Hallways

Right now, I am waiting. I have so many big plans and goals that I want to pursue. However, I am in a holding pattern. I am waiting on God to open the doors giving me complete confidence and peace in my decisions. I know if I jump ahead of HIM there is a good chance I may get it all wrong. So I am waiting and like most people it is not something I enjoy. I like instant rewards and clear cut directions. Ambiguity stresses me out. That's where faith comes in. Over and over in the Bible, we read about God's people waiting on HIM and in turn being blessed because of HIS faithfulness. Just think about Hannah praying year after year for God to bless her with a child. The Bible never tells us exactly how old she was when Samuel was born, but it does make clear that she was very old.  How convicting to think that I get impatient waiting days and weeks and persistent, faithful Hannah waited YEARS. Then there is Anna, whom we meet in the book of Luke. In just a few short verses we gain an excellent example of patience and faithfulness.

There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Luke 2:36-38

"That very moment" that the scripture refers to is when Anna meets Jesus when Mary and Joseph take him to the temple. It is humbling to consider the decades that Anna waited to meet our Savior.

I have often heard if God hasn't opened a door for you, praise him in the hallway. (Just like Hannah and Anna did way back in Bible times!) So I am in the hallway and I am committing to praise him while I am waiting.