Recently, I had a waiting day. Waiting for the doctor. Waiting for the mechanic. Waiting for my daughter’s lesson to end. Driving one place to end up sitting and waiting an hour, only to commute to the next place and wait another hour. All of it good stuff, all of it necessary, but the travel from one place to the next, not to mention the simple act of waiting, was simply exhausting.
I can’t help but think of how this is a picture our current season in life. My husband did not attain a long-desired promotion. Since he is about to cross the 18-year mark with his job, this means he will not get that promotion. Ever. This also means we begin a two-year-journey towards retirement. It means grieving a way of life we’ve known nearly 20 years, and grieving our hopes of his ending at a higher rank.
It also means we’re entering a period of waiting to see what’s next. We must make a decision in the next couple of weeks that will greatly impact the next few years of our lives and most importantly, the life of our teenage daughter. The little one has plenty of time to adjust, but the teenager has the most to lose, or gain, depending on the decision we make.
Of course, it’s also very exciting! We wait to see what job is ahead for Glen, and where we will live when retirement comes. He has earned a Master’s degree, and now he will learn where to apply those skills as a civilian. And now it will be time to consider what’s next for myself, as well. School? Work? Something else?
As we are seeking God in our decisions. we keep sensing His assurance that the next chapter is in His hands. We know He is in control, but sometimes walking through it is a bit rough.
This is one of those places in the Journey that requires deep faith. The road is foggy, and all we can see ahead is Jesus’ hand, reaching back to us like a parent leading a child. We want so badly to know the whole answer, to see the entire road map and know what’s ahead—complete with rest stops and scenic views marked in bold pen.
Charles Spurgeon said, “When you can’t trace His hand, you must learn to trust His heart.”
So will we trust, and take a single baby step at a time? If all we see is part of His hand, will we take it, with all the faith of a child, knowing He has our best in mind? Or will we run ahead blindly, going off on our own, and then hope He catches us before we plunge over a dangerous cliff?
Here’s to moving forward in faith, and trusting the Heart of the One that made us.
I can’t help but think of how this is a picture our current season in life. My husband did not attain a long-desired promotion. Since he is about to cross the 18-year mark with his job, this means he will not get that promotion. Ever. This also means we begin a two-year-journey towards retirement. It means grieving a way of life we’ve known nearly 20 years, and grieving our hopes of his ending at a higher rank.
It also means we’re entering a period of waiting to see what’s next. We must make a decision in the next couple of weeks that will greatly impact the next few years of our lives and most importantly, the life of our teenage daughter. The little one has plenty of time to adjust, but the teenager has the most to lose, or gain, depending on the decision we make.
Of course, it’s also very exciting! We wait to see what job is ahead for Glen, and where we will live when retirement comes. He has earned a Master’s degree, and now he will learn where to apply those skills as a civilian. And now it will be time to consider what’s next for myself, as well. School? Work? Something else?
As we are seeking God in our decisions. we keep sensing His assurance that the next chapter is in His hands. We know He is in control, but sometimes walking through it is a bit rough.
This is one of those places in the Journey that requires deep faith. The road is foggy, and all we can see ahead is Jesus’ hand, reaching back to us like a parent leading a child. We want so badly to know the whole answer, to see the entire road map and know what’s ahead—complete with rest stops and scenic views marked in bold pen.
Charles Spurgeon said, “When you can’t trace His hand, you must learn to trust His heart.”
So will we trust, and take a single baby step at a time? If all we see is part of His hand, will we take it, with all the faith of a child, knowing He has our best in mind? Or will we run ahead blindly, going off on our own, and then hope He catches us before we plunge over a dangerous cliff?
Here’s to moving forward in faith, and trusting the Heart of the One that made us.
B-299 near Pressath, Germany. October 2016.