April 2016

 As we road in the van down to the beach for spring break the girls got tired of watching movies (or at least Kaitlyn did, I’m not for sure Madison would ever be tired of watching tv) and Kaitlyn suggested we play the alphabet game.  So we did.  Michelle got off to a fast start.  I help the girls get going by pointing out some of the letters.  Kaitlyn had gotten E and was looking for F.  She had been stuck there for a bit and saw a truck go by and asked does PH work for F.  She is always looking at things with a good perspective.  We of course told her no, but good try.
 
It made me think though.  Do I ever get tired of waiting, or looking and start trying to make things work or fit right?  Do I ever assume that I know how this or that is going to work and then when it doesn’t I get frustrated, discouraged, or just start trying the next thing?  Do I ever think, “I’ve been waiting a while for an F, maybe I am supposed to just us a PH?
 
There is a story at the end of Judges that always amazes me.  It is about the Israelites fight with the Benjamites (Yes, Benjamin is part of Israel, so if you want to know why they are fighting them- Judges 19).  The other tribes are ready to fight Benjamin and they ask the Lord which tribe should lead them into battle and the Lord tells them Judah.  So they go out the first day and they lose 22,000 fighting men.  The men take back up their fighting position and some go and weep before the Lord.  They ask if they should go up and fight Benjamin again and the Lord says yes and so they go out to battle again.  On the second day, they lose 18,000 fighting men.  Again, Israel weeps before the Lord and they ask again, “shall we go up again to battle with Benjamin our brother, or not?”  The Lord responds, “Go, for tomorrow I will give them into your hands.”
 
Now I don’t know about you, but after the first day of losses, I would have been wondering about another way.  After the second day of loses, there would have been a long strategy meeting.  I would have been wondering if we heard God right, if we were really doing the right thing.  I would have started to ask if we could use a PH instead of an F.
 
The psalmist tells us many times that we are to wait upon the Lord.  Sometimes not working is involved in waiting.  Waiting on Him to lead us or direct us or guide us.  But sometimes we work and are not waiting until God works.  So I want to encourage you to wait.  Don’t be discouraged.  The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise (2 Peter 3:9).   Keep lifting up your heart for His will.  Keep looking for Him to work in hearts.  Keep looking for Him to bring the F even when you are ready for a PH. 
 
Because of Him,
Lynn