Waiting On God's Movement

Today’s Texts: Genesis 29:15-30:24; Psalm 18:16-24; Matthew 11:1-10

1. Read the text with your family.

2. Read my little devotion.

3. Have you ever waited for something? Something that you really wanted, needed, or really looked forward to? I don’t know about you, but in my life, waiting can fill like a dark place where God appears to be absent.

In our texts today, I see this theme of waiting. In the story of Jacob, he waits as he works for another 7 years for the wife that he loves. Rachel waits on the ability to conceive and bare a child after many years of not being able to. John the Baptist waits in prison for word that the Messiah has come.

There is not doubt in my mind that while Jacob, Rachel, and John the Baptist wait, they are sucked into a dark place. A place where, at least for Rachel and Jacob, might have been trying to force God’s hand; anything to get out of the process of waiting.

That is were the beauty of the Psalms passage comes in. The writer of this psalm is looking and hoping to be delivered out “deep waters.”

Right after High School I went down to Costa Rica with some friends to surf for a week. While we were there the surf was an average of 8 to 12 ft. On the first day we were there I was paddling out and got sucked down by a rather large wave. I remember just being held under water, just being turned by the waves waiting to come up. When I felt like I couldn’t hold my breath anymore, I looked up and saw light. I kicked with everything in me and just floated up to the top of the water. Once I got to the top, that first breath felt so amazing.

I have to wonder if this is what Jacob, Rachel, and John the Baptist felt when they were done waiting on the LORD, like they took their first breath after being trapped under water.

4. Ask these questions:
Have you ever gone through a time of waiting? What was it like?
What did it feel like to be delivered from that time of waiting?
What are you waiting on now? Tell us about how you are feeling.
Why do you think God allows us to go through times of waiting?
Read Psalm 18:16-24 again.
From this passage what can we learn about God’s promise of deliverance?
What can we learn about how we should act in our times of waiting?