“For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” -Habakkuk 2:3
If there’s any spiritual discipline I feel that I am intimately acquainted with, it’s the discipline of waiting.
For so many years, God has required me to wait—on career breakthroughs, on opportunities, on every kind of milestone. But I’ve never waited for anything like I’ve waited for a family of my own. My heart has longed—with the greatest, most prayerful longing– for marriage, for spiritual union, and for children. Over the past few years, as I wait on these things, I have known a loneliness and a void too painful to articulate. I wish I could express the deep, incommunicable longing. For it is a longing that weighs as much as life itself: it’s heavy, it’s poignant, and often hurts. Other people wait on far more difficult things; this I know. Who am I to speak, when so many others wait for physical healing, for the salvation of a loved one, to be reunited with a beloved in heaven, or for redress of deeper emotional pain? I could never, never complain—God’s mercies have never run dry; His provisions in my life are so sweet and plentiful—and yet this has been painful. When Christ entered my life and gave me His promises, He meant for them to be tested. This, this has deeply tested me.
And yet, as the great spiritual paradoxes go, this loneliness has led me to an intimacy and a fellowship with Christ that is too dear to fathom. Would I give up the sadness if I had to exchange the comfort I received? I wouldn’t—divine comfort is a very deep gift, and we receive it only through suffering. Would I exchange this silent season for the faith it has produced in me? Never. Never would I want something from God more than the experience of His Presence, His nearness. No change in my circumstance could ever compare to the beauty and miracle of Immanuel, God with me. Not husband, or child, or beauty, or health—lovely as these gifts may be—not one of them can compare to the matchless miracle of Christ’s Presence in the believer’s life.
There have been times—even recently—that I’ve had a horrible attitude and demonstrated an appalling lack of cooperation with God’s methods in my life. I have been full of self-will and frustrated to see my desires thwarted. My heart has been hard and unyielding, and I am ashamed by how much I have questioned ways that are higher than mine are. Rather than thanking God for the miraculous work of sanctification, I have often refused to submit to the conditions He brings into my life. I want to demonstrate courageous faith, beautiful resolve, unalterable love. Yet so often, I protest His will and His methods; I forget my proper posture before Him. I have made idols out of my unmet needs and pined more for them than for God Himself. This is sinful and shameful. If He never did another thing for me, could I be content? Could I say, along with Luther, “if Thou hast but forgiven me, smite me hard as Thou wilt”? If He never did another thing except pardon my sin—and in doing so, bestow upon me every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3)—it would be enough. Come sickness, loneliness, and the loss of every earthly hope and thing, oh God, salvation would be so much more than enough.
This frees me to accept life as it comes, knowing that everything that touches my life passes through God’s hands first—and, in ways I cannot fathom, is transformed to blessing (Romans 8:28). I do not yet have my heart’s desire, but I dare to claim it as a thing as good as done (as indeed all of God’s covenant promises are: eternal, unassailable, accomplished already in eternity past). Are they not written in His book? Of course, it’s hard to be hopeful, because my heart could be broken. But what is the alternative– willful despair? This is not proper for a Christian. I no longer have the same kind of angst in waiting: I have accepted that God knows my future and will act on my behalf. I am fully convinced of His faithfulness. I am free to walk into the graces He has laid out for me.
Although I have reached this place spiritually (and sometimes drift from it—and have to repent and begin again), it does not discount the long days (months, years) of seeming silence. How many Christmases have I longed for a husband and children? How many hymns did I listen to, desperate to share them with someone? Every time I’ve had a career accomplishment, it’s been bittersweet to not have a beloved with whom to share it. Oh, sure. I’ve dated. I date. It’s not the same thing as having a beloved, a spiritual partner, the one whom God intended. I long for the everyday miracle of love: someone to pray over me, support me, talk to me; someone whom I can build up in the same way. We all long for intimate conversation and communion—I perhaps more so than many. When God made me, He made this desire a deep and indelible part of my nature.
