Wait

This poem was sent to us in its published and illustrated form by the strong parents of a wonderful friend of ours.  We are so thankful that God has put such wise and faithful people in our lives to encourage us in this time of waiting.  I hope that these words will connect with you as they have with me.

Wait

by Russell Kelfer 

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate . . .
And the Master so gently said, "Wait."

"Wait? you say wait?" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word.

"My future and all to which I relate
Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to wait?
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign,
Or even a 'no' to which I can resign.

"You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply."

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate,
As my Master replied again, "Wait."
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting for what?"

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine . . .
and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

"I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.
You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of my love for each saint.
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.

"You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence are all you can see.

"You'd never experience the fullness of love
When the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

"The glow of my comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask
From an infinite God who makes what you have last.

"You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
But, oh, the loss, if you missed what I'm doing in you.

"So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.
And though oft My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still . . . Wait."

Dear Lord,

You are sufficient grace, you are true joy, you are loving, powerful, our comforter, and an infinite God.  I confess that I am not good at waiting.  I have always had a "plan" and have been very focused on it falling into place just the way I thought it was supposed to.  I have not depended on you, but rather gone on ignoring you for long periods of time, simply not believing that your grace is sufficient.  Thank you for our Brody.  Thank you that your plan for his life is far greater than our finite minds can comprehend.  Thank you for the AMAZING people in our lives that are helping us stay focused on You, we certainly are not capable of doing that alone.  Lord, I ask that you allow us to spend time with Brody.  Please let us look into his eyes and feel his heart beating.  Allow us to continue to feel at peace no matter what happens.  Lord, I ask that you work in the lives of our friends and family that are also going through very difficult times right now.  Make yourself so real to them!  Give them Your peace so that they know that You are good and that You will always come through.  


Amen