This week has been unusual. I’ve spent significant time with my very ill friend, at the hospital, while she fights to gain her life back. She is the most tenacious and brave woman I know. I watch her, sitting at her bedside in the hospital room.
we wait.
Her situation is unique because she has been waiting for quite some time. More than ten years she has been hoping and praying for God’s healing hand to touch her. All of us who have been on this journey with her have prayed. Time and again we beg and plead on her behalf.
And we wait.
This week I became weary. As my sweet friend struggled, I was not so hearty in the fight on her behalf. I had some serious, one-sided discussions with my Heavenly Father where I told Him exactly what I thought. I’ll give you the low-down and spare you the details because they are dark and ugly, revealing my sinful heart. It went something like this: “This is not fair. Its not right that You are allowing this to happen to her while I have my “peachy-keen” life. I thought you loved us all equally. The way you are treating her is just not right! Why are you doing this? ” And I demanded answers as though I had the right. Like I said, it was ugly.
And I’ve been waiting.
This morning, He met me in my waiting room, where I have been accusing Him and He whispered, applying truth to my heart. Ever since the fall in the garden mankind has been waiting for victory in the struggle. Jesus came to die and rise again so that death and sin would be defeated. He completed the work so that we would be rescued from everlasting death. And when His days on earth were finished, He ascended to Heaven, promising to return and completely redeem the earth. That was several thousand years ago. Since then, people the world over have endured pain and agony in different shapes and forms. Often it is unbearable, the heart break is devastating.
The whole earth is waiting.
It seems as though forever has passed and we are still in wait for my friend’s healing. Compared to most she has been ill a very long time. I can’t even begin to tell you that I can relate to her situation or how she feels about it – I have no idea what it is like to suffer. none. But, there is coming a day when the wait will be over. Literally time will be no more. I have a hard time comprehending this but, when eternity arrives, ten years will be like a teeny tiny drop in the bucket of forever. My dear friend will be healthy and vivacious just like always but even a million times better, and she will spend all of eternity, with our Healer and Savior, completely restored.
This life is just a waiting room that someday will be a vague memory. It does not mean I shouldn’t feel compassion for those who are suffering here and now. On the contrary – the only way I know how to continue with any peace at all is because of the future He offers, one void of pain and suffering; this is the gift He gives to all who believe on Him. While we wait and hope for healing here in this life – there is a calming, soothing relief that abides in my soul knowing that there is an eternal life absolutely worth waiting for.
and so we wait.
from Psalm 130:
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope.
6 My soul waits for the Lord, More than those who watch for the morning— Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.
7 O Israel, hope in the LORD; For with the LORD there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption.
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There is a hymn that we sing at our church that really seems to fit – I’ve been singing it in my waiting room this week…
Hymn For All The World
There is no place in all the world You do not call Your own.
Creator of all peoples every, nation every tongue.
From every corner of the earth, boundless is Your reign.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, hear us sing Your praise.We Your people call to You, asking for Your help.
God be merciful to those whose pain we’ve never felt.
Give them rest from worldly sorrow,
Bless them Lord with food to eat.
We ask You, Gentle Shepherd call,
The ones that are Your sheep.All seeing Lord now look to those in city and in field,
Who seek to spread Your fame and love,
this broken world to heal.
See Your persecuted children, soothe their violent wounds.
In their weakness be their strength, that they might hope in You.Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, may Your kingdom come
In all the earth as it is in heaven, may Your will be done.
In all the world in all our hearts, Jesus You are King.
We wait, we hope, we trust, we know,
Your face we soon shall see.
daily portion 