We live in a fast paced world filled with ‘instants’.  In the tap of an icon, snap of a finger, swipe of a card; and just like that, what we need is done.  Thanks to technology’s advancements! Technology has grown to the point of making us impatient people in waiting for what once required planning, queues and sacrifice.  Despite our fast paced living, there are still a lot of things in life which come with a period of waiting.  Living with ‘instants’ however has drastically altered and impacted lives. In some ways, it has crippled our ability to wait and experience the sense of joy and accomplishment that comes with receiving something we longed for.

I’m not very great at accessing and availing the ‘instants’ technology provides, and yet, I am never patient when it comes to waiting.  Whatever kind of person you are, waiting doesn’t seem to be anyone’s favourite these days.  If I may, WAIT seems to be one of the most dreaded four-letter word.

Wait is very much built into every aspect of our lives no matter how fast our world may be spinning.  As simple as it may seem, waiting is in the mundane things like traffic lights or billing counters; and in the much bigger things like, waiting for healing or for your business to grow.  Wait seems to be evidently more vibrant in a believer’s life!  What more?!  Every good thing seems to come with the certitude of waiting.

A few years ago, I learnt that when we surrender what we long for into God’s hand, WAIT can be – ‘What An Incredible Time‘ as He makes it all beautiful (Ecc. 3:11).  However, not all our waits make it feel like it’s incredible.  In hindsight, we may come to see something as incredible.  Or maybe knowing for sure what the outcome of a wait is may make it incredible.  For instance, a mum-to-be may find the nine months of her pregnancy incredible, knowing what lies at the other end of her morning sickness and labour is a bundle of joy.  But come on, let’s get realistic.  Our waits aren’t always as incredible as that.  Waits more often feel like: ‘What An Intense Time!‘ than incredible!

We often get discouraged and frustrated in waiting for things to change and become favourable for us.  In that process, we begin to doubt and question everything possible – from our desires, capabilities, and worth to God & His Word.  Yet, the silver lining to all this is having a Heavenly Father Who is full of emotions just as we are. He knows how we feel, He sees us through our worst moments and He understands us when we go to Him with our doubts and questions.

During this particular season of wait, after wrestling, pouring out my heart to God, feeling exhausted (and defeated in some sense) and on the verge of diving into disappointment, I found myself echoing in hope the words of the Psalmist “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord, in the land of the living.” (Psalm 27:13)

If you’re in a season of waiting today, big or small, – no matter how hard it is, take joy in the fact that you will see God’s goodness come through in all of it.  Whether you’re wrestling out your situation with God or tired and exhausted waiting, remember there’s always hope in waiting.  Abraham hoped against all hope… and his hope wasn’t in vain (Romans 4:18-22). In fact God works ALL things for the good of them that love Him (Romans 8:28).  So hold on to Him and know He’s not going to let you go till He has accomplished the good work He has started in you (Philippians 1:6).

Secondly, we often forget that in our waits, God is with us.  In fact, we read in Isaiah that He waits for us to come to Him, so He can show us His love and compassion.  He is a faithful God and blessed are those who wait for His help (Isaiah 30:18).  He’s waiting for you even as you wait for Him to come through. You are worth a lot to Him! And He will surely help you as you wait on Him.  As you dwell on that perspective, reach out to Him and ask Him to add new meaning to your wait. For God’s presence in a believer’s life makes any wait much more dynamic.

Here’s something to start with; today as you wait, ask & He will continue to

W – watch out for you & work out all things for you

A – adorn you with His love & anoint your head with oil each day

I – inspire you anew & inoculate your faith

T – train you to use the resources He’s entrusted to your care & transform you more to the likeness of Jesus. 

May God keep you far from the constant “in-tense” mode and help you find joy in the simple things of this life.  After all, He has given you life in all its abundance.  Embrace it as you wait on Him.

Remember through the waits of life, God continues to lead us into our purpose.  In such journeys, may our hearts resound with Psalm 27:14 – “Wait patiently for the Lord.  Be brave and courageous.  Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”

May your WAIT not only be incredible but have a fruitful harvest!

Have you ever been stuck in middle of the storm while at sea? The wind blows hard from every side seemingly unable to make up its mind on which direction it should be blowing! And that in turn brings the rain down like stones being pelted at you and of course, not to forget the waves that decide to do their jiggle right then.

We don’t have to be at sea in the middle of the storm to experience any of that. Just close your eyes and think of storm, boat and sea; and see what a vivid four-dimensional (4D) imagery your mind can come up with. Let me tell you – that’s enough to send that momentary shiver down your spine.

