Occasionally a song lyric hits just the right tone. I heard one recently that sang, “He’s with us while we wait.” The song was talking about God. Younger people might wonder, “what are we waiting for?” Older people know: we wait for peace and rest— and “the rest of the story”.
I recently spent a few months too happily busy to worry about waiting; there were no dull delays. Life was happening, and I had no time to linger, no leisure for unanswered longings. There were school things, sports things, home renovation things, new grandparent things, travel things. I needed to plan stuff, order stuff, tackle this and that. Waiting seemed irrelevant to a life bursting with healthy activity and cool deadlines and real-time excitement.
Well, soon enough, the world, the flesh and devil would have their doggone way. My emotional energy plummeted as serious concerns popped up amid our continued geyser of activity. We discovered our son had a pituitary tumor; meanwhile, my husband’s job had become nearly unbearable. We needed to move several rooms of furniture to clear out for a big renovation and somehow survive without a kitchen. Meanwhile, school was starting, with all its associated hype and demands (see a previous post on over-involved adults).
Aggravations piled up; interruptions marred my carefully engineered schedule. Exciting possibilities were swapped for boring responsibilities. With heavier worries, multiplying chores and no easy solutions in sight, and I slowly festered in an ugly stew of overwhelm.
My problem-solving instincts were still in full swing, though, so I just needed to keep moving. I’d proven my skill in navigating international travels, brain surgery, and home renovations; and for an extra display of multitasking, I would also decorate my college girl’s apartment, order my other kids’ textbooks and school uniforms, and join the special events for my high school senior. On the side, I will figure out how to manage my struggling, elderly mom.
I survived the inner turmoil and household tension by maintaining a neutral facial expression, remaining too busy, and avoiding topics that could spark angry conversations. That worked for a while, but the enemy never sleeps, and he soon capitalized on unguarded moments. We also had a ready supply of needs and complaints—highly combustible materials for his Molotov cocktails.
At the end of our impressive resources, and after weeks of quietly exulting in my endurance and imagined strength—against my very best efforts—I was breaking down; actually, we were breaking down. The summer of multitasking glory was over; it was finally time to wait.
Wait for what? I would now wait for all sorts of elusive things—logistics, healing, direction, and a working kitchen, among them. I waited while resuming the marching orders of motherhood and its school year routines. I waited through days when, surrounded by dangling cords and construction debris, no work crews show up. I still wait through teenage drama, uncertain paths, and my own middle-aged insecurities. Is this big renovation worth it, will my kids get into the right college, and what about my husband’s job? Some of these are luxurious “first world” issues, but they disrupted my peace and forced me to wait.
I recently discovered a contemporary, reformed confession written in the early 1980’s. It’s called “Our World Belongs to God,” and it starts with this:
As followers of Jesus Christ,
living in this world—
which some seek to control,
but which others view with despair—
we declare with joy and trust:
Our world belongs to God!
What an accurate picture of life this presents; it’s the life we want to control, or the life we mourn in despair. If we are honest about our situation, we must admit that it doesn’t conform to the utopian dreams of our youth, and our proud stoicism is cold comfort. We see human misery, we’re bored, and disappointments plague us—and yet, this bold confession proclaims that our world belongs to God!
Biblical truth always cuts deep across our broken human perspective. When things get out of our control, and when dark things conceal our sun, a sense of despair lingers close at hand. Under the enemy’s diabolical suggestions, our circumstances feel hopeless and empty. We deny or forget God, mistake his character, and imagine that this world actually belongs to humans; we imagine that we are the center of a tragic cosmic story.
The devil is a liar, as he has been from the beginning, yet we believe his lines again and again. Contrary to his claims, though, our world does belong to God, and that same God speaks into our chaos through his truthful word. He does not speak through our lying emotions, experts, or astrologers; he chose the written word to communicate his redemptive kingship to a sinful and needy world that sits squarely within his control.
The God who made heaven and earth promises us peace through Jesus Christ, who provides authentic, purposeful and eternal life, even in the midst of our guaranteed troubles. He brings order to spiritual chaos. His timeline extends into eternity; and nothing—not today’s sin, disease, addiction, weather, political revolution or collapse—can thwart this beautiful cosmic will.
Before I move on, if you’re not familiar with how God reveals himself in scripture, look over these verses that speak of his character and purposes, from creation to our present darkness.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.” Genesis 1:1-4
Why do the nations rage, and the people plot in vain?…..He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Psalm 2:1, 4
The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the rivers. Psalm 24:1-2
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
The thief comes only to steal and skill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. John 16:33
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might for ever and ever!” Revelation 5:13
For those who are intimidated by the biblical language, its truth can be summarized by metaphor. The architect of our cosmos has designed us to fit within his master plan; the author of truth wrote our chapter to fit within his epic storyline. History is truly his story, and for those who know its author, it won’t disappoint.
We can’t always decipher our circumstances, but without a doubt we can know they are accomplishing eternal plans. For believers, these struggles must conform us to the character of Christ, work everything for our good, and point to his glory. For nonbelievers, they expose persistent voids that will only be satisfied in our creator; ultimately, they reveal a cosmic chasm only Jesus Christ can bridge.
Back to my own construction dust, I see God is as busy as ever, even if the drywall guys still haven’t arrived. He hasn’t laid out blueprints that would satisfy my cravings for control, but he has promised to complete his perfect work in me. God’s purposes aren’t held up by permits, surgeries or school schedules. He will accomplish everything written in his scroll.
How can I know that? It’s written in his word: Many are the plans in the mind of man, but it’s the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
Absolutely lovely. Thank you.
My, how I have missed your writing and musings. Thanks for another wonderful essay.