When Waiting’s the Wisest Choice

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Some Days

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Some days are simply set aside

for resting of the soul

when doing just cannot be done

and stillness is the goal

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Some days are filled with silence

while listening for His voice

when waiting is the wisest way

and faith’s the finest choice

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Some days are meant for battle

when darts of doubt are shot

extinguishing them with written Words

from wisdom that I’ve sought

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Some days are gilded with glory

as answered prayers proclaim

that once again our Living Lord

formed beauty from our pain.

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Wendy ❀ 2013

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I wrote this poem in 2013.

(I’ve posted it before, and my daughter has written music for it that I LOVE)

It came to mind during an evening walk with my husband.

He said things had turned out well for our family this year.

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We had done a lot of praying and waiting.

These turned out to be the wisest choices.

Often we don’t wait; but this time we did. 

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The reward for our waiting has now blessed

 other areas of our life we’ve been praying about.

It’s amazing what God our Rock can do when we wait and don’t get in the way.

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On the way to this beach my son and I talked about a valley he’d gone through.

It was a valley that our family walked through with him (hard to type with blurry eyes).

He shared with me something he recently found out about an old bully (via good ol’ Facebook).  

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It was something that shed light on the why behind the bullying.

It showed that all the hurtful words and accusations 

were about the bully—not our son.

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We had prayed. We had waited. And now our son has peace.

This year I also found out some things about an old bully

from my own childhood.

I found out it wasn’t about me.

Now it’s easier to forgive

when memories

resurface

(and easier to pray for the bully).

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But I will restore you to health

and heal your wounds,”

declares the LORD,

“because you were called an outcast,

Zion for whom no one cares.”

Jeremiah 30:17

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Blessings of Healing ❀ Wendy

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Here’s a link to my own  2 minute YouTube video I posted of the waves at Bate’s Beach.

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Do you ever find it hard to wait for God’s answer?

Do you believe in His perfect timing?

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64 thoughts on “When Waiting’s the Wisest Choice

  1. Wendy, Your poetry (words and photos) are beautiful. I am saying a prayer of thanksgiving for your faith and healing and for your wonderful ability to share your walk with the rest of us. Many blessings on you this day. Mary Adrienne

    1. Thank you, dear Mary. Nothing is too difficult for God to heal. He may choose not to restore us completely here; but we will be whole when we go Home. ❀ Blessings and thank you.

  2. Wendy, the images you create, both visually and emotionally, are authentic and encouraging. Thank you!
    That towhee looks so proud on his prickly branch. 🙂

    I find it hard to wait on the Lord in regards to answered prayer for loved ones. A heart turned from faith, a body ravaged with cancer, a friend clawing out from a dark place. The waiting room is not a fun place to be when others struggle. But I guess there is power in my presence and my prayers, so I hope to be used by the Lord during the rough season they are in.

    1. Thank you, Jenni. I agree ‘the waiting room is not fun’. There are so many of them when you are a parent of 3 teens, never mind extended family. And how heartbreaking when a person you’ve prayed for falls into a dark place.

      I’ve learned that I need to grip onto faith for all I’m worth. God can be trusted even when what I see around me doesn’t look good or make sense. I’ve tried the other approach of turning away from faith, and it’s even less fun.

      He uses us. Amazing grace poured out of cracked vessels into other marred jars. Jeremiah 32:27 is in my heart today.

  3. Beautiful and faith-building, as always, Wendy. I’ve discovered that waiting is the most challenging aspect of being a follower of Christ. But it’s in the waiting that our faith is tested and grows – it’s hard, but necessary. (It’s especially difficult when the resolution we’re seeking involves one of our kids). I’m glad the situation with your son was resolved.

    1. Thank you, Bill. When waiting involves one of our kids, it’s the ultimate faith tester. Nothing compares to the joy and the sorrows of parenthood. It helps me to remember that God loves our children even more than we do. It takes some of the scare factor off for me. Dr.Dobson said nothing is more important for a Christian parent than seeing their children walk with God.

      One of my sons has chosen atheism. I don’t love him less for it–but I pray all the more for him. I’ve not seen any benefits for him in that choice. And yet in many ways I don’t blame him for it. But God is in control. I await answered prayer with hope. ❀

      1. I’m sorry about your son, Wendy. Why do you think he made that choice? There was a time, in my late teens, that I wanted nothing to do with God or anything “religious.” I, somewhat rightly, equated religion with self-righteousness and hypocrisy… No one could have convinced me that genuine Christianity is not religion, but relationship. Only the Holy Spirit can change the atheist’s heart and this is what I’ll pray for your son.

        1. Thank you, Bill. I think he made that choice because of a condition he has which affects all areas of his life. Life won’t be easy for him. I was prayed into Father Abba’s arms, and I agree it’s the Holy Spirit’s prompting which is the key for anyone to truly be born again.

          Thank you, dear brother. I appreciate you and your prayers. Blessings to you and Mary. Your faith and hope are an awesome testimony to God’s love and power. ❀

  4. Wendy: I admire the deep commitment to your faith, your patience in waiting for God’s answers, and your sensitive writing that calls us to grow a mature trust. I am happy to hear about your answered prayers. Also, thank you for this personal look at Bate’s Beach. ~ Richard ~

    1. Thank you, dear Richard. I’ve learned the hard way to trust–but I learned and continue to learn. Bate’s Beach was wild and wonderful that day with my son. The pounding of the waves was soothing and the forest on the way down to the ocean was magical. ❀

  5. I don’t know how I missed this one. It didn’t come to my email inbox for some reason and I just saw it on FB. I’m so glad I did because it’s a great one full of wisdom and hauntingly lovely photos. Hugs and love, N 🙂 <3

  6. We must be on the same thought waves this week! I just wrote a blog I’ll post later called “Ready, Set, Wait!’ Also had thoughts of past hurtful relationships! I do want to praise the Lord–our youngest son married the sweet dear lady that came his way his freshman year of college. They have been so patient, waiting–now they are reaping God’s blessings on their lives! God is SO good! Blessings to your and your family!