I’m a sensitive girl, a nurturer by nature. I’m also deeply, deeply conservative in every sense of the word; I believe wholeheartedly in the traditional family, God’s beautiful design for our relationships on earth. I love creating home spaces—and lament that I have no one to create one for. I love unnecessary gestures of love and beauty—and long to have someone to give them to, to express my heart in this way. I think of all the ways I could serve a family, all the poetic ways my soul could fill a home. There could be a vase of hand-picked flowers on the table, and afternoons creating daisy chains with a daughter. There could be bedtime prayers, brushing curls after bath time, and storybooks to read. Handwritten lunch notes and gorgeous school lunches, a small garden with buttercups and sweet peas, and little hands to help me plant the seeds. I could tend and care for a home and husband and children, and devotedly do the hard, unseen tasks that hold a day together. Of course, life would not just be idyllic; the deep, hard tests would visit me also during this season. There could be hard things and God could help me give grace to my family through these things, too. Maybe I could walk even walk through those times with grace, holding onto my loved ones, even as we are borne up by the everlasting arms.
One of the compliments I have been blessed to receive from others—words that have come to me, unbidden, as a gift—is that I would make a wonderful mother. I can remember a relative stranger telling me this, and the surprise and beauty of the words just disarming me, fairly taking my breath away. If God called me to it and equipped me for it, I would. I feel my soul able to offer these things to a family; my hands willing to sacrifice, and yet the opportunity has not come. It’s been easy to pour out my heart in the lament of the psalmist: “How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?… How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily?” (Ps. 13:1-2).
The ironies abound, of course, as I work in the wedding industry. I’m surrounded by reminders of weddings on the daily. Weddings and marriages are always front of mind. In truth, I don’t see any connection between other couples’ weddings and my own—designing their weddings doesn’t sadden me. (How utterly lame if that were true). I view the plans God has for my life as a thing totally separate and secure in His hand. Yet no one could deny the hilariously bad, ‘90s rom-com humor of my job and current dilemma. The florist and wedding planner waiting on a wedding of her own. It’s too rich. I have enough self-awareness to find it hilarious, at least on some level. You should too. : )
This is the point, it seems, where I have to defend myself a little. I’ve had my chances at marriage and love—I’ve been proposed marriage three times by three different men. I’ve worn the ring, planned the wedding, called off the wedding, reunited, called things off again. Time and again, I’ve been through the deep things of relationships—have been deeply attached and quite nearly for life. I’ve walked through every kind of hard thing (and some very beautiful things) with every kind of guy. I dislike preemptive sort of defenses like this, because it can come off a little desperate. But, in this case, the fact of my marriageability is the truth. I don’t need to portray myself as a pitiful character, because I’m just not. The thing is, I know the beauty and goodness of this desire I have—and I know what it means to receive something undeniably from God’s hand. When God supplies something, there is no doubt, no question; the miracle of it all just overcomes you. I have experienced what it means to receive His personal blessing, His tender ‘yes.’ I am unwilling to settle for anything short of that. So, the path is narrow, and mine has required much waiting. I will wait until I know what I have comes directly from the Lord, and is confirmed by prayer.
Through these long years, I have learned the many facets of faith: the trial of faith, the discipline of faith, the courage of faith, the expectancy of faith, and the assurance of faith. Never before had I plumbed the depths of faith or tasted its exquisite joys. I never knew that faith was like a muscle and I had to exercise it daily in order for it to work, especially when my circumstances didn’t change. This is the essence of faith: to have assurance of something when absolutely nothing in your reality yet testifies to it. The daily discipline of faith was something I perhaps never worked on until this season of waiting.
More importantly, waiting has caused me to turn my eyes upon my dear Jesus. I have known what it means to look on His lovely face, His matchless virtues; to, as Spurgeon states, “shift the kaleidoscope, as it were, and to find fresh combinations of peerless graces” of Christ. When we have an unmet need, our gaze is likely to turn to God. Thank God that He arranges it this way! For we receive something even better than the desire of our hearts—we receive Him, the eternal God, whose glory is beyond what these hearts can hold. I have had to learn not to base my security on my circumstances and not to idolize the desires of my heart. My security is rather founded in Christ: my foundation, my life, my Lord, my all.
