Written By: Alora Yee
I hope you’re sitting down and enjoying a nice hot cup of coffee or tea for this one…
How are you doing in the wait?
I’ve been asking myself this very question. I often recall the verses in Exodus chapter 14, where the Israelites are fleeing Egypt only to find Pharaoh following closely behind in pursuit. Moses cries out, “Do not be afraid,” followed by “the Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” And then God responds with a classic, “Why are you crying out to me?”
God had given Moses a staff, as well as the authority to use it. In times like today, I desperately desire for every moment to be a Red Sea moment, where there is no wait. God shouting, “GO! I’ve given you the authority to MOVE and QUICKLY”.
But today is not a Red Sea day. Today is a day I wait inside my home, social-distancing, washing my hands and teaching my kids all I can about the Lord and kindness, and encouraging them in their unique abilities. I often feel I am not doing enough, and I look up to God, asking what He expects of me…how can I fight for Him when I can’t, well…fight for Him. Thankfully scripture gives us the answers and illustrates His ways.
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.” (Colossians 1-11)
It’s easy to feel rage, slander others, and pursue my own evil desires for the Lord when I scroll through social media and see injustice. When I fear there will never be the whole truth found in the media. When I see how often I tend to disagree with those I love dearly. I take a deep breath and ask God to renew me. I repent of my flesh and ask for His wisdom over mine.
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:12-17)
There is no Red Sea in the sense of taking physical action. Still, I believe humbling myself and choosing to get intentional about suffering alongside others, especially when I disagree with them, is powerful and transformational. When I decide to fight in my mind and heart to love as God loves – not just those who love me, but to love my enemies – forgiveness happens, chains break, and I realize there is much action in the wait to be had.
May we do all of our meditating, understanding, loving, singing, teaching, cleaning, and waiting in the name of the Lord. Our eyes steadfast on Him, knowing all of our efforts, tears, and prayers are seen by our Mighty God in Heaven.
So sister, tell me, how are you doing in the wait?
Written By: Alora Yee
