Waiting with Rejoicing

I smiled as I watched her get everything ready. My nine year old daughter on a mission. Dressed in her pink striped fuzzy robe, she grabbed her little white wooden rocking chair (thank you Grandpa) and her Build-a-Bear Bunny, dressed in its own Bunny robe (thank you Grandma) and walked out onto the porch. She situated her rocking chair facing the street so as to be able to see the delivery truck long before it got to our house. She and Bunny sat and smiled and and rocked and waited. It was 9:00 am.

For the previous few months, she (and Bunny) had been saving their money. The goal was a doll who was "so beautiful!" that she just had to have it. Finally the day had come. Just the night before, we'd checked the tracking information, and the delivery was set for the next day. That was today. She was so excited. She stayed on the porch the whole day. She ate out there. She changed Bunny's clothes out there. She missed 4 spelling words out there. She was happy and busy and cheerful and full of anticipation. She was all smiles as she talked about the clothes she ordered for the doll and the (OMG!!!) earrings that came with it! She was so very happy. . . while she waited. She trusted and imagined . . . while she waited. She was committed to the watching and the waiting.

As I watched her, I thought of how much of the delivery process she didn't understand. She had no idea how our delivery guy had gotten her package. She didn't know what route he'd take or the odds that he'd get lost . . . or not. She didn't know his present location or exactly what time to expect him. She only knew his promise. The email said that her long awaited prize was to be delivered today. Mom and Dad had confirmed it. Enough said.

As I watched her, enjoying the sweet show, I wondered if God might feel the same way about us sometimes.

He has promised to return for us. Promised. How amazing is that promise!? As we wait for Him to return, what do we busy ourselves with? Have we set our face in the direction of the clouds? Or do we constantly wonder if the promise is real? Do we busy ourselves with and find joy in our present responsibilities . . . as we wait, or do we grumble that it's taking too long? Do we beg God to change His time-table for our personal agendas - or do we trust the timing to Him. Do we wait with rejoicing, knowing that the fulfillment and the delivery of the promise is far, far more amazing than anything we can think or imagine or dream?!

Waiting with rejoicing. When we wait with rejoicing, we show God that we trust Him. We display - to anyone who might be looking - that we are confident in His promise and that it is worth waiting for. And then some.

Are you waiting? Are you rejoicing? It can make all the difference!

And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. (2 Thes. 3:5)

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Father, We choose to be daughters who wait with rejoicing! Equip us Lord, to smile in the tough moments, knowing that You - as God - are in complete control and knowing that You - wonderful Father - know precisely how to take care of us! Thank you for Your patience while we learn to wait . . . with rejoicing! In the Name above all names, Jesus.

In Him...



Visit Darnelle at her personal blog: All Things Work Together...