I feel honored that He would give me these years of unhindered, uninterrupted communion with Him. When I have a family to serve, my time will be accounted for differently, and my focus must naturally shift to serving them. God has been so gracious to take these years to prepare me physically, spiritually, and emotionally for that season. With the mastery of an artist and the careful molding of a potter, He has shaped my character. Just because He has tarried does not mean that He has not been so good. If He has taken extra time to mold my character, it is for His good purposes—and so that I can fully enjoy my blessing. I would give that encouragement to anyone seeking Him: a delay in blessing does not mean that one is unworthy. To the contrary, God cares enough to prepare us for blessing. It is promised that when we submit to Him and to the process of sanctification, He conforms us more and more into the image of His beloved Son. He actively equips us for the plans that await us.
Thank God, however, for His tender mercies. He is gracious and well aware of our limitations; He will not prolong our suffering beyond what we can bear. I have to believe that the storms of life only last as long as is necessary for God to accomplish His will—not one moment longer. He remembers our frame, that we are but dust. Thank God for His mercy on an unworthy, fragile, undeserving sinner like me.
Perhaps most astonishing to consider, in periods of waiting, is the extent to which God works in the unseen. Recently, I read the books of Nehemiah and Esther, and I was overcome by the sense of the providential hand of God—of a loving God that works in the unseen as we place our trust in Him. In ways I cannot fully articulate, I find the concept of God’s invisible hand and unseen work simply awe-inspiring. Just because my circumstances are dark does not mean that He is not actively working in ways I cannot fathom. “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” I have to believe that this promise is true, even—unimaginable as it is, undeserving as I am—for me.
A recent devotion from Streams in the Desert echoes these themes, exploring the miracle of the Red Sea parting, and how God accomplished all of His work the night before the miracle, before the children of Israel saw any evidence of His deliverance.
“All that night the Lord drove the sea back” (Exodus 14:21)—it was that night, in the darkness, in the unseen, when the miracle was occurring. Writes the author:
“In this verse, there is a comforting message showing how God works during darkness. The real work of God for the children of Israel did not happen when they awoke that morning to find they could cross the Red Sea, but it occurred “all that night.”
There may be a great work occurring in your life when things seem their darkest. You may see no evidence yet but God is at work. God was just as much at work “all that night” as He was the next day, when the Israelites finally saw the evidence. The next day simply revealed what God had done during the night.
Are you reading this from a place in your life where everything seems dark? Do you have faith to see but are still not seeing? Are you lacking continual victory in your spiritual growth? Is your daily, quiet communion gone, and there is nothing but darkness all around?
“All that night the Lord drove the sea back.” Don’t forget—it was “all that night.” God works through the night until the morning light dawns. You may not see it yet, but through the night of your life, as you trust Him, He works.”
There are many days when I am so frustrated with the lack of change in my life. I had great zest in waiting at the beginning of the waiting season, and yet as time elapsed and I still had not seen the desire of my heart, I found it easy to lose a sense of purpose and energy in waiting. That’s exactly when, I have learned, that steadfast assurance is most important. I wholeheartedly refuse to give into despair or doubt. Time and again, I am tempted to become discouraged, but God reminds me that I must remember His invisible ways and draw near to His Presence.
I have, up until this point, cited many biblical examples, but no discussion on waiting would be complete without reflecting on Sarah and Abraham. Every time I read these tender words, I am overcome—every time I remember Abraham, “who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, ‘So shall your descendants be’” (Romans 4:18, emphasis mine). Who understands waiting like Abraham, who waited 25 years, when his body was as good as dead, before God fulfilled his promise of a child? And yet it happened at “the appointed time,” not one minute too soon or too late (Genesis 21:2). There is no reason why I am not capable of the same level of faith– not because I am great, but because the Lord has made all of His spiritual resources and “every spiritual blessing” available to me (Ephesians 1:3). I can exercise and attain the great faith of Abraham because we serve the same great God. I can also, contrary to hope, in hope believe.
Yet embedded within Abraham’s story is also a cautionary tale about manipulating circumstances and refusing to wait upon the Lord. When I am tempted to take matters into my own hands, I always remember the hastiness of Sarah and her attempts to personally fulfill God’s promise of a son. Dr. Charles Stanley shares this powerful commentary on the story:
“Do not run ahead of God’s purposes. Be patient. Expect Him to show you His path and provision.
