Dear #DailyFollower,
Introduction
Two days ago, I shared the power of tarrying as a critical path for moving from being a follower to being a witness.
These thoughts on tarrying as a daily follower’s practice have lingered, and I wanted to share more. They may have lingered [possibly] because I’ve been in a waiting season and have first-hand experience with the transformative power of waiting.
We’re losing the art and practice of waiting in our fast-paced world.
In the process of time and experience, I am learning the value of patience as a daily following witness.
Before discussing what happens when we wait, let me share some thoughts on the value of patiently waiting on God based on two scriptures that have come alive to me in a new dimension.
The Value of Patience
James, the brother of our Lord Jesus Christ, teaches early believers of Jewish heritage about how to handle difficult times with a joyful outlook. In James 1:2-4, EXB, James says:
2 My brothers and sisters [fellow believers], when you have many kinds of ·troubles [trials; testing], ·you should be full of joy [consider it all/pure joy], 3 because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you ·patience [perseverance; endurance]. 4 [And] Let your ·patience [perseverance; endurance] ·show itself perfectly in what you do [have its full effect; finish its work]. Then you will be ·perfect and complete [mature and whole; or completely mature] and will ·have everything you need [lack nothing].
If allowed, waiting seasons create conditions that test our faith. These faith-testing conditions help us build patience, and when perfect and complete patience continues to be evident in all we do, we have access to everything we need to fulfil God’s agenda.
The author of Hebrews shared this thought to encourage believers to pursue Christian maturity in Hebrews 6:12, EXB, echoing the thoughts James shared:
12 We do not want you to become ·lazy [sluggish; in contrast to diligent; v. 11]. Be ·like [imitators of] those who, through faith and ·patience [endurance], will ·receive [inherit] what God has promised.
So, what’s the value of patience?
It keeps us following and witnessing despite changing seasons until we access all of God’s promises for us.
Waiting patiently is vital to inheriting the promises of God for us.
Now, what happens when we wait?
When we wait…
Isaiah 40:31, EXB answers that question:
31 But the people who ·trust [hope in; wait on] the Lord will become strong again.
They will rise up ·as an eagle in the sky [with wings like eagles];
they will run and not ·need rest [grow weary];
they will walk and not ·become tired [faint].
When we wait, we gain strength to:
Walk and not become tired; when we do that consistently, and we do it long enough,
We run, and we do not need rest; when we also do this consistently long enough,
Then, we fly as an eagle in the sky on the wind gusts of the many troubles James spoke about.
Conclusion
We’re built for the sky, built to ride on the winds of many troubles and soar higher and higher as a testimony of what God does for those who wait on Him.
Our grace-enabled walking, running, and soaring witness Christ’s Good News to a world desperate for the manifestation of the sons (and daughters) of God.
It’s tough to wait, and we need grace to wait.
Thankfully, God's grace abounds toward all His followers, enabling them to do good works, one of which is patiently waiting on Him.
Yours faithfully,
John, a #DailyFollower.
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