There is nothing I’ve waited for longer than a peace-filled family—not a perfect family but a family that loves through the disagreements, hardships, and tragedies as well as the celebrations and triumphs. Healthy conflict resolution has been a very unfamiliar thing to me and my brothers, and as adults we’re only recently starting to learn what that looks like. And we’re fumbling our way toward it.
Recently, our family had to face a significant transition in my parents’ lives, and it was met with resistance. As someone who has been praying over this particular situation, I was beyond discouraged and felt like a failure for not being able to change our family dynamics.
However, God kindly showed me what has changed in the middle of things that feel unchanging: We three siblings have become united in showing compassion to one another through what is sensitive and difficult. We are determined to be there for each other, and this realization has been more than enough when the circumstances are frustrating.
I’m reminded of Anna, who after the death of her husband lived eighty-four years as a prophetess and worshiped God faithfully (Luke 2:36–38). She reminds me of how He surely renews us, giving us His presence in what is disappointing and broken. Whatever gaps I feel in relationships now, I can see how God has re-parented me and fulfilled those needs. God has worked, and here I am with my brothers, resting my heart with the perfect heavenly Father as we wait.
Moreover, He waits with us, carrying us in the mess. I think of Simeon, who waited faithfully for the promised Messiah. He kept showing up and was then able to recognize God’s plan for the world when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple (vv.25–35). While I don’t know what the outcome of our family talks will be, as I wait, He reminds me that He has always been with me, stretching and softening me to become more like Jesus.
In our lives, we practice waiting for Christ as we forgive and worship God. I give thanks to the Father, the one who continues to work in and through us as we wait.
The Lord shall renew our strength when we wait on Him. I remember the image of a waiter demonstrated about this verse in a bible teaching. As the waiter waits on sitting guests, we wait on God’s needs. It’s the posture of servitude and humility. He shall give us strength as He promises. “The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all” (Ecclesiastes 9:11). It’s not the strongest, the smartest or the swiftest that make it, but it’s God who gives grace, strength, wisdom, power, knowledge for success to His waiters. This is a powerful statement and truth.
@MINNIE LEE: prayers for continual strength, unity and love for your family dynamics. Your devotion touched me and thank you for sharing your ordeal.
@MICHELLE PATIRE: may you be the Ezra for rebuilding the foundations of faith. I love the mission statement. Our God is wonderful.
@HEIDI: class presentation, healing, sweet Kin and her school.
@COLLEEN DEVEAU: your dad’s fall and his recovery.
@TRACI: for Skye’s parents, and family and friends. So sorry.
@KIMBERLY Z: your sister’s decision.
@LEXI B: so glad to see you and your update. I was thinking about you and your family. Bless you dear friend!
@SEARCHING: have you found your item? Hope your friend’s daughter is out of critical condition.
***prayer request***
If you can please pray for my aunt’s family, my uncle passed away yesterday from cancer. He was in coma state and the hospital returned him home. The family was devastated. It was quick, just within a few months time. My aunt also lost one of her sons to leukemia last year. There is a generational pattern of cancer and premature death in the bloodline of her husband -that has claimed life in the family one after another. They are not believers, and are ancestor worshippers. The grandparents on his side also died young of cancer. It is a dangerous thing. May you pray for strength, peace for my aunt, her mind, and the other 3 sons & families to be protected from cancer & death, and for salvation under Jesus’ Blood to come. This Xmas would be so difficult in the empty house, since her son and her husband lived with her, and they both passed within a year span. Thank you so much shes.
May God bless you greatly!
Waiting…
Yes don’t we all just hate the waiting.
But I have found that that is right where God is.
In the waiting.
Waiting for answers. Yes He’s here.
Waiting for healing. Yes, here too.
Waiting on test results. Yep! Right here!
So maybe I shouldn’t hate the wait, but embrace it!
Rejoice in it!
Lean into God more in it!
Prayers for all you ladies this morning. ❤️
MISSY CSONKA – Like you I spent my growing up years doing everything as perfectly as possible in order to keep the peace. I am old enough to be your mother and I am still working through some of those scars. Praying for your healing and that you can use your experience to encourage others.
