The simplest of truths are leaping off the pages of Scripture. Desperation for fresh manna, for daily bread, for morning by morning mercies has offered me a greater sensitivity to something I’ve always known and believed – that every word of God is powerful. Scriptures that are easily recognizable as being highly significant to our faith as well as those passages filled with nothing but genealogies or the verses that at first glance are little more than connectors to the “real important” truths are all being employed by the Spirit on this journey to feed and empower me.
Philippians chapter two details the incarnation of Christ and is a theological bedrock of Scripture. Verses 5-11 are some of my favorites in the entire recorded Word of God. Later in the passage there’s a verse I’m sure I’ve read many times but never paid much attention to. Writing this letter to the church at Philippi Paul says in 2:23, “Therefore I hope to send him (Timothy) immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me . . . ”
I’ve never heard a sermon on Philippians 2:23 and I’ve never given this verse any extra study time. I guess because this description of a man who has some ministry hopes alongside an impatient time-table, is exactly where I find myself right now, the Spirit of God was able to illumine these few inspired words to my spirit in a powerfully, encouraging way recently. The Apostle Paul, a mighty man of faith and service, here reveals his heart and humanity.
Paul had a desire: to send Timothy to the Philippians
Paul had a time-frame preference: immediately
Paul had to surrender to uncertainty: he had to wait and see how things would go with him
On many occasions Paul heard the voice of the Lord through the very specific leading of the Spirit, but this time Paul doesn’t know for sure how it’s all going to play out. Obviously, the Spirit hadn’t spelled everything out for him. He had to wait. His preference would have been some instant action. From his vantage point, sending Timothy immediately looked like the best plan, but he was held back by, of all things, his own situation. It was super encouraging to realize that Paul had to walk this out in much the same way many of us are right now.
For me personally, this is a “wait and see how things go with me” season. I have many desires: for my family, ministry, health. And, my preferred time-frame tends to lean toward the immediate. “Let’s just get on with this. Speak the word, Lord. Spirit, reveal the plan. Remove the uncertainty.”
While the Father is faithful to guide moment by moment, day by day, He is choosing to keep me in this place as part of His good and perfect will for my life. He is teaching me, among many other things, patience and perseverance, proven character and hope.
We live in a world where we tend to get what we want immediately. This is true more than ever before. We can travel to the other side of the world by tomorrow if we want to or we can connect to someone around the globe in the next second with the touch of a button. With today’s technology, we are empowered to move fast and make things happen. Credit lets us fulfill all our dreams now.
God’s economy values wait time. Psalm 25:5 is my declaration: “Lead me in Thy truth and teach me, for Thou are the God of my salvation; for Thee I wait all the day.”
Every day of this battle forces me to surrender my desires, set aside my time-table and wait on the God of my salvation.
This past week (10-3-13) Kurt and I had the privilege of subbing for Gregg and Shelly Dedrick of Spirit Ministries on WFIA Hometown Spirit. This pod-cast gives a glimpse into this “wait and see how things go with me” season. www.wfia-fm.com Guessing so many of you can relate!
Update: 1) For those of you still going after 100/100/100, I’m weighing in at 95 lbs! 2) Many holistic doctors believe there’s a connection between jaw/teeth cavitations and cancer. This past Friday I visited a biological dentist who checked me for infection and was unable to find anything. He’s treated over 20,000 cancer patients in his 25 years of practice and I’m the first patient he’s ever been able to say that to. Thank you, Lord, for happy, healthy teeth! By the way, at the end of our time together, this man whom we had never met before, placed his hands around my face and prayed for me! Isn’t God good?
There’s that word perserverance again. Although I am not facing the same trials as you, your blog has brought me back to James 1:2-4; consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perserverance. Let perserverance finish it’s work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. This scripture has been very helpful in helping me get through each day as it comes. We have you on our prayer list at work ( I am on staff at the SE main campus) and are praying for you daily.
This post reminded me so much of a time when I was observing a 2nd grade classroom. The teacher was rapid fire with her questioning. After a second in front of one child, she moved on to another child with her next question. Tiny faces looked bewildered. Finally, she called on a little guy in the front row. She shot forth a question and got no response in a second. She was about to move on when the exasperated little fellow said, “Try wait, teacher; I’m thinkin’!” Sometimes we all have to “try wait.” Sounds simple–but it is hard. Thank you for pointing out this verse, Kristen. Joe & I are praying so hard for a breakthrough–in God’s timing, of course. (;
Hi Kristen,
POWERFUL message from your heart to our hearts! We are currently weaving our way through a situation in our lives where we have truly seen God’s hand at work, but are so impatient for a complete resolution because we are wanting Him to remove the “uncertainty” of it all. But we too have been finding that God does not work that way. He’s been giving us little powerful and poignant victories here and there in this situation (always in HIS perfect timing!) He wants us to TRUST! And sometimes it is sooooooo hard! So, THANK YOU! We are praying with you and for you!!! I asked yesterday about hearing your radio program again but did not read your post thoroughly enough. And, now I see where I can listen again to your pod cast on WFIA. Yay! It was deeply moving for me and a great wake-up call (along with Bob Russell’s Psalm 90 sermon yesterday). I want my husband to hear you and Kurt as well.
This message is so appropriate for all of us including me. I want answers, yesterday! It is so difficult to wait and cannot understand why God does not send answers now. A few days ago, my husband’s mother died and we could not understand why God made us and her wait. She has been in a nursing home for quite a few years and wanted to die for so long. Only God knows what He was waiting for. I can only guess. But truly you are so right, it did produce perseverance for so many people. Allowing perseverance to finish its work does produce maturity and completeness as it tests our faith. Thank you for the reminder to continue persevering and wait for the Lord’s perfect timing. I continue to pray for the 100/100/100. 95 lbs. – Yea!!