Encouragement From the Flock

I had the privilege of attending the Women's Retreat at Camp Judson. It was a time of rejuvenation, exhortation, and challenge. Hiking through God's beautiful creation has always been therapy for my soul. Add to that songs of worship, devotions by the fireplace, testimonies of God's grace, warm fellowship, laughter, and a circle of prayer, and my heart was overflowing with joy and peace. What a blessing to be a member in the family of God!

With the theme, "Walk Don't Run-Learning To Wait On God", our speaker, Connie Karn, directed us to the infallible Word of God. Using her life story, she demonstrated the importance of waiting on God. Are the trials overwhelming? Do the circumstances seem impossible? God has many promises ready to be claimed to strengthen our faith:

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know ." Jeremiah 33:3

"Ah, Sovereign LORD, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for You." Jeremiah 32:17

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." James 1:2-6

God reveals Himself through His promises. And the more we know God, the more we can trust Him in every aspect of our lives, including the troubling times. Trials tend to make us self-absorbed and our human perspective is extremely limited. Spiritual praise allows us to take our eyes off ourselves and back on our Sovereign God.

"1 will praise You, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of You among the peoples. For great is Your love, reaching to the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be over all the earth." Psalm 57:9-11

Waiting requires perseverance. Abraham. Joseph. David. They each had to wait and trust God to keep His promises.

"So do not fear , for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am Your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41: 10

Perhaps our prayer is that of Mark 9:24, "Help me overcome my unbelief" God can do just that.

"1 pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe." Ephesians 1:18-19

There is an exception to the concept of waiting. There should be no hesitation to run into the presence of God to experience His boundless love, divine peace, and complete forgiveness. In turn, we ought to bring others into the presence of God. Freely love and forgive, remembering we can not do it in our own strength.

"And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us." Romans 5:5

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You." Isaiah 26:3 "You are kind and forgiving, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to You." Psalm 86:5

Once again I was reminded that the "Word of God is living and active...it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the

heart." (Hebrews 4:12) I need to spend time daily studying the Scriptures, claiming the divine promises, running into the merciful arms of my Father, and waiting on His purpose and plan.

"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings as eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31

JayneAnn Stratmeyer