Daily Devotional – 8/28/13 “Wait!”

See, after you’ve been shut down, you have to go through a period of waiting to be started back up because if you’re started back up too soon; it’ll only put you back in a position to be shut down again so just wait. Haven’t you realized by now, every time you rush you’ve forgotten stuff? Then why are you rushing? Ok, I know that you’re ready to get past the pain, you’re sick of the sickness, tired of being drowsy with debt, worn out from constantly chasing a dream that doesn’t seem like it’ll come true and fatigued from fighting in the world’s unfair fight but hold on, wait! Job 5:17 says, “Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.” So, you see; this time, this situation, this circumstance, this storm, this test, this going through moment is God’s way of blessing you but you first have to be prepared to receive it. Yea, this shut down period that you’re in is for a reason and even though your eyes are probably blurry from crying and you can’t see, 1 Peter 8-11 (The Message Bible) says, “Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.”

So, don’t throw in the towel just yet; use it to wipe your tears. Don’t wave your white flag of defeat yet, stick it in the ground. Don’t give up now, you still have a ways to go. Don’t lie down and die, you still have living to do. Don’t consider this the end because it’s really just the beginning. So, just wait! Go on through whatever you’re facing and wait it out. Don’t rush God because you might not be ready for the blessing at the end. Don’t rush your storm because you might not be prepared for the test afterwards. Don’t rush your answer to your prayers because you might not be ready to receive it and don’t keep knocking on that closed door because you just might not like what you see when you open it!