I don’t normally have a hard time making decisions, at least not when it comes to the big ones. I have all manner of thoughts, ideas, and convictions about those things. With me being a firstborn, super independent type, I’m good about knowing the direction I want my life to go in, but many times God has other ideas. I’m totally okay with that. His thoughts and ways are higher, right?
Right now, there is a vast chasm between where I am and where I want to be. This space of waiting can often feel like aimless wandering. I’ve been thinking about the Israelites and their time in the desert. Their journey out of Egypt was supposed to take eleven days — easy enough. But it ended up taking them forty years. I can’t even imagine. Generations died off and never saw God’s promise fulfilled, but why didn’t they?
As God’s chosen people, they often didn’t remember who they were. God was faithful at every turn to rescue them, forgive them, and provide for them, and yet they repeatedly turned their backs on Him. They walked in an almost constant state of unbelief, disobedience, and complaining. This kept them wandering and aimless in both mind and body.
I am in a season of waiting and transition. I don’t know how long it will last, and I don’t fully know what is waiting on the other side. But I know God is there. God is also here with me in the right now, and He will be with me every step in between.
I don’t want to miss what the Lord is doing in the present because my gaze is fixed on the not yet.
There is a way to wait and wander that will deepen intimacy with and trust in the Father, that brings Him glory and encourages our hearts and even speaks hope to those around us.
So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their fathers, and they took possession of it and settled there. The Lord gave them rest on every side according to all he had sworn to their fathers. None of their enemies were able to stand against them, for the Lord handed over all their enemies to them. None of the good promises the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed. Everything was fulfilled.
Joshua 21:43-45 (CSB)
I love the wording of this passage of Scripture. It uses words like all and everything. That is one of my favorite parts about God — He only moves in fullness. He never does anything halfway or halfhearted.
There is life and power wrapped up in His Word and promises. They never return void. They only go forth and accomplish what the Lord set out for them to accomplish. I can look back over every area of my life and point out when God provided for me or gave me favor or healed me or changed my heart. He has always been faithful. He is faithful. He will always be faithful. If He did it then, why would He not do it again?
Be careful that your heart doesn’t become proud and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. He led you through the great and terrible wilderness with its poisonous snakes and scorpions, a thirsty land where there was no water. He brought water out of the flint rock for you. He fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers had not known, in order to humble and test you, so that in the end he might cause you to prosper. You may say to yourself, ‘My power and my own ability have gained this wealth for me,’ but remember that the Lord your God gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm his covenant he swore to your fathers, as it is today.
Deuteronomy 8:14-18 (CSB)
This whole chapter is a call to the Israelites to not forget the Lord. This is a call to us as well when we find ourselves wandering in the wilderness. First, we are to remember that He doesn’t leave us to wander alone. He goes before us, preparing the way. He stands behind us with His hands of protection. And His Spirit dwells within us in power and might.
God literally performed miracle after miracle for His children as signs of His power and presence. He led them with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Water flowed from a rock. Manna and quail fell from the sky. Every step, without fail. He showed up and provided a marker for them to hold onto, to trust and remember that His nature is always good.
The Lord is constantly pursuing us. Regardless of whether we are in the valley or on the mountaintop, His aim remains the same — us. We were the joy set before Jesus as He endured the Cross. He longs for intimacy in fellowship. He longs for us to earnestly seek Him in every season.
May patience overwhelm our souls. May our words in waiting seasons decree and declare His love for us and the hope He has for our futures. May they speak life and encouragement to our souls and to those around us in their own wandering.
There will always come seasons of waiting and wandering. May we learn to wander well. May we remember His past faithfulness, hold onto His markers along the way, and yield to the Lord bearing much fruit in a dry season.
If you are in a season of wandering and waiting,
what fruit are you believing will come out of it?
He is faithful. He has always been faithful. He will always be faithful. If He did it then, why would He not do it again? -@karina268: Click To Tweet Leave a Comment
Karina,
Several words jump out at me in this scripture from Deuteronomy. It cautions us to not become PROUD (I can do it in my own strength and on my terms), and to not FORGET (step away from obedience to God and His word). Furthermore, it says that God will lead us in the wilderness to HUMBLE us (God is in control, not me), and to TEST us (God is more concerned about our character than our happiness). God did this for the Israelites in the desert and He will do it for us. We will ALL have our own wilderness experience(s). The hope and Good News is that God is patient and longsuffering – He forgave His disobedient people over and over again for their wandering from the Covenant AND He eventually led them into the prosperous Promised Land. He will do that for us as well. Thank you for beautifully outlining the fruits of our wandering…it is not in vain. Praying for you as you wait and wander through your wilderness, Karina.
Blessings,
Bev xx
Thank you so much Bev! I love your insights! So good!