If you’ve waited a long time to see the desire of your heart come to fruition, this may be exceedingly difficult. It was for Abraham and Sarah. And after hoping for a child for so many years, Sarah’s faith failed and she decided to take matters into her own hands. She offered her maidservant Hagar to Abraham as a surrogate.
But it was a colossal misstep that had unimaginably destructive consequences. You can see in the Middle East how descendants of Hagar’s son Ishmael and Sarah’s son Isaac continue to fight to this day (Genesis 16-17, 21).”
I am especially reminded of this as I witness the conflict between Israel and her enemies, the heartrending attacks on God’s chosen people and nation. My heart has been broken these past months for Israel and given over to God’s people in intercessory prayer. I have to remember that the conflicts between Israel and the Middle East all stemmed from this one decision. In her anxiety, Sarah wanted to do what seemed practical; haven’t we all? But the decision to manipulate her circumstances created unimaginably difficult and long-lasting consequences. Dr. Stanley exhorts believers in the remaining moments of the passage:
“Do not make the same mistake. Don’t run ahead of the Lord’s timing. Patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, restraining you and allowing you to persevere until the Father fulfills His good purposes for you. He will help you endure if you turn to Him. Yes, it is difficult, but absolutely worthwhile. So wait for Him and enjoy the fullness of His blessing.”
As I wait for the desires of my heart, especially as (I believe) this waiting season draws to a close, I don’t want to run ahead of God’s plans. Almost daily, I fight the urge to take matters into my own hands and come up with a practical solution. Often, I am tempted to circumvent the waiting process and “do something” about it. There’s always the pull of someone whose company I enjoyed. Couldn’t I just reach out, just make it happen? But my ways, my understanding, and my perspective is so limited. I cannot see what God sees; I cannot administer justice perfectly as He can; I do not have the ability to bring forth the kind of blessings that come from His hand. I am a poor guide of my own life; each day, I desperately need a Shepherd, a Savior.
I do not wish to waste this precious waiting season. I want to see it through to completion, with wholehearted obedience, and to attain the end of my waiting. I want to see this through and receive the victory of faith. My heart’s desire, my blessing from the Lord. So I turn my eyes to Him; I look to and long for Him. I wait with anticipation.
Over the years, my heart has been touched and my life changed by biblical passages and devotions on waiting. I want to share them all with you, as each is a precious jewel. I’ve tried to edit and abridge, but I cannot—each one is too meaningful, has proven too indispensable to my walk. There is nothing as powerful as the word of God, which reveals the pure thoughts and expresses the heart and mind of the Lord. May your heart be blessed and may the Lord speak powerfully through one or many of these passages as you wait upon Him. When “the fullness of the time” comes, God will act. And waiting on Him will yield glorious results.
From Streams in the Desert:
“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this.” –Psalm 37:5
The literal meaning of this verse is: ‘Roll your way onto Jehovah and trust upon Him, and He works.’ This brings our attention to the immediacy of God’s action once we commit, or ‘roll’ burdens of any kind from our hands into His. Whether our burden is a sorrow, difficulty, physical need, or concern over the salvation of a loved one, ‘He works.’
When does He work? ‘He works’ now. We act as if God does not immediately accept our trust in Him and thereby delays accomplishing what we ask Him to do. We fail to understand that ‘He works’ as we commit. ‘He works’ now! Praise Him for the fact that this is true.”
“Your training for a life of faith requires many areas of learning, including the trial of faith, the discipline of faith, the patience of faith, and the courage of faith. Often you will pass through many stages before you finally realize the result of faith—namely, the victory of faith.”
Some glorious morn—but when? Ah, who will say?
The steepest mountain will become a plain,
And the parched land be satisfied with rain.
The gates of brass all broken; iron bars,
Transfigured, form a ladder to the stars.
Rough places plain and crooked ways all straight,
From him who with a patient heart can wait.
These things will be on God’s appointed day:
It may not be tomorrow—yet it may.
