Donkeys, Elephants, and Waiting

As election day has rolled around, my mind has been a thinking about all that is taking place but I keep coming back to a couple thoughts. First off, it is so crazy that we put so much hope in this one man who is just a man. We hope he will change the lives of Americans but how much more could a Man who rose from the dead, offers true and eternnal life, and casts our sins as far as the east is from the west change our lives.  But the thought that has hit home even more is, if God is not in control, what hope do we have? This is such a central factor to my perspective toward life. In fact, most of my concepts of who God is would fall apart if it were not true that He is in control.  

In reality, it hasn’t just been the election that has brought this last thought to mind. Another reason I have been dwelling on the significance of God being in control is because Brandon and I are soon to find out where we are headed next. As God has been preparing my heart for what is to come, I have realized that I must trust that God is over this situation, or else I so easily find myself doubting, complaining, or worrying.

We were supposed to find out where we are headed about 10 days ago, but since it has been delayed, we are using this time to allow God to prepare us and grow us, and God has been faithful to do so. I keep reminding myself that God is for us, not against us. The first several days were quite difficult. We kind of felt like what we imagined it to be like to go over-due while pregnant. This monumental, magical date comes and goes with no excitement at all. Then every night you go to sleep thinking it will be the next day and everywhere you turn, people are asking you about it. :) Yet in the span of the first few days, while my heart was growing impatient and anxious, God reminded me of what He longed for my response to be each time I turned on the radio. I don’t think it is an extremely commonly played song right now, but two days in a row, when I flipped on the radio while working in the kitchen, John Waller’s song, “While I’m Waiting”, was the first song to play.   

The lyrics read:

I'm waiting, I'm waiting on You Lord 

And I am hopeful, I'm waiting on You Lord 
Though it is painful, but patiently I will wait 

And I will move ahead bold and confident 
Taking every step in obedience 

While I'm waiting, I will serve You 
While I'm waiting, I will worship 
While I'm waiting, I will not faint 
I'll be running the race even while I wait 

I'm waiting, I'm waiting on You Lord 
And I am peaceful, I'm waiting on You Lord 
Though it's not easy no, but faithfully I will wait 
Yes, I will wait 

I will serve You while I'm waiting 
I will worship while I'm waiting 
I will serve You while I'm waiting 
I will worship while I'm waiting 
I will serve You while I'm waiting 
I will worship while I'm waiting on You Lord 



Even though my focus is frequently not where He desires it to be, God has definitely used this song and this period of waiting to refocus my heart and I am thankful. This month, during the wait, there has been other good change in our hearts and lives. Together, Brandon and I have strived to refocus other arenas of our life and hope that God is glorified through more deliberate attempts to be good stewards of what He has called us to (ex: less dependence on technology, more effort towards growing relationships, more focus on our roles at home, more structured days, etc). All in all, it's been a good month and we are grateful! 

 
(More catch-up blogging from this past month, plus pictures and a couple videos should be coming soon)