It’s a big decision. It’s weighty and has impact on you, others and the future. You’ve prayed and then prayed some more. You’re trying so hard to wait on God and not rush ahead with your plans. You desperately want to be obedient to God’s will.
But this waiting to hear from heaven is kind of exhausting when the air is still and quiet. God has brought you this far . . . but you start to wonder, “What do you want me to do?! Are you listening? Do you know I’m trying to love you through my actions?”
Praying about a situation myself the other morning, I was feeling all the same things you probably do when you’re wondering what God wants you to do next? Stomach in knots, not able to think about anything else, feeling the pressure of time and needing God to reveal His will in the answer.
I was asking for wisdom when God spoke these words to me. I’ll share them with you in hopes they bring as much comfort and peace to your heart as they did mine.
God knows the next steps, we don’t have to.
We can spend our time worshipping instead of worrying.
God will speak and reveal His will in His timing. Never a moment too late.
We don’t have to try to listen when we can hear a whisper perfectly sitting at Jesus’s feet in the throne room.
I’m so thankful for this perspective changer. I asked for wisdom and God poured it out in an answer that overshadows any earthly moment and draws me to Himself. Isn’t that what He wants? More of us with Him?
Let’s remind God of our needs and He will bend down to hold our dear faces with an answer. Let’s focus on WHO we are asking and respond in worship to the One not constrained by time or circumstances, but who holds all truth in Himself and promises to pour out His wisdom and Spirit on those who ask for it.
May you have peace as you sit at His feet with your sisters, not worried about when the answer to your prayer will come or what it will be, but simply in awe of Jesus Himself.
Oh, how He loves us.
Leave a Comment
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Stephanie,
Isn’t that just like God not to work on MY schedule? lol. I’ve prayed prayers that I have seen tangible answers to within minutes or hours. I’ve also prayed prayers for 20 years….praying….waiting….losing hope….praying some more…..listening…..silence….praying and finally an answer. I think you hit the nail on the head…it’s not about the answer, it’s about drawing near to God. When I am praying, waiting, abiding, I am leaning into and relying on Him and not myself. God in His wisdom and knowledge knows just the right timing for me and so yes, I will praise and worship Him (not necessarily FOR all things) but IN all things instead of worrying. God is faithful. I know I can trust Love’s heart.
Blessings,
Bev xx
Michele Morin says
It occurred to me as I read your own story that my default is a different “w.” I tend to work when I’m worried — as if by my effort, I could move the hand of God just a little bit faster. There are many circumstances in life in which I want to make worship my fall back plan, so thanks for this example of how it’s working for you.
Anna Brown says
Oh wow I totally relate to you. My husband has just been signed off sick for “another” week. The last week he gets sick pay. So straight away I figure I have to find a job which pays me £300 a week, plus have the time to drop kids to school, walk the dog and look after hubby. I don’t know what to do or where to turn or start. Of course the first thing is to worship and ask the One who is the source of everything. Thank you for sharing Michele and Stephanie. I needed to hear these words. Now to praise him while I dismantle a load of pallets my husband ordered before being sick.
Michele Morin says
Lord, please speak into Anna’s confusion and give her direction. As she turns her eyes toward you, I pray that you would bring resolution and relief in this very hard season.
Kristen says
Anna, praying for you to allow God’s word to be a light unto your path. That you can achieve every task set before you in the strength that He supplies. Amen
Beth Williams says
Anna,
Praying for a quick healing from the Healer for your husband. Asking God to give you discernment as to your next steps . May He give you the strength you need to accomplish all you need to get done! Keep on worshiping God & He will answer our prayers in His time. Take this journey one day-even one step at a time. Draw near to Him & listen for His still small voice!
(((((Hugs)))))
Jessica says
Fantastic. The Lord took a hold of your pen this morning, Ms Stephanie. Thanks for putting His words into this devotion. I needed to hear Him tell me this today!
Vanessa says
Perfect timing !! Thank you
Mwihaki says
Stefanie thank you for sharing this perspective new to me- I need to worship more and more and shift focus to God.
Linda Shukri says
Thank you for sharing this. I need constant reassurance to keep my faith grounded in the fact that God is in control of our lives and is working behind the scenes. My husband and I have been without a church family for 18 months and worshipping by ourselves. No Christian fellowship. All our family are in the States. We are “stranded” in Canada and are praying to move back to the States, but because of certain financial issues, we can’t sell and move or we’d lose a lot of money and not be able to purchase another home without having a mortgage (we are in our 60s). We know the Lord put us in this situation for us to draw closer to Him. He purposely led us to the Red Sea where we can’t cross until He parts the waters. Last night and this morning, I thanked the Lord that we are in this situation instead of where a Christian friend of ours back in the States is dealing with cancer. The Lord may take him. We don’t know. I told the Lord I would rather stay in Canada forever than have a serious and possibly terminal illness like our friend is dealing with. We have no idea how the Lord will provide for our financial deficit, and so we wait and wait and wait.
