Waiting...6 weeks later

In early November I raised the question of what does it mean to wait on the Lord and decided to study this somewhat. The other day I received an email asking what I had discovered at this point. It was good for me to put into words what I've been learning and thinking about the past 6 weeks. Here are the two thoughts I wrote in that email:

1. While waiting, I cannot ignore the counsel around me, but those voices are NOT the determining factor of what God has for me. This is a tightrope to walk, because all of my life I have been taught to listen to the counsel of the wise and that is right (it is all over Proverbs). However, in listening so intently for that counsel, I have often neglected to listen for God Himself. The wise are indeed that, and hear from God, but their input is a component of the decision -- not the deciding factor. When a person I respect says something for me, I cannot assume that is God talking. In the past I think I've circumvented waiting by assuming that something someone tells me is the definitive word from God rather than seeking a confirmation from Him personally (through personal peace, the Word, unity with my wife, etc.)

2. Though I'm not far enough into it to say definitively, initially I thought the end of my waiting would come strongly and obviously (e.g. a job offer, a really clear leading). I hoped that the waiting would conclude at a point in time and then I would be able to move on. At this point, I don't think that God typically works that way. Jesus often talks about the Kingdom starting small and imperceptibly -- I think God delights to move that way (I think it takes more faith on our part to keep walking consistently). I would love to have a powerful ending to my story by human standards (great job, personal satisfaction, pleasant situation), but I am expecting at this point that the ending of this story will be much more like a blooming rose than a bee sting. One day I will look back and realize the power of God throughout rather than see it in one fell swoop. I don't think this constitutes any lack of faith on my part -- on the contrary, faith unrewarded in this life is proved all the more significant (see Heb. 11).