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Graceful Perseverance: Wait Upon the Lord - 02/02/25

Writer's picture: Debra PauliDebra Pauli

Welcome to this week’s blog. Once again, I am compelled this week to share with you yet another matter that has recently been a big part of my Christian Walk and still remains challenging to the course of my life. Today I continue working to gain deeper wisdom and understanding of the mystery of "Wait Upon the Lord," and what this really means, not only in my life, but how this can be applied to each of you in your life.


We live in a world where "impatience" is a learned behavior, a serious shortcoming for most of us. Demand and patience are opposing forces in our cultural communities today. Spontaneous, reactive responses to all the worldly stimulus and temptations around us are front and center in our daily lives. But we all know patience is a virtue, an asset that we struggle to attain. Waiting and patience are both not hidden from our daily lives. Both are in plain sight across every culture and nation. So, how do we learn how to wait and practice patience in our life? How do we learn to surrender the burning need to demand the "NOW" in every area of our life? How do we surrender this addictive behavior, this undeniable stimulus so it is no longer allowed to take up vacancy in our thoughts, minds, and in our life choices?


First, we need courage, strength and hope in the Lord! For He is the only one who can teach us His ways, His wonderfully designed path for our lives. It is because of His Salvation that we should wait all the day long. It is the Lord who will help us run and not be weary in our walk and not be faint.

But they who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. - Isaiah 40:31ESV


He also tells us in scripture not to fret over those who prosper in his way, or fret over the man who carries out evil devices. We are asked to refrain from anger and forsake wrath against each other. Why? Because it is the evil doers who will be cut off in the end, not the children of God. But when we, God's children, learn to wait for the Lord we will also inherit the land.


Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land. - Psalm 37:7-9 ESV

And, then of course, traditionally most of us have dreams, and plans to prosper in this life. Some of us even look so far into the future and excitedly share our future plans with our family and friends, in hopes to get confirmation we are on the right path. Like me, I feel compelled to always spell out our future options, with their pros and cons clearly defined. It's like my business plan for my life clearly spelled out in detail. For me, this practice seems logical and informative so that we can hopefully consider all opportunities and make a sound and wise decision on what option to execute relative to our future. We then put all our hopes in mankind to solidify that our future plans make sense in order for us to confirm we've got plans, we've got options, and we are making the right choices in this life. The problem with this "method of madness" is it's dangerous to ask and rely on mankind to give us their perspective on what's best for our life. It is dangerous to depend upon mankind to encourage us with their biased opinions, giving us their advice and influence regarding our life plans, which then leads us to making very risky choices. And, by following this method, most of the time most of these options are not a part of God's plans for our life but the influence of others.


So, what then is the answer? Our tedious exercise of identifying all our options, along with their pros and cons seems very reasonable and logical from our understanding, right? And maybe this is our way of doing the leg work upfront and then presenting to God in prayer which choice is going to align best with His plan for our lives. The raw truth is, all of us spend way too much time and energy telling God what we want, and failing to ask in prayer what it is He wants for us. Or even one step further, this waste of time and energy could be spent in the Word, God's word, which in turn would strengthen us, equips us with courage and provides us hope for whatever our future holds according to God's plan and not ours.


Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us this - Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your path.


Wow, that's it, do you see how easy this really is when we surrender our dreams, our plans to the Lord?

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! - Psalm 27:14 ESV


What I've learned is our visions for the future keep us imprisoned in the future. We are so far into the future because we find ourselves searching for answers to things that may never come to be. But what we fail to realize sooner than later, God also has a plan for our life. Our future has been pre-ordained. It is God's appointed time that awaits us, not our appointed times. We are so caught up in the future that we are blinded by what's right in front of us today, His daily blessings!


His blessings are in plain sight, but we fail to see. And, by living in the future and not the present, we find ourselves hastening or racing to the end of our life before it's even upon us. Scripture tells us tomorrow is not even promised so live for today. Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. - James 4:14. This scripture should get us out of the future and back living in the present, God's gift. We strive to define the near ending of our lives, primarily due to fear of the unknown and the lack of trust that God has already determined our end-of-life experiences. We also refuse to wait for God's appointed time because we believe God's plan is too slow, way to slow, and we want to know what is in our future and when can we expect it NOW.


Here's the raw truth that cannot be denied - God, our creator, is the only one who knows the end from the beginning, Genesis answers this question.


For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end - it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. - Habakkuk 2:3 ESV


I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; - Psalm 130:5 ESV


For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. - Psalm 62:5 ESV


Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. - Isaiah 30:18 ESV


Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off. - Psalm 37:34 ESV


As for me and my walk, I am learning each day I must surrender my future dreams and plans to God. I am learning that when I lay my dreams at His feet (in totality), and ask Him in prayer, His Will - will be done. I find peace in His presence because I know He is inclined to me and hears my cry - To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. - Psalm 40:1 ESV.


Pray this prayer - "Lord, take the desires of my heart and do as you see fit. If my dreams and aspirations are a part of your plan for my life, then I am assured straight is my path."


But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. - Micah 7:7 ESV


Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. - Psalm 25:4-5 ESV


Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV.


Through it all, my eyes are on you Lord, and it is well with me. I am a witness to God's faithfulness and His promises; therefore, it is well with my soul because I believe He is not hidden but can be found both in my present and in my future.


Blessings until next week my brothers and sisters in Christ,


Debra Pauli

Unstoppable Believer


Scripture Quotes: Holy Bible: New International Version (NIV) / New King James (NKJ) / English Standard Version (ESV)

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Copyright © 2025 by Debra M. Pauli @ Pauli Publishing House (PPH) disclaimer: All rights reserved. No part of these writings may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission from the author.

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