WAITING

"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."

Psalms 27:14
King James Version

One of the hardest things for me to do is wait. When I decide to do something, I want to do it right then. However, there are times when I can't do what I want to do and I am learning to wait for Jesus to help me. It has been difficult for me to learn to wait because when I see something that needs to be done I want to do it.

Many years ago when I was going through that crippling devastating depression, all I wanted to eat was Cheerios. However, I was so depressed that I could not take the empty cereal boxes to the dumpster. Since I live alone which I want to do, there was nobody to take the boxes to the dumpster for me.

This is why it is so important and even urgent that we are an encouragement to one another. We read in the Bible. "They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage. So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved" (Isaiah 41:6,7).

All of us need encouragement. The person who says I don't need anyone or anything is not being truthful. When Jesus was praying in the garden, He asked His disciples to watch. If Jesus needed to be encouraged, how much more you and I need encouragement.

"And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? (Matthew 26:40)

Joyce Landorf Heatherley, a Christian speaker and author, says on one of her teaching tapes, "The people you sit next to in church may look fine and darling, but inside they are hurting".

What about Jesus? Have we encouraged Jesus today? How do we encourage Him? We encourage Him by being kind and loving to one another. May God help us to encourage and make Jesus happy by loving one another uncondtionally as He has commanded us to love each other.

Joanne Lowe
July 3, 2020