I know Michelle Nehrig-Shultheis through a writer’s group I joined a year ago. We’ve never met in person, but even across the miles and through cyberspace, her love for the Lord shines through. Her devotional today is a beautiful one.
Isaiah 9:1 (ESV)But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish.In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea,the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
I don’t know anyone who particularly enjoys waiting. And yet, we will spend a large portion of our lives doing just that.
Waiting in line at the grocery store. Waiting in the doctor’s office. Waiting for our kids to get their shoes on (that’s not just me, is it?). Waiting for God to reveal His plan for us.
In the waiting, we have many choices.
Personally, I’m not very good at waiting. Rather than spend the time praising God in the hallway, I’m sitting anxiously right outside the door. (Just like my dog or my kids when I’m in the bathroom.)
Right now, my husband and I are going through some really tough times. There has been some anguish. I’m waiting for God to help us through.
This past month in particular has been heart-wrenching. It was like a gut punch. Maybe you’ve been there.
I’ve been calling out to God, asking, what do I do with this anguish?
In today’s Scripture, Isaiah reminds us that there will be no gloom or sadness for her who was in anguish. Someday all will be well.
But that leads me to my next question: what do I do with this time of waiting? I do not believe it is a coincidence that this is happening to us around Advent.
See, Advent is a time of waiting, a time of preparing our hearts for the Savior to come. A time for us to begin our focus on what lies ahead.
In this time of waiting, in this Advent season, I’m waiting.
I’m waiting for my Savior to come.
I’m waiting for the Lord to work in my heart and in the heart of my husband.
I’m waiting to be on the other side of the anguish.
In this time of waiting, I will return to what I know is best for me and my heart. I will return to my love of spending time with the Lord. I will return to my Scripture reading. I will return to seeking the heart of my Savior. I will return to Him, for He is my first love and He knows the outcome.
In this time of waiting, I could be asking ‘Where is God in this season of waiting?’
But I’m not going to just ask…I’m going to seek…I’m going to knock…and I know I will find Him. Because He is a God who wants to be found by us.
Michelle Nehrig-Shulthes loves Jesus, her husband, and their children Emma, Elijah, and Madisyn.Michelle is grateful for the grace that is heaped upon her daily by her heavenly Daddy. She is still learning how to accept it for the gift that it is. You can find her thoughts, life-lessons, and sometimes comical adventures with her animals at: beauty in between.
Courtney Ellis 