Waiting for the Lord

Rikki Permenter, MAMFC, Th. M.

Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.

Psalms 27:14

My husband and I have been married almost seven years. We are expecting our first child in January. It is an exciting time. Over the last seven years, I’ve had what seems like more than my fair share of well-meaning others inquire about why we didn’t have any kids yet. While I consider myself an open person - fertility isn’t something I usually talk about at the local football game or during the meet and greet time on Sunday mornings.

We have wanted to have kids for years. We’ve prayed to have kids for years. We have patiently waited to have kids for years. All the while it didn’t seem to be in the cards for us. We even went to the doctor to get checked out and everything was fine. It wasn’t until God saw fit that he blessed us with the sweet little baby that will grace us with its presence soon. The more I've prayed through this, the more I’ve only heard God say the same thing: I wanted you to have this kid…This specific kid.

I don’t want to get all science lesson on you here but any other month, and it wouldn’t have been this specific kid. God is the God of the details. He cares about the specifics in your life. He wants specific things for you - not just any kid … this kid. You can fill in the blank there. Not just any ______ … this ______ . He knows your wants, hears your prayers, and sees your patient waiting. Things all come in His time because the specifics are important to him. He doesn’t give us what we think we want when we think we want it. He gives us what is in our best interest, on his timetable, that will give Him the most glory. Take some time today to thank God for caring about the details of your life. Pray that he will give you strength and courage as you wait for the specific things he has for you.

This article can be found in print in the monthly Baptist Association of Southeast Louisiana newsletter.