Waiting

I don’t do well at waiting- never have. 2020-2021 has been an incredible period of waiting. Waiting on DRC to open during COVID-19 so that I could return to the USA. Nervously waiting for traveling to become safer as my re-entry visa to the DRC expired. Waiting through times of sickness and death for family members and friends. Waiting through transitions and change as several close friends moved out-of-state. Waiting through times of great lonliness and isolation because of having to travel. Waiting for decisions of churches for speaking engagements. And now, the Delta variant of COVID threatens a period of waiting before being able to purchase a ticket and return to the DRC at the end of the year!

     My staff in Africa suffers with the pain of waiting, too. They want Mama Jane to return to them “now” rather than at the end of the year. When I call them for monthly staff meetings, my two dogs hear my voice on speakerphone and I hear their cries that they, too, are tired of waiting. My greetings were given to the leadership of the District, and people cheered to hear that I am well. But they also asked for my return.

     Although I still do poorly in waiting on “people” and “things”, I have grown stronger in waiting on the Lord. Isaiah chapter 40 is titled “Comfort for God’s People”. If you can take the time, I encourage you to read it. We are probably most familiar with these verses (28-31):

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understnading no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

     Are you weary of waiting? Don’t depend on your own strength. Turn to the everlasting God, and he will give you the strength you need.

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