Thank you again for reminding me. I look forward to the daily encouragement I receive from incourage.me. Thanks so much!
Penny says
Linda,
As a Canadian I welcome you, and pray that all will be well in your present situation. I’m so sorry about your friend and my prayers go out to them.
blessings,
Penny
Linda Shukri says
Thank you, Penny! 🙂 It’s all in the Lord’s timing, and as humans, we are impatient for things to happen. 🙂 We can be thankful the Lord is on our side, because if He wasn’t, we’d have no hope and be utterly miserable, wouldn’t we?
Thanks again for your comment. I appreciate hearing from you. 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Brenda says
“Oh, how He loves us.” — Thank you, Jesus. — Just before coming here, I was commenting to a Thanksgiving-themed post and wrote, “I’m thankful for the way He loves me.” — Sweet to come here and feel solidarity in spirit. xoxo
Penny says
Stephanie,
This was a lovely post thank-you for your words.
Have a blessed day all,
Penny
Pearl Allard says
Stephanie, thank you. Well-timed post. May He help us “worship instead of worry”! Love that!
Karina Allen says
I am camping in this Steph!!! All I can do is sit and weep and worship.
Thank you for this Rhema word sister! I am grateful for you!
Stephanie says
Words for my soul! My husband and I feel called to have a farm… but when and where? We have been looking and have heard NOTHING for 2 years. We love England, is that the Where but now is not the when? Do I just move forward in my life in our current situation, plant the gardens, settle in until God says to move? Or do I stay ready, not grow the roots? I’m at a root-planting decision this month and don’t know whether to say no thanks to the offer in case we need to uproot, or dig in and hope the resources are there when we need them. Your words comfort me that God has a plan and will have the resources for us with his plan. Thanks, Stephanie. By the way, I LOVE your farm! ; )
Stephanie
JKShep says
Thank you for your post. I sit here in tears right now waiting to hear from the Lord. I don’t know what to do in my situation, because I feel like I’m doing nothing, even when I praise and pray. I trust and believe God for who He is and what He can do. But worry and fear overwhelms me to the point of where I feel that I can hardly breath. Please pray that in this time of silence that I can lean in and on Him and trust that He is working out whatever it my be for my good. I can’t get my head and heart in alignment to have total trust in God. Please help me to trust that even though man puts a date on a calendar that God, who is the creator of time, is not constrained by a physical calendar date. Thank you again for your words.
MG says
Dear JKShep, please know that our Good Father hears our heart when we don’t have the words to speak. He catches every tear that falls. He never leaves our side.
Father, please send Your joy and Your peace to fill JK at this time. Put wise counselors and supporters in her path to help her make the decisions and take the actions she needs to take. God you are the creator of time and the creator of each of us. You value JK and will be with her and her future.Help her to tangibly feel Your love surrounding her and holding her close. Bless her with the hope of Your presence. Amen
Kim B Smith says
The biggest thing I deal with is patience, with God, with myself and with others. And because of this, yes worrying comes into play along with all the questions of what direction do I go next. I am now replacing worry with worship and a lot of gratitude for God.
I am in awe of Jesus.
Thank you, Stephanie!
Rebecca L Jones says
Yes, He does. All we can hold on to.
Kmberly says
This post struck a cord with me today. Thank you and thank God for your wise insight.
Beth Williams says
Stephanie,
My aging dad had a set back in his health back in late February. I had to put him in the hospital again. My thoughts were “oh no not again”. “I can’t do this anymore”. The next day I put my computer on the dining room table & listened to Stephen Curtis Chapman songs. I danced & sang in my kitchen. It was all I could do to not go crazy. It seemed to soothe my soul. I continued for the next few days listening to his music-songs like “Do Everything”, “Speechless”, “Dive” “Pray” and “Live Out Loud”. I didn’t realize it but I was worshiping God & forgetting about my problem.
Blessings 🙂
Martha McNeal says
Thank you sincerely for this post. And may it ever be that nothing is able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. He knows the way we take, because He is the way as long as we continue to abide in Him through it all. For He has been with us through all of it and will forever be.
Kim says
Amen. Amen.
Karen says
I relate to this word also….in my life, sometimes the circumstances dictate that a decision HAS to be made and many times I haven’t heard while I’m still waiting. During those times I usually say “God, I’m going to make the decision to do “this”, and if “this” isn’t right…stop me. And you know what? Sometimes He stops my decision from fruition and other times it was the right decision. God uses both to build confidence in myself and my decision making abilities….and confidence in Him that He is always right there with me.
Thank you for the great article.