Today is January 26. If I look at the calendar. I see that I have several things that I am waiting on. #1 I'm waiting for my ordination interview. That takes place just 28 days from now on Wednesday, February 23 at 1:30 - 3:45 p.m. I am waiting to go before the board and show how the past three year I have integrated all of the education, training into my ministry! I'm currently pouring over my paper work and thinking about my ministry. The waiting is the hardest part about the interview process.
I'm also waiting to find out where I will be in ministry starting July 1. I am wholly putting my trust in the Holy spirit and the bishop and cabinet as they make appointments for the next year. I know that they have heard from my former SPR chair and from me and Keith, but I just sit here and wait.
Unfortunately, waiting is Biblical. From the Old Testament stories of the Israelites, who waited for centuries, to the disciples who waited in the upper room after Christ's death. Waiting is something that we must do as we grow in our relationship of God.
Waiting gives us strength, even though we may feel tired and worn out. One of my favorite verses that talks about waiting is Isaiah 40:31 "but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."
For me, the key word in this scripture is wait. Looking at the original Hebrew, that word is qavah. If we look deeply at qavah we see that this word is much deeper than just sitting around, it also means look for, hope, expect. Our waiting isn't time for us to star off in the distance and worry, but our waiting is expected, it is hope that God will see us through. My hope and prayer is that as I continue in my waiting. I wait in expectation that God will use this time to strengthen me in my ministry and deepen my effectiveness to share Christ with others!
