Waiting on God – Birth Pangs
One reason many people never see God working in their lives is because they never hang in long enough for God to show his power. Wayne Stiles
Has God given you a promise that hasn’t come to fruition yet? Has He given you a vision or called you to do something that seems so far away at this moment that you are doubting whether you’ve really heard from the Lord? When the Lord gives us His promise, it most often does not come to fruition immediately. There will be a time of waiting before the vision is birthed. Isaiah 66:9 (ESV) says,
“’ Shall I bring to the point of birth and not cause to bring forth?' says the Lord; ‘shall I, who cause to bring forth, shut the womb?’ says your God.“
When God sows the seeds of vision in our hearts, there will be a time of watering and nurturing so that the seeds can germinate and grow to maturity. This is a spiritual watering and nurturing. God wants to do a work of sanctification in our hearts and minds so that we are ready to do the work when His vision is birthed in the natural. This work of sanctification requires us to yield to Him. To yield to His hand of moulding and refining. His moulding and refining can sometimes be painful, but this is what is needed to bring to birth what He has planted in our hearts. God, in His love and grace, will not allow us to be spiritually inept to carry out His work. He will equip us so that we become vessels of honour, sanctified and useful for our Master, prepared for every good work (2 Timothy 2:20-21).
Keep Your Eyes on Jesus
While we are waiting, He wants us to keep our eyes on Him. He doesn’t want us to be distracted by others who we believe are fulfilling their God-given vision. These distractions cause us to doubt God’s plan for our lives. They cause us to take our eyes off Jesus. We become like Peter, when he walked on the water towards Jesus, but started to sink when he was distracted by the wind (Matthew 14:28-31). When we keep our eyes on Jesus and yield to His moulding and refining, He will bring the vision to birth at just the right time so that we will bear fruit for His Kingdom and glorify His name.
God gives us the vision, then he takes us down to the valley to batter us into the shape of the vision, and it is in the valley that so many of us faint and give way. Every vision will be made real if we will have patience. Oswald Chambers
Reflection
Have there been times when you’ve felt like giving up on the vision God has given you? Take time to seek God so that He can reveal the areas that He wants to sanctify in your life so that you will be prepared for the work that He wants you to do.
Prayer
Dear heavenly Father, thank You for the vision that You have planted in my heart. Lord, I yield to your refining and moulding. Help me to be a vessel of honour, sanctified and useful for the good work that You have prepared for me. Help me to take my eyes off others so that I can keep my focus on You. Give me the patience to wait for You to bring the vision to birth in Your perfect time and in Your way so that You will be glorified. In Jesus’ name, amen.
