The Agony of Waiting

"How long, O lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?"  Psalm 13:1

(As a reminder: The author of The Scars That Have Shaped Me is someone who has dealt with multiple traumas in her life: Hospitalized for years with polio, underwent repeated bullying from classmates, experienced multiple miscarriages, struck with massive grief after a baby son died as a result of a physician's error, abandoned by her husband, and even now is struggling with a progressive disease that has left her with very little muscle strength and is on her way to total paralysis.)

Risner's thoughts:  "Waiting can be agonizing. It's hardest to wait when I am uncertain about the outcome, when I'm trusting God for the best while preparing for the worst. It would be much easier if I had a guaranteed good outcome. Or at least a specific promise from God to hold onto, some reassurance to anchor my prayers. But God often seems silent when I'm waiting. I have no idea whether he'll ever answer my prayer, so it feels like I'm waiting in the dark.

"Perhaps God is making me - and you - wait for the same reasons that he made Abraham wait; to forge our faith. To make us attentive to his voice. To deepen our relationship. To solidify our trust. To prepare us for ministry. To transform us into his likeness.

"In retrospect, I realize that this is the most precious answer God can give us: wait. It makes us cling to him rather than to an outcome. God knows what I need; I do not. He sees the future; I cannot. His perspective is eternal; mine is not. He will give me what is best for me when it is best for me. As Paul Tripp says, 'Waiting is not just about what I get at the end of the wait, but also who I become as I wait. '"

Candy's thoughts: I don't know about the rest of you, but waiting is definitely NOT my forte. One of my recurring sins is impatience, whether I'm in a line at the grocery store, anticipating the next season of the year to begin, for a long awaited fun event to start, etc etc etc. Nothing is too small to trigger my annoyance. 😞

Ugh. I really should 'know' better. I've been reading the Bible for many years, so I've seen how God has ordained 'waiting' as a very important time in the lives of many of his servants. Think Job, Moses, Hannah, and the children of Israel in the wilderness. Waiting is often used by God to do exactly what Risner is suggesting: to draw us closer to himself. We need to pray that he would "make us cling to him rather than to an outcome." May God give us extra measures of patience as we wait upon his good and perfect will.

A Scrap of Paper and a Prayer Worth Sharing

"If thou seek Him, He will be found of thee."  1 Corinthians 28:9

A prayer by J. Stewart French:

"O Thou Who are Infinite Wisdom, we, Thy short-sighted children, desire Thy guidance throughout this day.

We know not what of joy or sorrow it may hold for us, but we believe Thy grace to be sufficient for its needs, and so we pray that we may appreciate and appropriate that grace so freely given. If sorrow be our lot, let that grace comfort us and make us strong to bear it. If joy be ours, let that grace keep us in humbleness and dependence upon Thee.

In the midst of the uncertainties among which we must make our way, hold us by the hand and keep us in Thy paths. Help us to put down that desire we so frequently find taking possession of us, to make explorations here and there, beyond the boundaries Thou hast marked off, and to be content to follow Thee in paths that are safe.

We are depending upon Thee. Thou hast never failed us in the past, and we trust thee for this day. We do not know the way, but it is plain to Thee. Guide us safely, through Him Who has loved us and given Himself for us.  Amen."

Candy's thoughts: In looking through some old books this week, a small piece of paper dropped out from one of them. I have absolutely no idea where it came from, if someone gave it to me or I copied it from a devotional book, or if it was intended for Steve. I tried googling the author, J. Stewart French, but to no avail. It appears that the King James Version of the Bible was used and the writer communicates in the same manner, so perhaps this was published many years ago? The prayer is lovely and full of trust in the God of providence.

Somehow I haven't been able to figure out exactly what to do with this scrap of paper, but ultimately decided to honor the intentions of J. Stewart French and share it with all of you. 😀

My Worth and My Unworthiness

Keith & Kristyn Getty, Michael Card, and Fernando Ortega are the musicians that I listen to the most outside of the church setting. The video that I am posting today has the Gettys and Fernando teaming up in a beautiful song: "My Worth Is Not In What I Own" from their CD Facing a Task Unfinished. The music is lovely and the lyrics full of praise for God's redeeming work 'at the cross.'

While each verse is wonderful, I am particularly struck by the concept of "My Worth and My Unworthiness." It is the gospel in just five words.

Let me know what you think of this song. 🎶

A Rare Jewel

When I think of "great quotes," I always remember Jeremiah Burroughs. His book, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, is on my list of Top 5 Favorite "God Books" that I have ever read. I taught the entirety of this volume in our church's Women's Bible Study classes about 20 years ago, spoke on it at a small women's conference, and even quoted it at our son Sam's funeral. What makes Burroughs so quotable? It's because he is biblical. He writes as one who is thoroughly and completely immersed in Scripture.

