The Lord has been teaching us a lot in this season of transition.
It seems that the main theme of His curriculum for us is "learning to wait well."
In August 08 we decided to move from Czech to America, but waited until July 09 to actually fly...
In January 09 we put the word out that our home in Czech was for sale. 3 times we thought the wait was coming to an end... 8 months later we are still waiting on our 4th try...
In February we learned that Cassie is pregnant! We are in the 30th week of waiting on Baby Long... (The nice thing about this specific wait is that there is a relatively definite due date :)
After learning of the pregnancy in February, Trevor began to search for a new full-time job in the Twin Cities area. We thought we had it locked-in, but the Lord said, no... wait... So, we are in our 7th month of scanning job listings, sending resumes, interviews, and waiting for the right open door...
Selling our house and getting a job are the 2 factors that define our financial situation right now. Without those things locked into place, a whole bunch of other decisions are stacking up as well. Where will we live? Apartment or house? Rent or buy? Which doctor will we use? Where will we deliver? What car can we afford? Do we need one or two? Do we buy furniture or borrow? The list goes on and on.
So we are waiting... Waiting... Waiting...
Waiting well is not something natural to either of us. Our default probably leans in the direction of impatience, frustration, anxiety, and fear. Waiting tends to produce stress, irritability, and causes us to withdraw emotionally.
But God is teaching us a different way, and we are acquiring a new skill of waiting well in this extended season. This learning requires daily (sometimes hourly) discipline of submitting to and depending on the Holy Spirit. Galatians tells us that one of the fruits that the Holy Spirit desires to produce in our lives is patience. Waiting well requires active, not passive faith from us. We have to keep our eyes up and fixed on Jesus rather than the circumstances around us. We have to keep moving, keep seeking, keep knocking. Waiting well requires us to trust unconditionally in the character of God. We keep learning to trust that He is sovereign and in control of our lives and also that He is a good father who delights in giving good gifts to His children.
God's promises in Psalm 37 have been a constant source of strength and encouragement in this season of learning to wait well.
v.3-4 Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
v.5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
v.7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.
v.8 Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
v.23-24 The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.
v.25-26 I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.
v.28 he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever.
v.37 for there is a future for the man of peace.
