I am beginning to see the tangible benefits of seeking direction from the Lord and resting, trusting that He is working behind the scenes getting me to where He needs me to be. Being in the midst of a culture like ours where there is an expectation to have goals and life plans, waiting for the Lord's direction is a difficult task. I don't mean just saying that you are waiting. I mean not making a move until you are clear of the direction. This does not include being stagnant out of fear but being still out of an obedience and deep desire to truly walk out the will of God in your life.
Looking back now, I can see all of the preparations that God was making in an effort to prepare me for the call that He has for me in this life. I went from running a school and not truly understanding how to follow the leading of God's peace in decision making to two years of isolated training in allowing God to really lead me. My training period had to include the isolation of not being involved in anything for me to really grasp what was being taught. My personality causes me to get caught up in the doing; this "doing" has at times caused me lack the patience needed to wait on God for every step...and perhaps, I really didn't know how to wait on every step. But God is faithful in that when we can identify an area within ourselves that needs improvement and we ask for Him to teach us His ways, He is faithful in teaching us. This process may be painful, and it may look illogical to the outside world. However, God knows what He's doing. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).
I believe that God is always preparing us for a greater calling in life. Some step up to that calling; some do not. Where ever God has you right now, you are being prepared for a kingdom purpose. Your life has purpose. You may not see but God promises that He makes a road in the wilderness and streams in the desert (Isaiah 43:19). You may not feel like you measure up to the others around you because our culture has you standing next to a measuring stick, but God does not look at the things of this world. "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at....God looks at the heart," (1 Samuel 16:7). I read a devotional by Beth Moore. She stated that many preach that God chose David as King despite his lowly stature as a shepherd. However, her perspective was that God chose David from the beginning and his life as a shepherd prepared him for the greater task of shepherding God's people as King: "He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance, and David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them," (Psalm 78:70-72). Those skillful hands came from experiences. God knows how to shape us when we are submissive and obedient to His will.
Life may not look like it makes sense for a while. Perhaps after being annointed King of Israel, David wondered how he would go from shepherd to king. I know many (including myself a few years ago) who would start strategizing and contriving ways to get themselves into the position of King. However, truly waiting on God is waiting for His perfect timing in causing all things to work together effortlessly and undeniably by the hand of God.
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