Sometimes, I look back at my life. I remember times that I spoke to the Lord and spoke to friends concerning the call of the Lord on our lives. He left us with a part of His estate that He is going to ask us to give an account for one day (Matthew 25:14-30). I remember the details I shared, which painted a holistic picture of hopeful joy. I asked Him for guidance and even walked the path He took me on. I discarded the nets so to speak and followed Him. The foundation was prepared and almost like buying a ticket I committed to go on a long journey with Him. Although I had things set in place, I even had a destination set, the path was very different. It did not go the way I thought. After I received that talent, after I worked it, it was invested and ready for the fruit, nothing. The long wait started. Just like Joseph had a dream, he ended up a slave and then even prison. After investment was made, the silence followed.
Imagine seeing a character walking, youthful and full of hopeful joy. In a time lapse manner his face turns older and hair starts to gray. The youthful joy is turned into aged strain. Finally the traveler stopped, and stood still waiting. After years of travel, silence followed.
Joseph worked hard in Potiphar’s home and he was successful and blessed. Potiphar saw that Joseph was blessed and his hard work was rewarded. But then devious lust tried to ensnare him. The wife of Potiphar tempted Joseph to sin with her. When he resisted her, she slandered Joseph with lies that caused him damage. What thoughts must have hovered in his mind? Based on lies—despite his faithful work—he was thrown into prison as an innocent man. He invested faithfully in the house of Potiphar despite him being a slave, then stripped of work and thrown into prison. A silence followed and waiting started.
Very likely, if not currently then some time either in the past or future, your story will have a silent waiting.
Let this silent waiting of sorrow and strain expose your heart. In this time, it will reveal things in your life that are strong and weak.
Let the strong parts give you courage, praising God for it. Let the weak parts thrust you into leaning on God, trusting Him with your life. Christ will work in your life and His character will be formed in you, in order for you to witness of Him and enter into the joy of fellowship with Him.
Your weakness will honour Him when He works through you. Your strength should be offered to Him for His glory. When you are strained with waiting years and even decades, you will be so molded into what He wants you cannot but walk in His will.
Let us consider an image locked in poetry to express the hope joy transformed into waiting.
The Stream
Life is bubbling out of a spring,
this stream brings a cool relief.
A sudden fling over stones leap and sing,
whirling splashes twirling brief.
The promise of life announced,
as fish enjoys comfort and rest.
Rejuvenated creatures with freshness graced,
as all are called to find the best.
Scooped up and forced in a mold,
indignantly stored in bucket.
Lacking movement, stagnantly fold,
in darkness for all to forget.
Violently hurled without flow of form,
swallowed by earth, in silence, hung.
Silent in depths, accepting what’s become the norm,
forgotten and absorbed by a world that none has sung.
Green broke the surface layer,
sprouting upwards to the sun.
Let the light reveal the hope forever,
with a field of crops that has begun.
In dire desperation of hopelessness, a clear end was in mind. An end that would deliver much more fruit than a small stream could have alone.
Sometimes we see the beginning of hope. As a small stream that could feed and bring relief to some. But watering a field of crops, the potential of feeding beyond what it was is expressed after the long wait outside of comfort. Please trust God, that He knows what He is doing. He sees the whole picture. So let us wait in joy, because we see the character of God. This is where we place our faith and trust—in the God we have seen, revealed in Jesus Christ. Even if our lives are poured out into dead earth, whatever His plan is, it is for the good and joy of His beloved. Glory and praise to our God, even when we do not see the end. We see Him.