One of the other reasons our imagination does so exceedingly well is because in life too, we have weathered winds that blow hard, pelting rain and waves that jiggle. Circumstances have often left us feeling like we’re in the middle of that swirling storm, stranded in a boat in the middle of a sloshing sea.

Mark 4, records a literal storm from which we can fish out a couple of lessons to face life’s storms.

Jesus is like the boat beneath us that holds us.  We may feel tossed and thrown but we can rest assured that the boat will never give way.  It will be what protects us and sustains us through the storm.  After all, in His Sovereignty God allowed that storm to rock our boat.

Secondly, Mark also reminds us through his narrative that Jesus has the Authority to calm the storm.

Unquestionably  we all face storms in lives. And God allows us to be in the midst of it for a purpose. In some of these storms He chooses to display His authority. In others, He chooses to reveal His sovereignty through it all. He gives us the grace and strength to weather it, while constantly assuring us that He is working for our good.

Today, irrespective of whether God chooses to display His authority or reveal His sovereignty to you in the midst of your storm, just remember that He will most certainly perfect what concerns you!

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Based on Mark 4:35-41

Jesus Calms the Storm

³⁵ That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” ³⁶ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. ³⁷ A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸ Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

³⁹ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

⁴⁰ He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

⁴¹ They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Precious memories how they linger; how they ever flood my soul!

One of the first things that come to my mind when I think of Ebenezer thatha is that each time he came to India and stayed with us, he would ask me to set aside some time to spend with him; – despite Mary pattima telling him not to trouble me as I had other things to do :’).

I remember when I was younger, I tried to dodge these talks with thatha (especially since they were questions I didn’t understand yet or know the “right answer” to) and find refuge in pattima’s love. It took me some time to understand that thatha’s request to talk also came from love. A love for his Maker and of course his love toward me. My soul mattered to him! And I am convinced I was somewhere in his prayers.

I remember the long conversations we’ve had about salvation.  A trademark of thatha at his best I’ve been told; one-on-one evangelism!  Looking back, it makes me realize that thatha had these talks with me before I embraced Christ.

I also remember that when I gave my life to Jesus, I didn’t even have to tell thatha. The salvation conversations stopped – it felt like he instinctively knew what he was concerned about was taken care of.  The change in tone and topics of our conversations reflected it.

The time he asked me to set aside for him on each trip continued till the most recent one, in June (I wish I had had more time, though). These were conversations filled with love, gladness and a sense of gratitude. And they are now memories forever etched in some corner of my brain. 

This June was the first and only time Thatha met Rufus. He welcomed him with the same love he had for me.  He mentioned how special I was to him and pattima and that now Rufus was special to them too. He told him that he (Rufus) was blessed to have me and that he ought to take good care of me!

To know there won’t be more of these talks for a while now saddens me. As ABBA sings it: “Sometimes I wish that I could freeze a picture and save it from the funny tricks of time!” Yet, I’m grateful for your life, thatha, and to know there is no more pain or sorrow but just uncontainable joy for you, gives us all peace in sorrow.

Glad and grateful that this is not the end.

It was one of those days
Where dreams dawned afresh
And thoughts inspired
For what was hoped for, seemed just a grasp away.

She played it all out in her head
Of what the scene might be like.
A strange sense of excitement welled up within her
For what was hoped for, seemed just a grasp away.  

For many years she had struggled
With thoughts that overwhelmed
And dreams that were crushed
For what was hoped for, seemed way out of grasp.

Shame ridiculed!
And mockery taunted.
‘Would life ever get better?’ she pondered
For what was hoped for, seemed way out of grasp.

Sleepless nights rolled on as plans deferred;
Incessant tears shed as she battled with faith.
She staggered past each day, sorrowful
For what was hoped for, seemed way out of grasp.

Pain overtook every bit of her
Fear left her crippled
Each day worse than the one before
For what was hoped for, seemed way out of grasp.

Her doctors didn’t give her hope.
Those around her had not a clue
What agony she carried in her heart!
For what was hoped for, seemed way out of grasp.

But today was different.
For the first time in a long time,
She could see her life in new light.
For what was hoped for, didn’t seem way out of grasp.

She had heard of it, but wasn’t sure
Until she saw up close the reality of it all.
This led her to believe again
For what was hoped for, didn’t seem way out of grasp. 

A Man Who was ‘THE MAKER’
Everything He touched turned to gold in a sense.
‘Could it be all that I longed for?’
For what was hoped for, didn’t seem way out of grasp.

She set out to resolve her questions and doubts
Standing unseen behind the crowds;
She keenly absorbed all she saw
And what was hoped for, now didn’t seem way out of grasp.

The more she heard Him, the more her heart began to sing
The Maker’s Words resonated with her core reminding her
“You are fearfully and wonderfully made by me”
And what was hoped for, now didn’t seem way out of grasp.