“By faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope.” –Galatians 5:5
There are times when everything looks very dark to me—so dark that I have to wait before I have hope. Waiting with hope is very difficult, but true patience is expressed when we must even wait for hope. When we see no hint of success yet refuse to despair, when we see nothing but the darkness of night through our window yet keep the shutters open because stars may appear in the sky, and when we have an empty place in our heart yet will not allow it to be filled with anything less than God’s best—that is the greatest kind of patience in the universe. It is the story of Job in the midst of the storm, Abraham on the road to Moriah, Moses in the desert of Midian, and the Son of Man in the Garden of Gethsemane. And there is no patience as strong as that which endures because we see “Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27). It is the kind of patience that waits for hope.
Dear Lord, You have made waiting beautiful and patience divine. You have taught us that Your will should be accepted, simply because it is Your will. You have revealed to us that a person may see nothing but sorrow in his cup yet will still be willing to drink it because of a conviction that Your eyes see further than his own.
Father, give me Your divine power—the power of Gethsemane. Give me the strength to wait for hope—to look through the window when there are no stars. Even when my joy is gone, give me the strength to stand victoriously in the darkest night and say, ‘To my Heavenly Father, the sun still shines.’”
I will have reached the point of greatest strength once I have learned to wait for hope. George Matheson
Strive to be one of the few who walk this earth with the ever-present realization—every morning, noon, and night—that the unknown that people call heaven is directly behind those things that are visible.
From Sarah and Abraham’s story:
“Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him.” –Genesis 21:2
“At the appointed time next year… Sarah will have a son.” –Genesis 18:14
“who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, ‘So shall your descendants be.’” –Romans 4:18
“He did not waver… regarding the promise…, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” –Romans 4:20-21
“And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” –Genesis 15:6
From King David:
“Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name.” –Psalm 33:20-21
“Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” –Psalm 27:14
“The Lord will perfect that which concerns me.” –Psalm 138:8
“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him… Do not fret—it only causes harm.” –Psalm 37:7-8
“I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth—Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the Lord.” –Psalm 40:1-3
From the Apostle Paul:
“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” –Galatians 4:4
“But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.” –Romans 8:35
“I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” -2 Timothy 1:12
From Dr. Charles Stanley:
From “Choose His Peace”:
“Perhaps you are discouraged right now. Maybe you’ve been disillusioned by unmanageable circumstances and delayed dreams. But this is a sure indicator that you’re relying on the wrong foundation for your hope and security.
There is only one source of true peace—the Lord God Almighty, who holds the entire universe together. The tranquility of soul He gives is not dependent upon circumstances but upon your personal relationship with Him and your faith in His perfect power, wisdom, and love.”
From “The Desired Haven”:
“He stilled the storm to a whisper… They were glad when it grew calm, and He guided them to their desired haven.” –Psalm 107:29-30
“The desires and goals God has put into your heart may appear exceedingly far away. But your heavenly Father has the wisdom and power necessary to get you to your destination. He understands the best, most effective way to take you—the path that prepares you perfectly for what is ahead. No, it may not be the way you would have chosen for yourself, but be assured—there is no more wonderful or impactful plan for your life than the one He has created for you.
Some people fail to follow God because they’re afraid of the storms of adversity that arise. But those difficulties are necessary for the Father to reach the deepest places of your soul and grow to your full potential. He does so not to hurt you, but to mature you. Not to limit you, but to show you what’s possible and to ready you for His astounding purposes.
So cling to Him and trust His navigation. And be absolutely assured—He will get you to your desired haven.
Lord, You are my faithful Commander—always leading me perfectly. Help me trust You more, amen.
In His Presence… trust His direction.”
From “Preparation for Blessing”:
“The Lord God is a sun and a shield; the Lord gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” –Psalm 84:11
As you wait for God to fulfill His promises to you, the thought may enter your mind: I’m not good enough for the Lord to bless—that’s why this is taking so long. He finds me unworthy.
Friend, nothing could be further from the truth. The fact the Father is making you wait means He sees precious qualities in you that must be developed so you can fully enjoy the blessing. He wants you to be a success. That means He must be your shield—protecting you from wrong options. He must also be your glory—conforming you to His character, teaching you His wisdom, and preparing you for His power to shine through you.
No, friend, do not despair. He wouldn’t withhold any blessing that is truly good for you. But you are so deeply loved that He wants you to receive fully the beauty and impact of His gift. So trust Him in this waiting time and get ready to be profoundly blessed.”