Omg! This is where I am right now. So needed to hear this msg. I have been praying to hear Gods voice to direct my path. Wandering and waiting but not giving up. Thank you.
Karina,
I have commented both yesterday and today and my comments are not showing up?? Am I doing something wrong?
Blessings,
Bev xx
I’m seeing your comments today, Bev.
Good morning, Bev! I see your posts. One day a few days ago there were 2 in a row identical. I am sure you were trying to resend the original. I always appreciate your wisdom, Bev. I pray for your relationship with your kidos frequently. XOXO Keep looking up.
Karina, this post is such an encourgement to me. A wonderful reminder to trust that Father God is in control. ALWAYS. I loved the phrase “I don’t want to miss what the Lord is doing in the present because my gaze is fixed on the not yet.” Thanks for sharing these truths with us!
Thank you Nancy! Amen!!!!
After having been through many waiting seasons, I have a strong faith and trust in God. What I need is to learn patience though because waiting is always hard! My favorite waiting verses help!
Lamentations 3:26
It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
Psalm 62:1, 5
Truly my soul silently waits for God;
From Him comes my salvation.
My soul, wait silently for God alone,
For my expectation is from Him.
Psalm 27:14
Wait on the LORD;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD!
Isaiah 40:31
They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Thank you for sharing Kathy! Those are great verses!!!
Thank you for these Scriptures! I’m in a season of waiting, and the Lord reminded me through this devotional that He knows the outcome, is already there, AND is still here with me. I just need to trust….and wait.
Amen Barbara! Believing for much fruit!
This is where I am too. In one sense, our faith calls us to the in-betxit place – always waiting…coz things just aren’t complete and the story isn’t done. So living with a sense of incompletion and longing may be a part of our faith experience.
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Thank you,
Diana
Karina, Thank you for this very impactful devotional. It is so encouraging to be reminded of God’s faithfulness and that there is purpose in the waiting season. I loved your comment that by using our waiting time to deepen our intimacy and trust in God, we not only bring glory to Him and encouragement to ourselves, we also show hope to those around us. Yes!
Thank you for sharing Debbie! I am so glad the Lord spoke to you!
God has (within the last year and a half) called me out of waiting seasons in multiple areas of my life. All at once! In some areas it looks different than I thought it would but it is awesome. I pray everyday I don’t “forget” because like the Israelites I’m prone to murmuring and complaining. My praises hardly seem like enough. We serve an awesome God!
Amen Denise! He is beyond awesome! I am so grateful for His patience with us!
“I don’t know how long it will last, and I don’t fully know what is waiting on the other side. But I know God is there. God is also here with me in the right now, and He will be with me every step in between.” Yes, and amen! Love this and you and all that God is doing in you and will yet do. xx
Awe. Thank you friend! Believing for His best!!!
Thank you so much for this. I needed this. Sometimes the waiting and/or wondering can get exhausting. But God is there and always will be.
Amen! So glad God brought you to this space today! His joy is your strength!
Thank You! The longer I wander the more I can see God throughout the journey but today was just one of those days where I felt defeated. I needed to read this more than you will ever know.
Karina,
Praying for you in this waiting season. May God guide your paths & give you wisdom for your next steps. God is always faithful. It is us weak humans that move from Him. We need to make a list of all God’s goodness to us in the past. Then when a waiting time or trial comes we can look back & remember how He got us through those times. I’ve been through enough trials to have learned a little patience. More importantly my faith has grown exponentially. I readily trust God no matter the situation. We, like the Israelites are prone to pride & forgetting. They easily forgot about His provisions & would whimper & complain all the time. They didn’t fully trust God to do what He said. That’s why it took 40 years to get into the promised land. No by themselves they couldn’t fight those enemies. With God’s help they would easily have won. God knows we are prone to forgetting. That’s why He had the 12 Israelites pick 12 stones from the middle of the Jordan river & erect a monument. We are to tell future generations about what God has done for us. Like you said God was, is & always will be faithful. We just need to learn to trust Him.
Blessings 🙂
I’m in a season of waiting and so thankful for your inspiration. Great scripture for all of us. God our father is always there for us. We need to keep walking and waiting for what’s awaiting us around the bend in the road of life. Take care!
So true Karina, God is faithful all the time even in our wanderings. I am sorry this is a season of wandering for you. Know that you are loved and even during this time that doesn’t make sense, He is holding your hand and leading the way for you. Praying you will find joy through it all and come out stronger than you ever had. All good things come to those who preserve thru. God’s got this and will help you get across this barren desert feeling peace soon and thankful you had patiently waited. Blessing and prayers to you.
It seems we’re always waiting for something–it’s just the intensity of emotion attached to the waiting that varies, depending on the circumstances. Learning to wander well IS the ticket to contentment in the middle of wait time. And affirming what we know to be true about our faithful God is the perfect place to start. Thank you, Karina!