apparent.

It is at this point our hearts become desperate, our faith is proved, and our hope is purified. The process is so common that the phrase "Wait upon the Lord" or "Waiting on God" is regularly used in most Christian cycles. We need to wait on God for a spouse, for a job, for healing, for wisdom, for ministry, etc. We might say that it is Satan tempting us, and in some cases it is, but at the same time it could be God testing (proving) us. By doing so, He is bringing us a step closer to Himself through our dependence. Waiting; therefore, is a crucial step in which our dependence upon God grows. Without this deeper awareness of God in our lives, God restraining Himself from giving us grace, we learn to grow more depended for His guidance. Blessing without humbling brings increased susceptibility to temptation. This is the reason growth comes with tests. Humility keeps us from pride which makes us selfishly ambitious where we would otherwise forget the Lord.

Certainly waiting for the Lord is not easy. Our heart is often crying out in agony. We feel oppressed and constrained. We yearn for freedom and provision. Waiting upon the Lord for needed supplies is one common area in which He trains us. We have to be needy so that we are forced to look to the Lord for help. Our other resources are stripped away. Someone yesterday said to me, "But I don't like what the Lord is bringing me through." How true this is. We squirm, squiggle and squeak.

Waiting upon the Lord are times in which we do not have resources, or answers. Instead we are often confused, poor, broken and limited. Our hope is focused on what happens after that season of humility, where we will experience a period of God's blessing. If we live by confidence in our own resources and abilities, will we not become self-confident? What glory does that bring to God?! But through this process, God enables us to depend upon Him so that we know it is only He who does wonderful things in our lives. Ultimately then, waiting upon God protects us, deepens our trust in Him, forces us to seek His ways and brings Him the most glory. They are times the Lord is testing whether we are really seeking Him and His ways.

I can remember experience after experience, where I have cried out to God for help and deliverance. When going through those times, I think that if I could just get out of this one pit all would be well. However, not long after the Lord delivers me from one set of problems, I find myself in another whole set of problems. And again I am seeking His help with the same kind of desperate prayer. It began to dawn on me that God has carefully planned out these 'pauses' in life in order to renew, strengthen, humble and focus me on Him.

Certainly all of us experience waiting. Many times there is no alternative but to just trust Him to work the details in His timing. Frustration can be good only if we view our frustration...believing that He will remain beside us...before, during, and after each season. That is when waiting becomes worth while...knowing that in everything there is a season and seasons do change.

Facing the Giants

Who is your Goliath and where does he live? If you listen carefully you can recognize his walk... the thunder of his voice...the taunting with bills you can't pay...people you can't please...habits you can't break...failures you can't forget...and a future you can't face. But how do we fight his approach, his attack, and his ability to disrupt our lives. We all face personal giants at one time or another in our lives; giants that seem overwhelming, invincible, and unmoving.

A few words of caution...we need to have a spiritual balance between acting like a Goliath in the eyes of others...able to overcome every situation...to having an underdog mind-set that fights against everything that seems to be outside of God's will for our life.

Giants come in many different Sizes and Shapes...

• Sometimes the giants are people - there are people who are obstacles which we seem to be able to make no progress whatsoever. They stand in our way and we don't know what we are going to do to deal with them. Who is it in your life, who seems to dog your every step? You can't get rid of them; they are there, right in front of your every turn. Just like the armies of Israel, such people can paralyze us!
• Sometimes the giants are situations - think about situations that arise in our lives that rise up like mountains; seemingly impossible to deal with; so enormous, so huge, that we don't know what way we're going to turn.
• Sometimes the giants come from within - fear about a situation can stop you dead in your tracks faster then a physical person or situation. Fear of the unknown, God's will, or the uncertainty of a decision.

Each of us must face our giants...maybe the following will help! (1 Samuel 17:1-11, 41-50)

1. List out all your personal giants you are presently facing.
2. Look to God for the answer your concerns? (Psalm 19:14)
3. Believe that "God is a God of the impossible." (Ephesians 3:20) (Luke 1:37) (Mark 9:27)
4. Be open - surrender to the outcome; praise God no matter what happens. (2 Corinthians 12:9) (Philippians 4:12-13)

I pray you will be able to overcome your giant...I pray that I will too! We don't have the strength to do is on our own...it takes He who is greater than all of us.