Wait

The following passage is taken from GMSJ Sunday Worship bulletin dated 27 June 2004.

Vision and Darkness

Whenever God gives a vision to a Christian, it is as if He puts him in "the shadow of His hand" (Isaiah 49:2). The saint's duty is to be still and listed. There is a "darkness" that comes from too much light - that is the time to listen. The story of Abram and Hagar in Genesis 16 is an excellent example of listening to so-called good advise during a time of darkness, rather than waiting for God to send the light. When God gives you a vision and darkness follows, wait. God will bring the vision He has given to you in reality in your life if you will wait on His timing. Never try to help God fulfill His word. Abram went through thirteen years of silence, but in those years all of his self-sufficiency was destroyed. He grew past the point of relying on his own common sense. Those years of silence were a time of discipline, not a period of God's displeasure. There is never any need to pretend that your life is filled with joy and confidence; just wait upon God and be grounded in Him (see Isaiah 50:10-11).

Do I trust at all in the flesh? Or have I learned to go beyond all confidence in myself and other people of God? Do I trust in books and prayers or other joys in my life? Or have I placed my confidence in God Himself, not in His blessings? "I am Almighty God..." -- El-Shaddai, the All-Powerful God (Genesis 17:1). The reason we are all being disciplined is that we will know God is real. As soon as God becomes real to us, people pale by comparison, becoming shadows of reality. Nothing that other saints do or say can ever upset the one who is built on God.

Testimonials can be dangerous. Often we use testimonials to convince people to believe in something, especially stuff that we are selling. A salesman will use testimonials from existing customers to convince potential customers to buy his product. A mother will use the testimonials of other children to convince her own child to eat the bowl of porridge. A tuition centre will use the testimonials of successful ex-students to testify that it provides the best possible quality of tuition. Testimonials give people the assurance that the decision which they about to make is the right one, and hence will "improve" their life rather than the other way round. Testimonials give us an idea on what to expect.

However, expectations does not equal to reality, most of the time. Expectation depends very much on our own perception of the situation and therefore it could vary from individual to individual. It can even be different if measured at different points in time.

Christians who give testimonials often talk about God's work in their lives. These testimonials are given from their perspectives. As we listen to these testimonials, we must be careful not to jump into conclusions that God will also work in the same way in our lives. We are unique in God's eyes (I forgot which bible verse says that, but I've read it somewhere).

Therefore, when we get a glimpse of the vision from God, and if silence follows, we have to

just wait upon God and be grounded in Him.

The image above is linked from an article on How to Wait on God.