Hope and waiting. That feels like the ultimate description of “both and,” am I right?
Sometimes I find I have to get myself to a point of pure exhaustion, trying to have control and figure things out my own way in my own time, to surrender in hope as I “wait.” I know the way of having hope in waiting from the start, through practiced surrender and faith that God is working, is the better way. I know that. So why don’t I live that way more readily?
For me, it’s about pace. Am I moving at a pace of trust or a pace of control? God makes it abundantly clear in scripture that He will provide our daily bread when we walk in trust.
Let’s look at Exodus 16:4–5, which describes God's promise to provide the Israelites with food in the wilderness, specifically "bread from heaven" or manna, and details the instructions for gathering it. God tells Moses that He will rain down food from heaven and instructs the people to gather a day's portion each day. But on the sixth day they are to gather a double portion so they can rest on the Sabbath, the seventh day. This provision is presented as a test of the people's obedience to God's instructions.
God loves us so much that He even instructs us of the power of rest. Today, as we discuss “hope in waiting,” I want us to think about what it looks like to rest our souls in our daily diligence. As we walk in obedience and live actionable lives that honor the Lord while keeping outcomes surrendered at His feet, the best way to be “productive,” what does the motivation of our heart look like? Are we walking at a pace of trust or a pace of control?
God, thank you for the opportunity to realign our pace to you. We walk forward today in trust that you alone provide our every need. You protect us from the dangers and headaches that come from reaching for control by granting us peace in our hearts as we are obedient in trusting you. We love you, Amen.
Britt Goff #wheatfulwednesday