I know that when I am waiting, a lot of that time is spent thinking about what to do when, what about this, that, the other. When will this be ready? When will I realize the end?
“7Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! 8Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. 9For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.” – Psalm 37:7-9 (ESV)
I find myself doing the opposite of the verses above. When waiting, I do look around and see others prospering. I do see others getting away with and getting ahead, or so it seems. I feel as though I am not getting anywhere and others are “winning” even when their motives are not centered on God (as far as I can see).
The verses I have quoted from Psalm should be my guide. I should be looking to God and not looking out at others. I should be concerned with what is going on in my life and not that which is going on in the lives of others and their “wins and/or losses”.
Fret and worry get us nowhere. When we are concerned with what is going on around us, we take our focus off of the plan and work that God has in store for us. We cannot focus on our actions if we are worried about the actions of others. I have to be looking out for my relationship with God and my family.
All of those around me are of no consequence except that I should treat them and love them as God loves the church and me. Where they are in their relationship with God is not for me to say. I am only to pray for and lift them up to God and allow God to do the work in their lives as He continues to work in my life.
Waiting for God does not mean that we should worry. I need to wait on God’s plan to be revealed to me and when it is, I must be ready to take action. If I am looking at others, how can I be ready to the action God has in store for me.
When you wait, are you looking around at others? Are you concerned with what is going on around you as opposed to what is going on with you? Are you fretting and worrying as opposed to just waiting?
Trevor's Thoughts 