Here are the words for which this man of God, who lived so long ago (1599-1646), is most famous:

"Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God's wise and fatherly disposal in every condition."

The entirety of Burroughs' book (228 pages) is an exposition of this definition of contentment. Being a mysterious and difficult-to-practice virtue, I heartily recommend this book to help us in our goal of being content.

Thoughts? Anyone out there in CandyceLand content with their level of contentment? If so, how did you get there? If not, how can we help one another to grow in this area?

Help Wanted: Commenters :)

As I write this Steve and I are on "stay-cation" (a vacation that is spent staying in one's own home.) With that in mind I thought that perhaps this week I would just give a couple of quotations and ask you CandyceLand readers to provide the commentary! Basically I'm minimizing my efforts and maximizing yours. 😀

Please let us know what your reaction is to the quote. If you are having trouble posting a comment - and I am aware some of you are - then you can always let me know what you think by replying to the notification email that will be sent out when the post is published. At that point I can cut and paste your comment onto the blog giving you credit as the writer, or you can be anonymous if you'd prefer. Good idea?

So let's have some fun! Don't be shy! Today's insight is from Tim Keller.

                                 

Eternity Amnesia

In the preface to his book, Forever: Why You Can't Live Without It, Paul David Tripp writes:

"It became increasingly clear that many of the people I counseled were struggling because there was a critical element in their story that they either never knew or had completely forgotten. And it wasn't too long after reaching this conclusion that I began to admit to myself that I was more like the people I counseled than unlike them.

"Like them, I often lived as an eternity amnesiac (emphasis mine). I, too, often lived with the unrealistic expectations and functional hopelessness that always results when you tell yourself that this life you have right here, right now, is all there is. I was confronted with the fact that in very significant ways, at street level, we don't always live in a way consistent with what we confess to believe.

"The story of the Bible doesn't end with this world that we are all living in right now. What would seem like the last chapter, death, really isn't the last chapter in God's story. The Bible welcomes and requires you to face the inescapable reality of life after death. This present life is not all there is. There is a forever on the other side of this life. Eternity is not a mystical creation of overly spiritual people. Forever is a reality. It is the product of God's plan and design. And once you believe in forever and live with forever in view, not only will you understand things you have never understood before, but you will live in a radically different way than you did before."

Candy's thoughts: I'm certainly not a doctor, but it seems to me like eternity amnesia is a very serious condition, one that needs constant monitoring. It also sounds like it might very well be a contagious infection. If we surround ourselves with others suffering from this disease, I'm guessing we'll soon be exhibiting the same symptoms. What to do? I know that this book, which has been on my shelf for about seven years, is about to be thoroughly and carefully read and shared with all of you in hopes that together we can be free of this diagnosis. Having read many of this author's other books, I'm sure that he will have just the right treatment plan to get us back to where we should be -  living joyfully with an eternal perspective.

Hymns and Tears

Anyone who has been in worship with me undoubtedly has witnessed the power of hymns to make me cry. While I no longer have to leave the service two or three times each Sunday in order to regain my composure, I still struggle with tears every week. While spoken prayers, Scripture readings, and sermon illustrations have on occasion caused me to weep, the main culprit remains music. I have thought much about this experience and have tried to determine why this is so. I believe the answer is both simple and complex.

Many people who have suffered a loss of some kind (such as death of loved one, financial ruin, broken relationship, etc) face frequent battles with their own emotions. What stirs within us is sorrow, fear, anger, confusion, regret. The best musical offerings touch upon all these feelings, but remind us that God is in control of all the events that cause them. “Whate’er my God Ordains is Right”

We know we can never go back to what once was, and we are not content with the present, so the only solution is to move forward. Good hymns speak of the past, the present, and the future. “Amazing Grace”

Those of us struggling with sorrow wish that disappointment, grief, and fear would disappear. “Be Still, My Soul”

We long to have the perspective of God, that we may see all of our lives, even the difficult seasons, through God’s eyes and not our own. “Be Thou My Vision”

We need to know that though we long for Heaven more than ever before, we are still called to persevere on this present Earth for a while longer. “This is My Father’s World”

We want to be reminded that when we feel abandoned by God, we only need to look to the cross to see that Christ understands even this emotion of ours. By His work He has secured our eternal condition, so that we will never be ultimately forgotten. “O Sacred Head Now Wounded”

We desire that we would be well again, that we could accept the “new normal” of our lives, and that we might feel the joy that others experience. “It Is Well With My Soul”

SO – all this brings us back to the question at hand: why do these hymns bring tears to my eyes? I think it’s because good hymns are both simple and complex. They reveal to us the simplicity of God’s love for us. I have often wanted during this season of grief to be reassured, even as a child, that “Jesus Loves Me, This I Know.” At other times I need to be confronted and comforted by the complexity of God's providences as demonstrated by songs such as “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise.”

