A Familar Place Called Wait.

I'm in a place of discomfort, Lord; a longing place for you to sit beside me for awhile right here - where there is an empty seat. I'm in a wanting place; wanting to hear your voice of direction; a quiet place, Lord. I'm in a place of restless emotions that cry for you to settle me right where I am, or send me in the direction that I am supposed to GO. I'm in a hard place, Lord; a place like rock. I am in a place called Wait. I am here listening for a Word. A Word from you, Lord; I am listening for a Word from you.

Do you know where I am, Lord?

"Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I fee from your presence?" Psalm 139:7

I hear this verse. I do.

Do you know this place, Lord? This place of Wait?

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

Yes. I hear this verse, Lord.

This is a hard place. A place like Rock, Lord. You are much stronger than I am.

"The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one." Psalm 28:8
"To you, Lord, I call: You are my Rock. Do not turn a deaf ear to me." Psalm 28:1

Are you hear now, Lord? I hear your Scripture in my head. It is in my heart. Is that you bringing it to my mind? I have sought you and seek you like air, Lord, in this Great Book you have given me to know you. I hear your Scripture, Lord all day. You are always speaking. You know that I know this. What I want is a Word from you that is specific to the need of my heart right now in this place of Wait. That Word from you, that intimate Daddy Word that is so personal and directional that it will change my circumstances today for the rest of my life. I am waiting on that Word that will wrap itself around my heart and echo through my life as part of your story in me forever. I am waiting on that Word that is our eye to eye moment, Lord. You and Me. You in me. You through me: piercing Word.

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:14

I know you direct my waiting, Lord. I know.

"Do you not know? Have you not heard?" Isaiah 40:28

Ahhh, yes. I know this one, too. Lord. I do. Isaiah 4O:31 "Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength..." I know this one, too.

"What do you know?"

Are you asking me to consider more Scripture, Lord? The Bible heroes? I know your people waited on a Word from you. I know.

"What do you know?"

Alright. I know...let's see. Direct my thinking, Lord. What do I know?
I know Noah waited on a Word in the ark while water covered the earth. Abraham waited on a Word while he climbed the mountain to sacrifice his only son. Moses waited on a Word while living in the desert for forty years.

I do know.

"What do you know?"

Okay. More. I know David waited on a Word from you when he was faced with his enemy, King Saul. Solomon waited on a Word for wisdom in leading Israel . Nehemiah waited on a Word to rebuild the temple.

Yes, Lord. I know. I know that your people waited on a Word from you.

Isaiah waited on a Word from you to tell of the Messiah. Simeon waited to behold The Word. Paul, Timothy, John, all waited to behold His return.

I do know. I know, Lord.

"What do you know?"

I know, Lord, that your people have always waited on you; your people have always waited on your Word.

Teach me, please, why is this good? Why is this a good thing, Lord? Why do you make your people come to this place of Wait? Direct my thinking, by your Spirit.

"Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God." Isaiah 40:28

Back to Isaiah 40. I learned this as a child. Lord, this word - everlasting. What is this to me? To my understanding? It is a term of exhaustion. Yet there it defines you without exhaustion. You are everlasting - a God that reaches around and holds the confinement of time - and beyond it you are there, and still beyond that.

"What do you know?"

"The Creator of the ends of the earth." Isaiah 40:28

You made it all. The vast expanse of earth - the boundaries of it. The ends of it? It will cease, then. Won't it?

"What do you know?"

Isaiah 40.

"He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. " Isaiah 40:28

I should not try to figure this out, Lord should I? At forty years old, I should expect to be in a place of Wait. Who am I, right? Is that the right question? Who am I to be elsewhere?

"What do you know?"

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall:" Isaiah 40:29-30

This place of Wait has nothing to do with who I think I am in my skin at forty, does it? I may think I know where I should be, and I may think I know where I should have been by now, but you are beyond my age or frame or boundaries.

"What do you know?"

"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength." Isaiah 40:31

You are my strength.

"What do you know?"

"They will soar on wings like eagles." Isaiah 40:31

I will see above this place of Wait - and beyond it.

"What do you know?"

"They will run and not grow weary." Isaiah 40:31

When I feel like I am moving at a pace that is beyond my capacity - I will be able.

"What do you know?"

"They will walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

When I get to slow to a pace of ease - I will still be strong enough to still keep going.

It is good to be in a place of Wait. This is a good teaching place, Lord. I know. It will cease. I will move from here, and I will have perspective, and strength I did not have before. I know.

"What do you know?"

More? We're not done? More. Okay. Direct my thinking, Lord. What do I know?

I know that your people have waited long and hard for your Word. I know that you have always brought your people to a place of Wait. I know that you have brought them through this place and you have used your people, the place of Wait, and beyond it, for your glory.

"What do you know?"

I know - well - I know your people! Oh God! I do know your people! People I get to see with my own eyes, touch, and love, people who live for you in my lifetime - who have told of your story in their lives - when you have been with them in a place of Wait!

I know that Wes and Connie Aarum waited on your Word in a little town of Arcade.
I know that Jerry and Edie Gillis waited on your Word in the beautiful state of Georgia.
I know that Benji and Jenna Cowart waited on your Word in a small apartment in Florida.

I know that Kathy Freeman waits on your Word beside her husband, Russel, in Tulsa.
I know that Melissa Lombardo waited on your Word in Mannheim, Germany for her husband, my brother Lt. Col. Thomas Lombardo serving in Iraq.
I know that Bonnie Lombardo Wells waits on your Word every single morning at 5 a.m. in the city of Lockport - begging for every word you might give her to read and know and keep.

I know that this is a place of your people. I know your people. I know that you love them. I know I am counted among them. I know.

"What do you know?"
I am loved?

What do you know?
"Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of Justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!" Isaiah 30:18

"What do you know?"
I am blessed!
"What do you know?"
I AM blessed!
"What do you know?"
I am BLESSED!
What more do I possibly need to know in this place of Wait? I am blessed, Lord. Grateful now, and blessed.

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? That I am the everlasting God."