ENCOURAGING OURSELVES on the Character of God

How many times in life do we find ourselves in the “waiting room” awaiting God’s intervention in the practical events of life?   My guess would be “A LOT!”

I think life is “abundant in the pauses and holding patterns.”  From my simple walk of faith, I’ve found that it’s not really the answer to our prayers that’s critical, but the time “in between.”   You know, the time frame between your sharing your concerns with Him and the actual “answer” to prayer. 

For me, I’ve been discovering that the time in between is when He seems to establish His best work in our minds, hearts and souls.   We often refer to this arena of time as the “waiting time.” 

I don’t know of anyone who enjoys the luxury of waiting, whether it be in traffic, the grocery store, or at the doctor’s office.   I admit, I’m on board with all of you who claim this flawed character quality.  I can be as impatient at times for even a casserole that’s in the oven for 45 minutes, much less hours, days, weeks or years.

I’m also convinced that it’s in the “waiting period” that our spiritual eyes can be refocused and enhanced.  God yearns that we not only know a truth about Him, that He is omnipotent (all powerful), omnipresent (present everywhere), omniscient (knows everything about all things); but that He deeply wants us to “EXPERIENCE HIM” in and through each day of our waiting…..not just in waiting for the answer.

Faith and character are developed in this “waiting period.”  The situation is the womb; and it is in the “waiting womb” that our character, our faith, perseverance and our hope is developed.

No wonder God gave the birth of a baby about nine months to develop before entering the world.   We talk about the formative years, but for a baby to be born.. it’s formative months.  

Christian maturity isn’t an over-night transition.  He uses each of the issues in our life to build our faith and trust in Him, and it’s “in those times” that we’re stretched and tested, like gold being refined by fire.

God is always at work, but we may feel like much of His work is going on underground, out of our sight, but it is going on, and is real none-the-less. 

This recent scenario in my life which I will describe, I found very down-to-earth, yet it is both astounding and encouraging.  It all began unraveling without any effort on my part.

We have our home up for sale.  For those of you who have ever sold a house and waited for a buyer you can relate to that even though it’s a regular and routine occurrence for a realtor.  It can be emotional and stressful just waiting on the “right buyer.”

You probably know the ropes on this one.  You obtain a realtor, go through the motion of price and staging your home so it “doesn’t look lived in at all,” and then it’s advertised, and probably soon an “open house” will be scheduled.

In our case the open house would be held for those who actually make an appointment to see it; thus preventing all your neighbors from taking a lookie-look throughout your home without being invited.

We had one open house the weekend before and another one this day.  Times were set, just two hours for that “right buyer” to float by and say the words, “we love it….and make an acceptable offer.”

Minutes before I circled our home and turned on all the lights throughout the home.  The realtor arrived and off I went in the car to give those coming through our home the privacy they needed.

I’ve moved many times in our married life, so I knew that I didn’t need to go far, just far enough so people flocking through our home would not be aware that I was only two homes away, in my neighbor’s driveway, stalking the potential clients…..I mean getting a glimpse of who was coming and going and the length of time they spent in our home.

There were disappointments as one couple spent just 5 minutes and the other 10 minutes looking.  It’s not rocket science to realize this home didn’t appeal to what they were looking for. 

Two hours of “waiting” had passed.  But prior to my exiting our home I began to sing the hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”  After parking myself comfortably in my neighbor’s driveway (yes, I had permission), my mind kept reviewing some truths about God and His ways in our lives.

He directs our steps and the steps of others.

He has a plan and purpose for this waiting time.

He knows already what He has in mind in meeting our need of the sale.

He has His own timeline in the answer, and a timeline for the waiting too.

He is at work in this situation to work things out for my good & His glory.

He knows what He is about….in all of this.

He wants me to just “trust Him” and “acknowledge Him” in all my ways.

All these truths were brought to my mind by His Holy Spirit.

Now I need to share that towards the end of the time line of the open house, I was discouraged that no one appeared to have any interest.  The home showed beautifully (the realtor stated), but buying a home needs to be a glove fit, doesn’t it?!

