Putting on the brakes...and learning to "wait"

I have to admit that I am a control freak. Yes, that's the first step...admitting it. When a situation arises, I want to take the "bull by the horns" and take control. I want a plan of action and an immediate resolution. The Lord has been chipping away this ugliness of pride. I'm learning that the control freak in me is nothing but pride. The "no one can do it better", "I've got the answer", "move outta my way and let ME handle this situation"...I'm not good at putting on the brakes and waiting on God.

Today's "In Touch" devotional (Charles Stanley) socked me in the gut. I thought I would share it for my new blogger friends that may need to pump the brakes as well...

The Requirements of Waiting
Psalm 27

Waiting on the Lord sounds easy. After all, we only have to pray and listen for His answer, right? The truth is that believers who desperately want to see a need met often find the process nearly unbearable. The next time God tells you to wait, remember these four requirements for keeping a steady vigil until He says, “Now go forward.” Believers must have faith, trusting in God even without knowing when or how He will resolve a situation.

And faith cannot function without humility. We must submit to the Lord with the recognition that there is nothing we can do except pause until further instructions come. Believers are far safer in this voluntarily helpless condition than in trying to figure out their own solution.

As soon as we begin to manipulate our circumstances—which is a demonstration of prideful reliance on self— we subvert the Master’s plan. The moment we realize that we could save ourselves pain or stress through some action that is not of God, we need patience, which is not an inborn trait. It is a decision to remain calm and quiet in a difficult situation. We will never make the choice to exercise patience unless we have courage. Friends and colleagues will freely offer advice about our situation. We must bravely wait when others say it is time to move. Fear of criticism is often the catalyst for believers to get out of God’s will.

Praying when we would rather be doing is hard. But we must be ready to hold steady faithfully, humbly, patiently, and courageously when God says, “Wait.”