Infinite Fellowship Ministries

Waiting – 2016 February Fast (Day 10): Devotion By Deaconess Jackie Wandia

For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 

Romans 8:22-25 (NIV)

Paul is passing along to us the secret of the sojourning heart. We live in hope, and he says hoping is waiting.

We are all at one point of our lives waiting on God for something. It could be for the fulfillment of a word, a promotion, a good job, a business opportunity, for an item we hope to possess or for the fulfillment of certain desires and dreams.

The truth is that waiting is not easy and can be discouraging.

I would like to share the excerpt below from a book I am reading:

To wait is to learn a spiritual discipline. It is to learn the spiritual grace of detachment. It is the freedom of desire, not the absence of it but desire at rest. St. John of the Cross lamented, “Desires weary and fatigue the soul; for they are like the restless and discontented children, who are ever demanding this or that from their mother.” Detachment is coming to the place where those demanding children are at peace. As King David said, “I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.” [Psalm 131:2]

The word detachment is not a cold and indifferent attitude. May writes, “An authentic spiritual understanding of detachment devalues neither desire nor the objects of desire. Instead, it aims at correcting ones own anxious grasping in order to free oneself for committed relationship to God.” 

As Thomas Kempis declared, “Wait a little while, O my soul, wait for the Divine promise, and thou shall have abundance of all good things in heaven.”

In this posture we discover that indeed we are expanded by longing. Something grows in us, a capacity if you will, for life and love and God. Waiting does not diminish us. We are instead enlarged in waiting. We, of course, do not see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become and the more joyful our expectancy.

Prayer Points:

1. First, I would like us to take time today thank God for His faithfulness.

Though we still wait for the fulfilment of various things, we are encouraged because the character of God is that of one who is faithful.

2. Ask God to strengthen you as you wait on Him. Ask Him to help you change your posture as you wait.

May it not diminish us but instead enlarge us and draw our hearts to Him.