This morning, while picking up poop for the millionth time, I decided to spend some time with the Lord. I was so busy speaking to Him, so preoccupied with telling God how much I want to hear from Him, that I barely heard what He spoke. When I finally listened, I realized that His message to me was not in the least bit new. For the past few days, He has been speaking to me. I am not sure whether I did not like His response so decided to press on farther, or whether I was just too busy to hear.
What did God tell me. Three simple words. Trust. Rest. Wait. For anybody who knows me, you can imagine my response. I even spoke it aloud.
“That is a tall order for someone like me, God,” I replied. Did I say thank you? No. Was I relieved He had finally spoken? Somewhat. Did I realize He had already spoken, and acknowledge that I simply hadn’t listened? Of course not.
The good news is that I heard Him this time. Trust. Rest. Wait.
Leave it to God to patiently wait while I harassed Him endlessly to speak to me to answer in such a simple, pure, and holy of course way.
Trust. Rest. Wait.
Given how phenomenally tired I have been, given that I have had about three good nights sleeps in the past several months, and given how busy I tend to keep myself, this isn’t such bad advice. Isn’t such bad advice? This is God speaking!
Trust? Ahem. I have been seeking His forgiveness for my unbelief and lack of trust. So go figure. God is asking me to do exactly what I have been having difficulty doing.
Wait? Are you kidding me? That means I have to continue to learn to be patient.
Trust. Rest. Wait. Pretty cool. I can only imagine something beautiful will follow – once I obey.
So here’s the question. When God speaks, do I listen? It’s one thing to beg God with all my heart to speak. It’s another thing altogether to listen – and obey.
So here are my two questions.
When God speaks, do you listen?
When God speaks and you listen, do you obey?