RHONDA J – typo in earlier comment. 20+ (not 29!) ☺
Beautifully said Minnie Lee. I’m going to share that first paragraph with my brothers as it is exactly how I feel about them. We had it rough with our father who loved us but also loved to rage. We lost him in March but not before God helped him accept Jesus in the early summer of 2022 and brought him to a place were he could easily tell us he loved us and was proud of us, things we knew but had never heard him say out loud.
I’m praying for your family as I understand the difficult road when we children are tasked with stepping in and helping our parents in their great need. I love that first paragraph you wrote because it is exactly what we did. We each came through with our strength and supported each other when one or the other of us hit a wall. Watching my Dad get weaker and knowing how it would end was the most awful thing but at the same time it was beautiful watching our family come together and support him and each other. So much love, it overflowed all around us. This season is tougher so far than I thought it would be but having my family as my safety net and me being there for them is everything, especially because I can feel God’s presence throughout all of it.
Thank you Minnie Lee for sharing and thank You Father for everything.
So much truth and wisdom in your comments! Thank you, KRISTINE LOUGHMAN for the reminder that God’s Words are timeless! So are His promises! ❤
SEARCHING – Like you, I don’t have lots of trendy decor, but what I do have is a sign with Psalm 46:10 (Be Still and Know that I am God), a little trinket with Proverbs 3:5-6 (Trust in the LORD with all your heart…), and a wood burned copy of Amazing Grace. All great words to live by and find comfort in! ❤
I love this song and hope you all have a moment to listen to it.
While I Wait by Lincoln Brewster:
Deep within my heart, I know You’ve won
I know You’ve overcome
And even in the dark, when I’m undone
I still believe it
I live by faith, and not by sight
Sometimes miracles take time
While I wait, I will worship
Lord, I’ll worship Your name
While I wait, I will trust You
Lord, I’ll trust You all the same
When I fall apart, You are my strength
Help me not forget
Seeing every scar, You make me whole
You’re my healer
I live by faith, and not by sight
Sometimes miracles take time
I live by faith, and not by sight
Sometimes miracles take time
While I wait, I will worship
Lord, I’ll worship Your name
While I wait, I will trust You
Lord, I’ll trust You all the same
You’re faithful every day
Your promises remain
You’re faithful every day
Your promises remain
You’re faithful every day
Your promises remain
You’re faithful every day
Your promises remain
Though I don’t understand it
I will worship with my pain
You are God, You are worthy
You are with me all the way
So while I wait, I will worship
Lord, I’ll worship Your name
Though I don’t have all the answers
Still I trust You all the same.
Another good ‘waiting’ song is While I’m Waiting by John Waller.
Praying for each of you as you wait and praying for your presentation this afternoon HEIDI and in the next hours if work towards that goal!
RHONDA J – Minnie Lee has suffered from chronic pain for 29+ years! I bet y’all could have quite a talk! ❤
Reminder my kids recently as they started seeing a few bare trees appearing after a storm blew so many leaves off… my son said “it’s sad when the trees die…” and unloved to encourage him with the truth- no! They’re resting! They’re taking a break and getting so ready for spring when they are dressed to bring so much to the earth! Waiting is resting in what He’s already done and preparing for what He has next. He’s good in waiting and accessible in waiting – yay for that!!!
Presentations have started… mine is this afternoon maybe around 3 or 4 eastern time. Started running a fever yesterday and fatigued sore throat- all of it. But I’m here in class, awaiting my turn and feeling better… thank you for he prayers!!!! Keep them coming please!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
@PEGGY PAPPAS: God is so good! I’m praying for both situations with you.
@KRISTINE LOUGHMAN: Thank you for helping put things into perspective. God reigns above it all!
@TARYN BARLOW: Great visual! Thank you.
That is so good Laura! That indeed, in the wait, can be such a glorious testimony to others! People are watching us, and it’s in our struggles that we represent our faith the most! All of the comments today are such a blessing! Waiting is a struggle. Feeling powerless, helpless, and down-trodden, that’s when we can lean on the Lord the most, and He cares for us, as we would care for our own children. We can see how that works, when our children/grands want something so bad, and we can see more than they can, and know that there is something better ahead for them. God gives us the strength in the wait, the faith that YOU have not forgotten us! You are all knowing, sovereign, and care for your children! Help us to remember that and when we don’t know how to pray, the Holy Spirit will pray for us.
There is a great song by Elevation Worship called “Wait on the Lord!” It’s so good!