As always, God meets me in my greatest need every Sunday morning, and speaks to me through heart-breaking and heart-mending music.

Harvesting Fruit

"Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord's sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate."(Dan. 9:17)

Keddie's thoughts: "True prayer appeals to the glory of God's name. You will have noticed that the recurring argument is not "save us for our own sakes," but, rather, save us for "Your own sake" - i.e., for God's righteousness, compassion, reputation, and glory! Our sins, sad to say, inevitably give "great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme" (2 Sam. 12:14), whereas genuine godliness is a winsome witness to the world. This is why Jesus says to us: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matt: 5:16). Ask yourself constantly whether your thoughts, words, and deeds will cause others to glorify your Savior God. Christians! You are God's ambassadors and your whole carriage and behavior will therefore either enhance or diminish the name of God before the world."

Candy's thoughts: Keddie's reflection on this passage in Daniel is a sobering one. Which of us can say "Yep - that's me - always enhancing the name of God before the world!" It seems that as Christians we need to pray Gal: 5:22-23 constantly: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." A harvesting of those virtues would go a long way toward glorifying God and bringing contentment and less strife into our own lives.

From Prayers of the Bible: 366 Devotionals To Encourage Your Prayer Life

How God Sometimes Answers Prayers in Ways We Would Not Have Expected

"I Asked the Lord that I Might Grow" has been one of my favorite songs in the last few years. It is a John Newton hymn written at a very difficult time in his life. The tune here is different from the one in our new EPC hymnal, but the words remain the same - both convicting and riveting.

The entire album by Indelible Grace is free to stream on Amazon if you are an Amazon Prime subscriber, or available on iTunes, or as a CD. I can't recommend this music enough. I LOVE every single song and will slowly be posting each one here on CandyceLand.

P.S. In case you can't see the above links, just click on the purple words 'hymn' and 'entire album.'

A Prayer of Consummate Freedom

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Gal: 5:1)

A Fourth of July prayer by Scotty Smith:

"Dear Jesus, it's the Fourth of July - a holiday set aside to remember and revel in the freedom we enjoy as citizens of America. I thank you for our country, as broken as she is, and for the liberties and privileges I have as a citizen of the United States.

But that for which I'm most grateful as I think of the Fourth is the consummate freedom I enjoy as a citizen of heaven - as a member of  the "chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9).

To be set free by you, Jesus, is to be free indeed (John 8:36). I will certainly enjoy the pageantry, food, and fun of the Fourth of July this week. But I will resolutely stand firm, for the rest of my life, in the freedom for which you have set us free.

I praise you, Jesus, that I am free from the guilt of my sin, for you took my place on the cross, exhausting the judgment I deserve. I praise you for freedom over the power of sin, for you have broken its dominion in my life. I praise you for the freedom from the fear of death, for you removed its sting and robbed the grave of its victory.

I praise you that I can now obey God from my heart, and not out of pride, pragmatics, or pretense. I praise you for the freedom to come boldly to the throne of grace, into the very Holy of Holies, for you have secured this "new and living way" for us. I praise you for the freedom of repentance, for you have borne my shame and I don't have to pretend or pose anymore. I praise you for the freedom to risk, instead of rusting the rest of my life, for life is no longer about performance but about your praise.

Jesus, by the power of the gospel, I will seek to stand firm in these and many more freedoms you've won for us, and I will seek to resist all slaveries until the day you return to finish this magnificent "liberation suite." Hallelujah, what a Savior you are! Hallelujah, what a salvation you freely give us! I pray in your liberating and lovely name. Amen."

From Everyday Prayers: 365 Days to a Gospel-Centered Faith

God's Mysterious Answers to Prayer

"Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."  (Mark 14:36)

Vaneetha's thoughts: "Should we pray for healing and deliverance, believing that we just need to ask because God can do anything? Or should we relinquish our desires to God, trusting that even in our anguish he has the perfect plan for us? When life falls apart, God invites us to do both. In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus faced unimaginable suffering. Sweating drops of blood, he fell to the ground and prayed: 'Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.'  Jesus, in his agony, is teaching us by example how to pray when we're desperate.  Jesus relinquishes his will to God's. When denied his desire, Jesus accepts the decision completely.

The Father said no to the Son. And that 'no' brought about the greatest good in all of history. God is not capricious. If he says no to our requests, he has a reason - perhaps ten thousand. We may never know the reasons in this life, but one day we'll see them. For now, we must trust that his refusals are always his mercies to us."

Candy's thoughts: I wonder how many times in my life a 'no' from God resulted in something far better than I could have asked for or imagined?  Perhaps this is the beauty of journaling - keeping a record of prayer requests and then remembering to follow up with an update and a reflection on God's better answer to our entreaties. If only I could constantly remind myself that "his refusals are always his mercies to us." Such a profound thought and encouragement to us in the midst of tragedy and despair.