“You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focued on You – in both inclination and character], because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation].
Trust [confidently] in the LORD forever [He is your fortress, your shield, you banner], for the LORD GOD is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].”
Isaiah 26:3-4
A few months ago I wrote about the confident wait – having an assurance that God has the best in store for us even if our lives don’t quite show it. Lately, however, I’ve been processing a different kind of wait: the anxious one.
This wait could be one that lasts a few seconds or up to years upon years. Whatever the case, I hope that what I have to share will leave you encouraged and hopeful for your breakthrough and help you find peace among the chaos.
Okay, before I begin, I have to be honest: I don’t struggle with anxiety and depression. I have experienced them many times before, but my life doesn’t constantly revolve around these two things. I know this may be a turn off for many of you reading what I have to say, but please, bear with me. I hope what the Lord has taught me, especially in the last few months, will help you where you are at.
I’ve had many moments in my life where I’ve experienced an “anxious wait.” In fact, I think it’s one of the most reoccurring themes we have in our lives as Christians. Actually, not just as Christians… in general. We’ve all had moments where we have NO idea how a situation will be resolved. Or we have times where God has promised us something and we’re waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting for Him to fulfill it. Or we just can’t wait for what the future holds and sitting around waiting for time to move is killing us. The anxiousness of what is going to happen and when just becomes too much…
I recently had an experience with car issues that has really opened my eyes to God’s work amongst the anxious wait. Now, if you’ve read previous blog posts (kudos to you if you have), you’ll notice I have a pretty popular theme in my life: God doing a ton of His work in my life through my car issues. I don’t know why it’s like that… but that’s a different story. I’m still blown away by God’s faithfulness through this issue that I have to share this story with you!
So… about a month ago I got into a car accident. Now, before you gasp in shock like all of my friends do when I mention it, the car accident wasn’t THAT bad. I, unfortunately, wasn’t feeling good which caused my reaction time to be slow so… I rear-ended someone. As the events of that experience unfolded over the next few hours and I processed all that was in store for my life afterward, it became apparent that this whole situation could be a God thing in disguise.
How?
Well… first, I have been needing to go to a chiropractor for a couple years now because of a SI joint injury, but hadn’t been able to afford it. Since I have awesome car insurance, it was now free to go (at least for now), so I can get the work I needed done (ok, so I also jacked up my back a little in the wreck, so I thankfully didn’t have to lie to go to the chiropractor).
I had also just been talking to some friends the night before about how I needed to save up money for my car to be fixed: the A/C worked 5% of the time and my car really badly needed to be repainted. I was stressed and overwhelmed just thinking about it. But then, the next morning I had my accident. And then I found out that my car could potentially be totaled which meant *drum roll…* they would give me $ for a new car!
WHAT?!
But then I had to go through the long and agonizing process of waiting for the auto body shop to go through my car to access the damages and then wait for my insurance company to do their thing. It was a looonnnnnnng 4 days. In fact, the 4th day was the LONGEST as that day I found out my insurance was probably not going to total my car. If that was the case, it meant I not only would still need to get my car repainted at some point and fix the A/C, but I would also owe $1000 for my deductible.
At this point I had two options: stress to NO end and try to figure it out on my own… OR… I could continually hand the situation over to God in prayer and trust that He would provide.
I’ve had enough experience in my past to know that I could trust God. Partially because the last time God had asked me if I trusted Him, I told Him no and things didn’t go well (that’s a slight funny story for a different time)… but also partially because I’d seen His work continually in my life since I was born. If you look for the evidence of God working in your life… you will find it. I promise.
So… I chose the latter.
Sure enough, the next day, I got a call from my insurance and within a few hours after they checked my car out themselves, they called me back and told me they decided to total my car. Honestly, they probably shouldn’t have because like I said, the accident wasn’t THAT bad, but I’m believing God worked on their hearts to do so. AND THEN… God totally provided me with my dream car that a friend sold to me for the same money I was getting back (it was worth at least $1500 more than what I bought it for).
I’m still blown away with how God took care of everything. I sometimes wonder what would have happened if I chose not to trust God, haha. I probably would have missed out in some amazing things!
What anxious moments are you facing in your life?
Are you…
Waiting for a someone to love/love you?
Waiting for a loved one to come back to Christ?
Experiencing a financial crisis?
Waiting for a promise that needs fulfilling?
Waiting for a calling?
Waiting for open doors?
Etc…?
Whatever you are struggling with, I want to challenge you with this: continually take it to God.
Time and time again… take it to Him, even if it’s every few seconds. Take scripture, like Jeremiah 29:11, and claim it over your life. God is a GOOD God and He has an amazing plan for you.
Going to God in the midst of a wait that is riddled with stress and anxiety is HARD… but SO worth it. There will be times you will want to throw in the towel and give up… but don’t!
Your wait may be short or it may be years… whatever the case, know this: God is still working!
He is ALWAYS at work in your life. You may not see it (I didn’t see His work through the pain of my childhood until I was well into my college years), but He is ever-present. He has not and never will abandon you. He is in the midst of the chaos and will take care of you every step of the way. Claim this. Own it. Believe it.
Your breakthrough. Your time. Your moment… it’s coming. Keep going. Keep believing. It’s gonna be amazing!
I’m going to leave you with one of my favorite quotes by Amy Carmichael. It’s written to single people, but I think it applies to all areas of our lives.
“Blessed are the single-hearted, for they shall enjoy much peace. If you refuse to be hurried and pressed, if you stay you soul on God, nothing can keep you from that clearness of spirit which is life and peace. In that stillness you will know what His will is.”
What work has God done in your life recently through those anxious waits? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.
Blessings,
~ Woman of Purity.
Woman of Purity 