Life-Bridges

Sometimes we come to a place in life that we aren't sure which way to go. We know that there is a bridge to cross, something new, something different, something... But often we aren't even sure which bridge is the right bridge. Ever been there?

My family and I have been walking this out for over a year now. We know the vision God has placed on our hearts for Colorado, or some kind of land that he longs to be a place of recovery for those who serve in his kingdom. But the doors just haven't quite opened the way we hoped.

On the other hand, we love the local church and believe God has planted it deep within our hearts to serve and draw people into close relationship with him. We call that discipleship. But we believe God has "released" us from our current place where we have served for 16 years. 

I also have been working on a Masters degree for 4 years now and the end is in sight. Maybe. I applied for and have been accepted into a Marriage and Family Therapy program starting in August. On the one hand I would love to have the expertise and certification, on the other hand...2 more years of grad school...

So here we are at a bridge, and we're not quite sure what's on the the other side.

Praying. We are praying. We have been praying. We'll continue to pray.

"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry." Psalm 40:1

I think the hardest part is praying and waiting for answers. No, I'm not expecting God to have a shining light come down and say "go this way." I don't expect a Bethlehem star to suddenly appear, showing us which way to go. But I long to hear God's voice. I long to see the doors open up that are so obviously his hand that I can't say no. That I wouldn't want to say no.

Maybe your like me, you've come to the proverbial fork in the road, or a bridge that just can't quite see over. Maybe you've asked a cried out to God and he seems silent on your future. Don't give up. Don't quit pressing in. God hasn't abandoned you. He's growing you. He's moving you into maturity.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4 


What are waiting to hear from God about? What can we lift up in your life to our good Father?

Waiting

Waiting:

I'm not sure I've ever met some who likes to wait. No one says, "I'm just going to wait over for as long as it takes and enjoy the waiting." Waiting is tied to patience...the nemesis of the western hemisphere...

In the immortal words of Ed Gruberman "Yeah, patience, how long will that take." (check Dr. Demento's "Boot to the Head" for reference).

On the other hand most of want what we want, and we want it now not later. The idea of waiting is completely contrary to the way most of look at life. And yet, most of us don't get what we want when we want it. We have to wait for it, or wait for the money for it, or wait to pay it off, if we do manage to get it now and not have to wait for it. That is the reality of life as we know it. But that is not the way God designed this world to work.

You get a great picture of this in Psalms. Just after what is perhaps the most famous of all Psalms, the 23rd, in which we are reminded, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." we see how difficult waiting is:

"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it;" Psalm 24:1

"To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God." Psalm 25:1

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:14

Sometimes waiting is the hardest to do when we need something. When we need God to speak. When we need to know his mercy. When we are desperately trying to trust in Him for something and all we here is: wait. Just wait.

What are you waiting for? What are you waiting on the Lord for today? What do you do when you're waiting? How does your trust in the Lord determine how you wait?

"but those who hop in the Lord will renew their strength. The will soar on wings like eagles; the will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31