waiting

I have been realizing that this year is more about waiting on the Lord than anything else. I somewhat knew this coming into this year, but I was so hyped up about the opportunity of coming here that I put that to the side.

Ministry is hard. Relationships here develop so much slower, and students are much less inclined toward spiritual things. Teams have been coming here for quite some time, but the relationships that are built are never fully developed, so trust is never fully given.

It's really frustrating.

But then I was pointed toward this passage recently. It is Psalm 27:14 which says, "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

Now, this was written by David when he was being chased by the current king of Israel, but after the Lord had promised to him that he would be king of Israel. The king was chasing David to kill him, and David even had the opportunity to kill Saul(I think it was Saul). But David waited.

David says, earlier in the Psalm, "One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple."

David knew what was coming, and he soooo longed for it. I can indentify with David. I soooo want to seek His face and dwell in His house. I also, like David, desire to see the faithfulness of the Lord NOW. I desire to see Slovaks won to Christ; I want it NOW. I don't want to labor for a whole year and see nothing happen. I don't want to labor for one week and see nothing happen. It takes so much stinkin' effort to love these people, and to show the love of Christ through my life.

But I'm trying to learn how to wait on the Lord. I'm trying, like David, to be strong and let my heart take courage.

It's not easy...but I think it's worth it.



praying for strength and courage,
Matt