Be Still and Know That He is GodBy Suzette Andujar

This is not news, but we live in a world where we get what we want now. If I wanted to check my email while shopping in the mall, all it takes is just one tap on my phone. If I don’t have time to cook for dinner and I’m on the road, I’ll complain if I have to wait for my McDonalds for more than five minutes then complain about it on Facebook and Twitter. I don’t really do all of that, but the point is that it’s so easy! It’s very easy to complain, we’ve been doing so since we were babies. All we have to do is open our mouths and say “Wah, wah, wah!” and listen for the violin to play in the background. We all know at least one person who does complain if something is not fast enough, it’s obviously part of our sinful nature. We are impatient! We want God to answer our prayers now! I have a tiny little newsflash for you: Patience is a virtue! It sound cliché and you’ve probably heard it a million times in your lifetime, but it holds true. “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” Romans 8:25 (NIV)

“I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry.” Psalm 40:1 (NIV) Why does He make me wait? We automatically ask ‘why’; again reverting to our childlike selves. It’s very clear; He wants to spend more time with you. Go to Him when you have problems, He loves it! What better way to spend time with the Lord? There are many times where I’d find myself upset and open the bible to find an answer and randomly pick a book; suddenly there’d be a verse sticking out at me that relates to what I’m going through. Don’t listen to the world today, the Bible is NOT outdated! It stays true through all of time. It was here before we were born and it will still be here long after we’re gone. We are greedy by nature. We want the Lord to do this, that and the other, but we don’t want to be accountable for anything. What have you given to Him? Read His word, pray every chance you get. The power of prayer is mighty! Think of Hannah in the book of 1 Samuel. She cried her heart out to the Lord to bless her with a baby. She prayed faithfully and in due time the Lord had blessed her with a son. “I asked the Lord for him.” (1Samuel 1:20) is what she said. Not only was she blessed with a son whom she’d given to God, but she was blessed with three more sons and two daughters! God hears you! And by not waiting on the Lord you are saying that God doesn’t know what He’s doing. In Psalm 62:1-2 David says, “My soul finds rest in God alone, my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” My faith will always be with God because he is powerful and strong and be sure that He will never let you down. You are confident that the sun will set in the night and you naturally expect the sun to rise in the morning. We should apply that to God. We should be that confident in Him. There are things we want in our time, but there is also His time. “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.” Psalm 37:9 (NIV)What happens when God finally answers a prayer? “Let us not become weary in doing good for at the

proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 (NIV) Here’s the thing; you may not always get what you pray for because it might not be what the Lord wants for you. For example, you’re finally in the market to buy a house and there is one that you fell in love with and is within your price range. You pray every day to the Lord that He will let you have that house. A few days later it gets sold to another bidder. Was the Lord not listening? Was He punishing you? Absolutely not! It just means that maybe there is a better house waiting for you; or maybe not, it’s all on the Lord! "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7 (NIV)

No matter what you are waiting for (news on a job application, need a new phone, diagnosis on a health issue, money matters, etc.) be confident in knowing that the Lord knows what’s best for you. “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalm 25:5 (NIV) Would you rather be an anxious wreck? Cranky and irritable because you’re not getting what you want? (“Wah, wah!”) Losing hair and maybe even teeth from all of the stress? Or would you rather be strong and confident, knowing that God is on your side and through Him anything is possible? Personally, I’d rather keep my hair and teeth thank you very much. “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” Psalm 27:14 (NIV)