Monday, December 21, 2015

STATEMENT


Anyone who's ever had children knows this scenario:

You're getting in the family vehicle to go on a trip -- the minivan's full -- everybody's buckled in -- and it doesn't matter how long the journey, a few miles or 500, about 30 minutes in a voice raises from the back ...

ARE WE THERE YET?

That's cute -- at first.  And you laugh:  'No, we just left.'  But after the sixth time, it stops being funny. But that isn't really what they're asking, is it?  The question goes deeper.

They know you aren't there yet.  The statement they're making is, "I'm bored.  We've done everything we know to do back here -- the license plate game - the letter game - our iPads are dead - we've watched the dvds - counted each other's fingers and toes - we've done all we know to do.  Are we there yet?"

And in our journey with God, we ask Him that:  "Are we there yet?"

We know we aren't there yet, but that isn't really what we're asking.  What we're longing for and waiting for and hoping for hasn't yet come.  You aren't asking a question, you're making a statement.

'I've done all I know to do, God.  I've had every conversation - I've prayed every prayer - I've read every verse - I don't know what else to do.  Are we there yet?'

Christmas is a reminder that just because a dream has been delayed doesn't mean the dream is denied.  Sometimes we think while we're waiting God is doing nothing.

We feel powerless when we wait, but as we wait, our hope matures.  It doesn't just grow; it grows up. And when we learn to be still and wait and hope when there's no outer reason for hope, it's then we'll become the people God is trying to form.

And be blessed.

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