Before I proceed further, I want to share the encouragement God gave me the following day.  I’m a journaler, and that helps me keep “track” of God’s activity in my life.

“Every time of waiting is just your heavenly Father WORKING IN THE UNSEEN for your ultimate good.”  Romans 8:28

“God……acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him.”  Isaiah 64:4

“You may not perceive Him, and you may not be able to imagine how He is engineering your circumstances for your benefit.  Abandon yourself to His care!”

“This is the wisdom of the patient person:  He or she understands that God is ACTIVELY ORCHESTRATING THE DETAILS OF HIS OR HER SITUATION AND WILL INTERVENE AT JUST THE RIGHT MOMENT, even when THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF HIS ACTIVITY.   Hebrews 11:1

All of the above was taken from the book “Wisdom From Above” by Dr. Charles Stanley.  I just happened to be on that page for that date.

Now………..back to the car.   At the end of the time for the open house, I pulled into our driveway and entered our home.  Both the realtor and I were busy turning off all the lights.  Once the realtor left, I felt like I needed some fresh air…..and some fresh attitude.

I exited my home and took our little dog for a walk around the block.  This walking routine only took about 15 minutes.  As a rounded the corner, I was now approaching the area of our home when I noticed two Chinese ladies standing by the “for sale sign,” pointing and chatting in their native Mandarin language.

As I approached, they noticed me and we just exchanged pleasantries of a smile and that was it.  As I stepped onto the driveway I heard a loud “hello!”   I turned to respond and in broken English, they asked me if the house was mine?   Yes, I live here. 

Then, the surprise came.  Can we come and look at it?   For just a moment, I thought, “My realtor usually does this, but here’s an opportunity, a live one, that is interested.”  

What’s a person to do in this situation?  Of course, open the door and have them come in.  It took less than a minute to present myself at the front door.  Entering, I ran to a few lights and turned them on and then welcomed them inside.  I pointed them to the master bedroom and I placed myself way ahead of them frantically turning on every light in sight.

As they paused in that room, I exited and flew around the main floor lighting again every lamp and wall switch I could find.  To make a long story short, they toured the place calmly and I opened cupboards and doors to show them some features of the home.   I wanted them to feel “at home” and see where all this would lead.

After the grand tour, she shared she wanted her husband to see it.  It took a couple of phrases for me to understand that he was just down the street and could appear in l5 minutes.  You see, they were visiting their daughter, who lives down the street.  How convenient would that be for Mom and Dad to live “just up the street” from family?!

Time passed and Mr. Husband appeared and the woman was showing him around the same route I took her and her daughter.  At the end of the show time, which was about 45 minutes, I encouraged her that if she was interested, she needed to phone our realtor.  She smiled and exited our home.

Again, I was in “lights-off” mode.  All the while amazed at what had just taken place.  It was as though God addressed every character quality that I rehearsed in the car.

He was showing me that He has “His plans and ways” of selling the home and He didn’t need the realtor to show the home.  He wanted to use “me” to just tour the place with this smiling stranger.

This may be the end of that event and the people may or may not ever contact our realtor and enter the home again.  But it showed me IN THE MIDST OF MY WAITING and even DISCOURGEMENT He wanted to make Himself known “to me….little ole me.” 

HE WANTED ME TO EXPERIENCE HIM in the midst of all that seemingly went wrong and not according to my hopes and expectations. 

GOD SHOWED UP…………..AND SHOWED OFF for me!!!!!

No answer, just that He wanted me to know He knew what I was thinking and feeling.  And even if nothing comes from all this, the experiencing Him “filled me with tremendous joy.”  Yes, joy in this tiny activity on my street and in my home.

And regarding His orchestrating our steps, if I had left for my walk one minute “earlier,” I would have never seen the women at the for sale sign. 

How’s that for “God’s timing and tender care” of such a practical need in life.    And if they return with interest and an offer, believe me, there will be a sequel to this story!