My 4 year old bounces into my bedroom as I make the bed, “Mom, can I have a cheese stick?” she asks.
“Hmmm…not right now. You can have one later for your snack.”
“But, I want a cheese stick now!” she says whining.
“You can have one later as your snack. You’re not getting one now.”
“But…”
Sitting down on my bed, I motion for her to come to me. Picking her up and nestling her tiny frame into my lap I respond, “I said not right now. And that’s the answer. Don’t ask me again.”
“But I really want a cheese stick now.”
“I know that you do, and I’m going to let you have one when it’s snack time. Until then, you don’t need to whine. You don’t need to ask me again. You just need to wait patiently until it’s snack time. Yes ma’am?”
“Yes ma’am.”
And then I tickle her and she belly laughs. And I kiss her all over her face and join her in thunderous laughter.
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He drives home that message through a 4 year old and a cheese stick. That message of hoping, trusting, and waiting {silently} on Him for all things.
“God, I want .”
“You may have it later, but not now.”
“But God, I really want .”
“Not right now. It’s not time for you to have that.”
“But God!!!!”
He picks me up and nestles my adult frame into His over-sized Papa lap and says, “I know that you want it, and I’m going to let you have it when the time is right. Until then, you don’t need to whine. You don’t need to ask Me again. You just need to wait patiently and silently until the appointed time has come.”
“Yes Lord.”
And I sit with Him a while secure. Hoping. Trusting. Knowing His timing is perfect. And He smiles. And my heart is at peace.
“Those who hopefully wait for Me will not be put to shame…Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose trust is the LORD…The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock…My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him.He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken”
Isaiah 49:23; Jeremiah 17:7; Isaiah 26:3-4; Psalm 62:5,6, nas
Well, alrighty then….that post has my name written all over it. I had such a whiney pity party about a week ago until God told me to just settle down and trust Him. Mercy, I’m sure I try His Holy patience sometimes. Great post!!
Oh, Leah! I try His patience A LOT!!! So thankful He is a patience, merciful God!!!
Wow, I needed this one! It’s so true. Sometimes I can be so impatient and whiney!
Me too, Barbie! Praying we both learn to rest and wait silently in Him.