She knew now her wait was almost over
Her time had finally come
It felt like dancing in the rain!
For what was hoped for seemed just a grasp away.

All she needed was a plan to meet her Maker
A way to sneak into the crowds unnoticed
So she could steal one quick touch – the touch that would mend ALL THINGS
For what was hoped for, now seemed just a grasp away.

She played it all out in her head
Of what the scene might be like.
A strange sense of excitement welled up within her
For what was hoped for, now seemed just a grasp away.

It took courage; it took efforts beyond her means;
It took picking up the shattered pieces of her life to give her Maker.
She was determined to follow through
For what was hoped for, she now wanted to grasp.

She crawled between the crowds
Longing for that touch of gold
Grabbing air, she missed the mark in vain.
What was hoped for was still a grasp away.

Possibly stamped on and covered in dust
She sought her way through the crowds
It was no time to give up now
For what was hoped for was only a grasp away.

[What are you hoping for today?  
Is it way out of grasp or only a grasp away?]

She reached out her hand in faith between the spaces she could see
His cloak finally met her grasp!
Power transpired and
What was once hoped for had now been grasped.

Her breakthrough finally appeared
His commendation of her faith being the biggest moment of it all.
He even adopted her as daughter;
So that what was out of grasp may never be out of grasp again.

Yet her story didn’t end there.
She went on to enjoy the abundant life He provided
Where endless joy replaced sorrow and all craziness turned to bliss.
And what seemed out of grasp, will now always be within grasp.

Inspired by Mark 5:24-34
So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.  At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”  “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”  But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

https://bible.com/bible/111/mrk.5.24-34.NIV

 

 

 

Let your ember of hope be the spark that ignites, and not that which turns to ashes!

Based on Genesis 22

Abraham’s faith was tested not only in terms of sacrificing Isaac and where God was going to lead him to make the sacrifice, but also concerning the promise God made to him regarding this offspring of his.

In asking Isaac to be sacrificed, God told Abraham to ‘go to the land of Moriah’.  He didn’t tell him where exactly.  He just said ‘..on a mountain I will show you’.  Abraham stepped out in faith.  The passage says ‘..on the third day when they looked up, they saw Moriah at a distance.’ Those three days would surely not have been easy or of course even the moment that led up to laying down Isaac at the altar. Abraham must have gone back and forth with his thoughts – contemplating between what God promised and what He was asking him to do now; – Because just in the previous chapter we see, God telling Abraham that it is through Isaac, his descendants will be established.  (Genesis 21:12)  Of course, we cannot disregard the emotional turmoil this would have created in Abraham.  If that was me, there would have probably been tears, increased heart rate,  sleepless nights, being stressed, frustrated and probably irritated with everything and everyone around me and more tears.

Often, we find ourselves in a similar journey.  There is a beautiful promise God makes to us, that encourages us and gets us all excited to believe that the impossible is very much possible.  Then with a turn of events or sometimes simply even in the mundane, we find ourselves in a place that is far from being the favourable condition for the promise made to be fulfilled. This leaves our heart and mind battling the incomprehensibly contradicting circumstance that threatens to put an end to the promise.  Often, it also makes us second guess ourselves, our worth, wonder if God really made that promise to us, His love for us and what not?!

Between God’s silence and yet trying to find hope in the promise He had made, Abraham, with a heavy heart, must have pursued his journey up the mountain with just his son, leaving his servants behind.  We all struggle when God is quiet.  Sometimes He gives enough Word for the next step, sometimes, it’s not even that.  He may simply be quiet when we try to seek direction, implying we trust Him and wait.  These are the times we need to fall back on the overarching promises God has made over our lives and trust that even in that minute where we feel confused and hurt, He is still working out all things for our good.

God made a covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15); accepting it, Abraham entered into a covenantal relationship with God.  Today, God makes a covenant with each of us & becomes our covenantal partner when we acknowledge Christ’ sacrifice for us and live conscious of the price of our redemption.  Viewing this passage in terms of our covenant, hard times come, true.  The question is, through it, are we faithful to the covenant we made with our covenant partner?  It’s not fair that we expect Him to stand by us only for blessings, miracles and all the good things.  He saw us at our worst and wanted to make the covenant with us – for better, for worse.

Though the path Abraham set out on seemed to threaten to kill his dreams of seeing the promise being fulfilled, his active obedience and absolute trust in God helped him keep his hope alive in what was promised to him. That enabled him (even if reluctantly) to drag one foot in front of the other and move forward even when it seemed to be an unfair demand from his Partner.

