Do you think the discipline of waiting helps us grow closer to God? It certainly is a possibility. However, don’t you think it depends on how we wait? Often, delays cause our anger to rise towards God, and we turn away from Him when we need Him most.
To assure that our relationship deepens in intimacy with God while we wait, we must be willing to face the anger we harbor inside. #waiting #closertoGod Share on XThe Anger in the Wait
It may feel uncomfortable letting God know our innermost feelings, especially the anger. Perhaps our negative thoughts center around the knowledge that God can work miracles, yet He hasn’t.
Does it ever seem unchristian to utter direct displeasure to God on His lack of movement?
I used to believe it was wrong to express anger in God’s direction until I poured over the Psalms in the Bible. There are still times I allow my anger to go unspoken, and a giant wall goes up between the Lord and me. You can read about it in “When You Are Disappointed with God.”
But remember, the Lord already knows what’s in our hearts. Keeping it bottled inside will only build a wall and keep God at a distance when you need Him more than ever. Expressing our thoughts and feelings aloud to Him helps us release the anger and accept God’s comfort, wisdom, and perspective, which is bound to help us grow closer to God. Perhaps, reading “Ten Steps to Take When You Are Disappointed with God.” will help.
Of course, it makes sense that you don’t want to wait for healing to take place, a job to transpire, or your circumstances to improve. It may help to remember, Jesus understands what it’s like to be human. He has seen and experienced the pain of waiting during his time on earth. When we lean into the Lord with our disappointment in the delay, we will grow closer in our relationship with Him.
Trust God in the Wait
Our intimacy grows when we choose to trust God in the wait. What choice will you make?
O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.
Waiting Helps Us Grow Closer to God
Pam Ecrement has some beautiful words on the discipline of waiting and how it helps us grow closer to God. I am featuring her post today because I want you to hear her wise words. Pam also points out why waiting is so hard. Pam’s post had the most click in September on our Grace & Truth Link-Up.
Now for our Featured Post
The Discipline of Waiting
By Pam Ecrement
Click here to read.
Today, our featured post on Grace & Truth Link-Up is written by Pam Ecrement—“The Discipline of Waiting” #graceandtruth #featuredpost #graceandtruth #featuredpost #waiting Share on XHow has waiting drawn you closer to God?
Now Let’s Link Up!
Click here to enter.
Waiting Series
We would love to have you join our community.
Embracing the Unexpected | Maree Dee
Subscribe today and never miss a post!
To find a few of my favorite places where I might be sharing this post, click here.
Maree, what a beautiful post. Waiting can be so hard. It’s definitely character-growing. Thanks for the reminder to be honest with God about how we’re feeling and what we’re thinking. He knows it anyway, but there’s something in being vulnerable before Him that is reassuring in the wait.
Jeanne,
What a good point you made that there is something good that comes from being vulnerable with God. Thank you for adding your wisdom to our conversation.
Blessings,
Maree
This is such a beautiful approach to waiting, Maree: “When we lean into the Lord with our disappointment in the delay, we will grow closer in our relationship with Him.” May it be so!
Thank you for your encouraging remark; I am glad you found my words beautiful. It means the world coming from you who has incredible words. Maree
Sometimes in the waiting I begin to see other possibilities and become open for more than just what I want. Open to what God wants. Waiting can help me say your will and not mine.
Theresa,
Thank you for sharing your experience in the wait. I love what you said, “become open for more than just what I want.” I think I am heading into a delay I wasn’t anticipating, and your words were so helpful. Yes, God’s will is much better than our own. Maree
Thank you Maree. I love the psalm you quoted above.
Bless you,
Jennifer
Thank you. I love that one too. Blessings, Maree
It’s true, how we wait makes all the difference in whether waiting brings us closer to God or creates a wall. It’s hard, especially when the answer we long for seems so good and reasonable to us. I’ve sometimes wondered why God told Abraham about Isaac so long before the answer would be fulfilled. Often with our own kids, we wait to tell them something exciting is coming up just so we don’t have to answer the questions every day of when it’s happening or deal with their impatience. But even though God knows it’s hard for us, He allows it for our good, to teach us and draw us closer and strengthen our faith.
Thank you for sharing about Abraham and Isaac. It reminds me God has lots to teach us in the wait. I hope you had a great weekend. Maree