From “Wait in Hope”:
“It can feel as if things will never change. Your challenges persist—perhaps over an extended period of time—and it seems all your prayers are met with closed doors. Like David, you cry out, ‘How Long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?’ (Psalm 13:1).
But take heart. Your dark moments will last only as long as is necessary for God to accomplish His good purposes. And your heavenly Father is well aware of your limits.
You can endure. You will overcome this. How? By turning to the Savior often—in prayer and through His word. Whenever you feel weak, go to His throne of grace and find the strength you need—even if it’s every two minutes. He will sustain you. He wants to teach you His ways, build His character in you, and grow your faith. Just rely on Him.
Friend, don’t give up—this pain will end. You will prevail over this difficulty and your circumstances will change. Look to God to uphold you as He works out His good purposes.”
From “Absolutely Convinced”:
“I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”
Trust God. Believe with every fiber of your being that He will faithfully fulfill His promises. Do not just say, ‘I hope the Lord will come to my aid.’ Do not merely stop at declaring, ‘I know He can work everything out.’ Exhibit the highest level of faith by proclaiming, ‘I am absolutely certain my heavenly Father will help me—it’s as good as done.’
With such profound confidence in the Lord, you don’t have to worry. You realize you can endure no matter what happens because of who He is—your faithful God who is able to do all things on your behalf. Absolutely nothing is impossible for Him!
But what if I misunderstood Him? you may wonder. Then the Father will gently correct you. He wants you to know and do His will so He won’t hide His ways from you.
So thank the Lord for answering your prayers. And trust Him completely. Certainly He will fulfill His promises and take care of you regardless of what happens.
From Charles Spurgeon:
“We attempt to think of that which we fancy He will forget; we labor to take upon ourselves the weary burden, as if He were unable or unwilling to take it for us. Now this disobedience to His plain precept, this unbelief in His Word, this presumption in intruding upon His province, is all sinful.”
Other Passages on Waiting:
“For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by ear, Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him.” –Isaiah 64:4
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” –Hebrews 11:6
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” –Hebrews 10:23
“Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God will hear me.” –Micah 7:7
“not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you.” –Joshua 23:14
“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.” –Lamentations 3:25
“Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.” –Proverbs 20:22
“If you believe, you will see the glory of God.” –John 11:40
One last parting thought:
From Streams in the Desert:
“With skillful hands He led them.” (Psalm 78:72)
When you are unsure which course to take, totally submit your own judgment to that of the Spirit of God, asking Him to shut every door except the right one. But meanwhile, keep moving ahead and consider the absence of a direct indication from God to be the evidence of His will that you are on His path. As you continue down the long road, you will find that He has gone before you, locking doors you otherwise would have been inclined to enter. Yet you can be sure that somewhere beyond the locked doors is one He has left unlocked. And when you open it and walk through, you will find yourself face to face with a turn in the river of opportunity—one that is broader and deeper than anything you ever dared to imagine, even in your wildest dreams. So set sail on it, because it flows to the open sea.
God often guides us through our circumstances. One moment, our way may seem totally blocked, but then suddenly some seemingly trivial incident occurs, appearing as nothing to others but speaking volumes to the keen eye of faith. And sometimes these events are repeated in various ways in response to our prayers. They certainly are not haphazard results of chance but are God opening up the way we should walk, by directing our circumstances. And they begin to multiply as we advance toward our goal, just as the lights of a city seem to increase as we speed toward it while traveling at night. F.B. Meyer
If you go to God for guidance, He will guide you. But do not expect Him to console you by showing you His list of purposes concerning you, when you have displayed distrust or even half-trust in Him. What He will do, if you will trust Him and go cheerfully ahead when He shows you the way, is to guide you still farther. Horace Bushnell
As moves my fragile boat across the storm-swept sea,
Great waves beat o’er her side, as north wind blows;
Deep in the darkness hid lie threat’ning rocks and reefs;
But all of these, and more, my Pilot knows.
Sometimes when darkness falls, and every light’s gone out,
I wonder to what port my frail ship goes;
Although the night be long, and restless all my hours,
My distant goal, I’m sure, my Pilot knows.
Thomas Curtis Clark