Are we willing to count on God when it’s ‘worse’ too? – And not run our own way?  Trusting God required Abraham to refrain from controlling the situation with his own action plan.  Unlike earlier choices Abraham impulsively made (having Ishmael – Gen 16; saying Sarah was his sister – Gen 12 &20), here, he chooses well; trusting God no matter what the outcome was gonna look like.  He did not blink an eye in binding his son and laying him on the altar or even in raising his hand to slay him.  When God commands, we need to trust His lead and leave our actions and its outcome into His hands.  Leave and cleave, if I may.  Wishing we have better control over the circumstance or our actions when we’ve entrusted it all to God, is us second guessing His sovereignty over it all. 

Where is God calling us to trust Him and obey Him today? 

The journey may be what leads up the fulfillment of the promise and God’s divine provision for you. 

 

Obeying God’s command no matter what is as essential and significant as embracing His promises made to us. God’s promise to Abraham regarding his offspring wasn’t something that God would have gone back on (We read more on that in Hebrews 6:13-18) – because He’s a promise keeping God. The testing therefore was definitely not to see if Abraham was worthy of receiving that promise. But that’s the thing about God, He desires for each of us to grow. Just like putting metal through a fire to purify and strengthen it, the testing of our faith is to purify and strengthen our relationship with our Maker.  At the end of the day, every tough situation draws two people who are in love, closer to each other.  Our love for our Redeemer is reflected through our response to Him through trials. Is it worship as Abraham said (vs 5), before he knew the outcome or is it anger, frustration, disappointment, discouragement? Testing is what I believe teaches dependence on God.  It also teaches us humility. Testing is what refines us to be Christ-like.

Finally, only when Abraham climbed up that mountain and was about to slay his son, did God provide the ram.  God sometimes needs to pull us aside and bring us to a particular place before He can provide.  He may probably want us to mature to an extent [where we can make composed statements like Abraham, under pressure, with no one else knowing what’s happening: “We will worship and we will come back to you.” (vs 5)  “God Himself will provide….” (vs 8)]  before He provides.

Also, understanding that God has a faultless, accurate timeline in which He accomplishes His will is an impeccable truth to grasp.  His timing in provision is perfect. Trust Him, He’s got it all covered!

Based on Numbers 13:31-33

The ten spies who went to explore the Promised Land (Canaan), delighted at the bounty of the land. Yet, rather than focusing on the good that was present, they focused on what appeared bad to them; the Anaks who lived in Canaan. We often do the same today.  We let the cons outweigh the pros simply because we have allowed ourselves to be trained at using a magnifying lens when we take a look at life’s cons.   And sadly we’ve become experts in doing so.

The spies feared the giants living in Canaan. It’s true indeed that they were literally giants; and so the spies decided that they looked like grasshoppers and assumed that’s how the people in Canaan would see them as well.  What they had forgotten though, was the presence of the power of God that was still with them as a pillar of cloud and fire.  Even worse, they failed to realise and see themselves the way God saw them.

How often have we made assumptions like these about ourselves?  We tend to shrink how we see ourselves and assume that’s how others see us as well.  Instead, if we can consciously make the effort to refocus the magnifying glass on God, we will learn to see ourselves and our situations through our Father’s eyes.  Not that we become delusional or think of ourselves more highly that we ought to; but in sober judgement.  For when we truly see ourselves through our Father’s eyes, it most certainly will be in sober judgement.  And that will help us see others as well, through His eyes.

As for the spies and the Israelites who heard them out and believed them, they missed out on a gorgeous display of God’s glory and blessings, as He led them into the land He promised on oath.  The spies lost out on a lot, simply because they focused on the circumstances and not their Creator. Their assumption of how the Canaanites saw them was very different from reality. For in fact, as we read the first twelve chapters of Joshua, we learn that the people in Canaan were living in fear and trembled at the thought of Israel because they knew that the LIVING GOD was on their side.  And guess what?! – that was forty years after the spies initially investigated Canaan.  The so called giants continued living in the fear of when Israel might take over their land because of what they had heard this Living God did at the Red Sea and to the Egyptians. Sadly, the same happens with us today. We assume how the world perceives us, when, if not always, it’s mostly far from the truth.  We let satan sow his seeds of discouragement in the places we are vulnerable and grow our thoughts & feelings of inadequacy.  And even if that’s how people see us, we need to remember that what matters most is how our Father sees us and who we are and can be, by His grace.  For we live for the audience of ONE!

The final take away from this passage is remembering God’s constant presence in our lives.  His presence and power in our lives today is as relevant as it was when He led the Israelites.  If we’re in a circumstance where we can only see cons, remember, He is hundred fold more-than-enough to outweigh all the cons you can list down against your circumstance.  We can count on Him to come through for us. All we need is a little faith and the courage that helps us see ourselves through our Father’s eyes.