Waiting In Faith
“Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and
the certainty of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
My friend, Robin Dixon, brought a powerful word today right there in the middle of her garden.
The tender young plants and dead seeds lay low in the black ground waiting to burst forth in green beauty. From their vines will come fruit and veggies to be eaten and enjoyed by many hungry bellies. Though the fruit is not seen today, we know, by faith, that it is on the way.
Robin tilled the dirt, prepared the soil, dug the holes, buried the seeds, and placed the tiny plants in careful rows. And now she waits. But she waits with intention. Every day she watches and she prays. She rids it of pests and waters and fertilizes as needed. She plucks off dead leaves and pinches the heads of worms. There is a work for her to do but we know that only God can make a garden grow and produce.
Day after day she will watch and wait until...
Sounds a lot like life right now doesn’t it?
Here we sit waiting but not seeing an end to this horrid virus, but by faith we know that God is sovereign and He is working His plan. We praise Him from the black dirt called, “I don’t know and I don’t see.”
How many times have we spoken it or heard it over the last several weeks? “This is crazy! What in the world is going on?” The spread of the coronavirus has stirred many questions and deep thoughts. Many are asking if this is the end of times? Is this the Lord’s judgment? Is it one of the plagues spoken of in Revelation? Minds that had no thoughts of God are suddenly considering spiritual things. And for those who are in tune to the Spirit we are also asking our own questions.
As I write, we are just days before Easter. Having already celebrated Palm Sunday, we await Maundy Thursday; Good Friday; Crucifixion; Burial; Resurrection Day! On this side of the cross we know that just as Robin’s seed will burst through that black dirt one day soon, Jesus already broke through that first glorious Easter, declaring He is Alive! He is Victorious!
This powerful truth is what brings us hope in the middle of uncertain days. As believers, we know that God is always sovereignly at work. The answer to any of our questions isn’t what really matters. The real question is, “God what do you want me to know about You in this situation?”
He is at work in the dark. In the wait. In the wilderness.
He is accomplishing His good plan that one day we will understand. So what do we do while we watch and wait?
We join in with Robin and Habakkuk and choose to praise Him in the middle of “I don’t know and I don’t see.”
“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.”
Habakkuk 3:17-19
We praise! We rejoice! We pray! We watch and wait full of faith. We build ourselves up in the strength of the Lord. And we tend the soil of our hearts through prayer. Our praise draws the presence of the Lord. It prepares a dark heart to receive the seed of His word. It scatters the enemy and dispels the darkness. It clears a pathway and makes way for the King of Kings to come close.
“King Jesus, we worship You today. We wait knowing that You rule and You reign. We serve a living Savior that is at work accomplishing the Father’s good plan. Prepare our hearts O Lord, that you would find in us a heart ready to surrender and serve You at the slightest nudge of Your Spirit. We lay our lives low in your presence and worship You!”