  7. Wonderful words of wisdom, Wendy. It is hard to wait on God. I always want to give Him a helping hand!! I’ve had some words of a song in my mind a lot lately. They are based on the words of wise King Solomon [Ecclesiastes chapter 3] – “To everything, turn…turn…turn,
    There is a season, turn..turn..turn, And a time for every purpose under heaven.” Thank you, Wendy, for the confirmation. Beautiful images, too. Blessings, dear friend.

    1. Thank you, dear Isabella Rose. I agree that waiting is hard. It’s often the most difficult thing we do. So often I’ve regretted not biting my tongue or not sitting on my hands. He knows best when we should rest. ❀

  8. Wendy… I love this post…. The first poem is beautiful and I loved the way you played with oscillating ideas through your verses… Some days are one way, some days might be different… regardless time always runs smoothly. And so does Life :star:
    Best wishes to you!, Aquileana 😀

    1. Thank you, Aquileana. Life really is a lot like the ocean. It’s the driftwood that submits to the process that comes out beautifully smooth. Learning to let go is a lifelong lesson as new phases bring higher or lower tides that require us to be still.❀

  9. Love the video, Wendy, and your words and images. Do you have a recording of the music your daughter wrote for your verses? Perhaps of relevance to your post “They also serve who only stand and wait.” 🙂

    1. I’m so glad you enjoyed the video. My daughter has not had it recorded, but she is going to be part of a singing trio on a local television telethon this Sunday. Her friends are all musical too.

      Milton’s words are wise, and may we not our humblest talent hide. ❀

          1. It’s in about three hours. There’s a schedule below the screen. They’re after Paul Rodgers. I’m watching from home since I’m sick with a cold (I’m glad Kara got over her cold–she had it first…) ❀

          2. Of course, I waited patiently and then I thought, “I will just pop out to the bank,” and then of course I got stuck in traffic and I missed it! A lot of money raised. 🙂

          3. I’m glad you didn’t stay home. The whole schedule got turned around, and we ended up waiting forever for her turn. Thankfully I finally did see it. Her brothers also saw it and gave her the nicest compliments. ❀

  10. So beautiful – a gentle reminder our Lord is always with us. I am saving this for sure, the pictures and words are perfect for that quiet meditation. God bless you!

    1. Thank you, Laura. I smiled as I read your comment. Some of us need surgical intervention to make us still. 😉 When I’m sick, I actually appreciate the excuse to binge read novels. God can use our physical setbacks for good when we let Him. My family gets alarmed if I’m in bed early or stay in bed late.❀

      1. You’re welcome Wendy…I’m glad you smiled reading my comment. I do believe things happen for a reason. I just wish so many things weren’t happening for a reason. 😛

        1. Life is hard (understatement). I think all those happy commercials I watched as a kid didn’t help me see what I was really in for on the other side of childhood. But God is here–we walk not alone. ❀ Hugs.

          1. So true. My favorite bible passage is the one where the thief on the cross asks Jesus to remember him in Paradise. Jesus said he’d be with him that very day. Now that’s last minute. Grace doesn’t add up points. 🙂

  11. Lovely poem, and must be encouraging that your daughter put music to it! Mother and daughter’s creativity, so wonderful! Thank you for sharing, Wendy 🙂

    1. Thank you, Iris. Her piano teacher’s mother had suggested I write words to her music; but I declined because I know my daughter is good with words on her own. But a couple of times Kara has asked to look through my poems for ones she could write music for. I hope to post them some day. Blessings, dear friend. ❀

  12. Wendy what a lovely post. I wait and hope and pray and things usually work out. I tell my children that if someone is bullying them at school that usually that child is being bullied somewhere else. Sometimes we feel helpless when we hear about the things our children go through. But mostly I remind them how awesome they are.

  13. What beautiful words of hope Wendy. I read them first in my email and then clicked to see your beautiful pictures. i was not disappointed! And your words were so timely concerning something going on in my own life, so thank you for the inspiration! love and blessings, linda

  14. My heart is deeply touched, Wendy. It reminds me that our time before the Lord is precious to Him. He is faithful to hear our prayers and bring us comfort in our trials. I just love the poem, truly an instrument of ministry to the hearts of many experiencing oppression. Your pictures are superb! One of my faves is the shoreline view through the arch of the tree branch…
    Blessings ~Zoey

  15. These are beautiful, uplifting and inspiring words, Wendy. Patience and quiet waiting are so often a prelude to better things. All happens in God’s time – not necessarily our time.

  16. Beautiful, Wendy. The ocean waves … beautiful. I got chill bumps! It’s not often that I get close to waves.

    Wait … I’m going to be meditating on that.

    You are lovely.

    1. Shelli, thank you for blessing me today and every time our writing paths cross. If I ever make it down there for a conference, I’ll so want to meet you and give you a hug.

      You shine Agape Love. ❀

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