The Waiting Places

A part of waiting includes learning to look for the lord. Sometimes waiting makes us wonder if the Lord has forgotten us.


So, in these moments of the waiting places...


"Where can I turn for peace? 
Where is my solace?
When other sources cease to make me whole? When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice, I draw myself apart, 
Searching my soul?
Where, when my aching grows, 
Where, when I languish, 
Where, in my need to know, where can I run? 
Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish? Who, who can understand?"


I dont know about you but I hate waiting. I just want to get there. I want to start going. To me waiting seems like a waste of time. I too relate to the verse when it says "where can i run?" 


When i got my mission call i read the date and it said September 17th. 5 months of waiting. I was kind of upset. I figured the Lord understood i needed change. I need to separate from the life i was living. 


But, truly, how many important lessons are learned in the waiting places?


As i look back on the 5 months of my waiting place i see that the lord needed to teach me some more. I needed that time. To make the wrong things right. To say genuine goodbyes to my life. To find him a little more. 


But, those are moments i didnt see. It was 5 months that i questioned him. It was really hard for me to find peace. It was the first time i felt like i couldn't run. 


The day finally came for me to go. I finally could run. A day i felt like i could finally leave everything from the last year behind me. 
I remember hugging me family and just being so anxious to go. 
I grabbed all my bags and left. I ran. But instead of running to a temporary place,
I ran to my sanctuary. 
My peace. 
My healer. 
My saviour. 


It was then that i learned that when we look for the Lord in the small moments & find him there, it begins to remind us that He hasn't forgotten us in the big things. And its in those moments we gather the peace of mind that he's waiting with us. Whispering to us "just hold on, dont run, just stay a little longer."


Over the last 7 months this beautiful truth has struck my mind. 
Peace isnt just a feeling, its a person.
It's jesus christ. 
He is the founder of peace.


"He, only One.
He answers privately, 
Reaches my reaching In my Gethsemane, 
Savior and Friend. 
Gentle the peace he finds for my beseeching. Constant he is and kind, 
Love without end."


And "I will wait...and i will look for him."


Each week that passes i begin to recognise the blessing of my waiting places in life. 
If the time was any different i wouldnt get to experience what i have right here & right now. 
I also am beginning to truly see that time is going really fast. Somedays i really wish it would slow down! But, i am so grateful for the experiences i get to witness each and everyday. 
Im grateful for this time that i have been able to find my saviour. 


A moment from this week that made me smile was getting to watch Sister Mkhwanazi invite her first friend to make a covenant with heavenly father. It was so sweet. In her humility and love for this man she poured her soul out to him. Bearing testimony of the strength she has gained from being baptised for just a few years. 
It was beautiful. 
Shes so special and teaches me so much everyday. 
She is growing and learning. The training is becoming a little easier and we getting to know the area a little better.
Im grateful for the time it has taken to be able to get to this point! 


I feel so blessed this week. Im grateful for the waiting places. Even when those places make me uncomfortable. I have now gained an understanding of where these places are leading me. And i wouldnt trade that for anything! 


Because i know that, "being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it."


And it is because in Christ's life he was despised, rejected, stricken, wounded, & filled with sorrow & grief so that in our lives we could be healed, carried & filled with peace! 


What are you learning from your waiting place?
Meet him & wait with him a little longer! 


I love you all! I pray for each of you! 


With love, 
Sister B.







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