Wait Well

I am pretty sure this is exactly the lesson the Lord is trying to teach us.

As we wait “patiently” for orders to our next assignment, we have come to realize this is a repetitive thing. With many of our military friends, we have seen orders come months before an actual move. God doesn’t really do this with us.

In fact, what usually happens is we receive orders pretty late in the game (think: a few weeks before move date) and then the Lord schedules things like family commitments, TDYs and other things that keep us going till we actually drive or fly away.

The first few times this happened we were surprised and even a tad overwhelmed. As it starts to be a repetitive thing, we are starting to see God’s hand on it.

We are planners by nature. Living in a black and white, schedule-oriented world, both my husband and I like to iron out all of the details and have a plan in place prior to taking the first step.

God has other plans.

Through our PCS (Permanent Change of Station) experiences, we have found that the Lord continues to teach us some things:

1. We need to finish well where we are. Truly, we long to be obedient, but it’s hard not to get “short-timers syndrome” in those last months. Our hearts can get more focused on where we are headed that living in the place where we are. The Lord wants us to finish well here, and then go looking for what He has next.
2. It’s not about the plan, but about a relationship. God has a plan. Don’t ask us what that is right now as we get ready to go again, but we know He has one. He has every time. What He wants from us more than creating a plan is to trust Him one step at a time along the way.
3. He is faithful. We have yet to show up at a new place and not have a place to live, a church home, a community to which we belong, and adventure. He provides every single time. If He has done it every time before He will do it again this time.

So as you wait, for whatever it is you are waiting for, remember to finish well where you are, rank the relationship over the plan, and remember His faithfulness. Surely we can’t go wrong.

What are you waiting for?

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

Psalm 27:14 “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”