While I Wait.

Last Sunday, we had a message in church that was extremely convicting.

Throughout the sermon, I found myself both crying and laughing, as I absorbed a message that I so badly needed to hear.

Here’s my take on how I’m working to apply it.

Questions Jesus Asked

We recently started a new sermon series at Hope - Questions Jesus Asked. In the bulletin, they noted that Jesus asked far more questions than he answered with scholars citing that he only directly answered 3 questions of the 187 that were asked of him.

That seemed crazy to me, thinking about how many questions I could rattle off for him if he were standing in my presence at this very moment.

After listening to Philippians 2:5-11 and Matthew 20:20-28, Pastor Andrea started her message titled ‘What is it that you want?’. She shared how many of us could have a laundry list of things we want Jesus to fix, while some might not know exactly what to ask for citing sheer appreciation for the life we’re living. While I related to both sentiments, knowing how blessed I am, there were ideas popcorning in my mind. As the ideas surfaced, I wondered which one would top the list.

A Bunch of Whiners

She next turned our attention to the movie, Bruce Almighty, which I haven’t seen in at least a decade. In the scene, Bruce, played by Jim Carey, has been granted the power of God and is extremely frustrated trying to keep up with all the prayer requests.

As the prayer requests completely flood his computer via email, he’s looking for an easy button to navigate the ‘bunch of whiners’ and grants ‘yes’ to all of them.

After the clip ended and the laughter ended, we talked about the problem with God answering yes to everything that crosses his plate, as Bruce decided to do.

One example, millions of people praying to win the lottery would ultimately have to split the jackpot.

And of course, more seriously, us not having the capability to even come close to comprehending God’s plan for our lives and the work he’s doing through us through each situation as we send up our prayers requests - big or small.

‘I Have a Plan’

I’ve had plenty of situations where I can reflect on where the outcome I was requesting or hoping for didn’t happen or was severely delayed according to my plan. I’m thankful for those situations, as now I’m able to see what God was doing and the work he was putting me through. That concept, while still sometimes hard to accept during waiting or difficult times, is one I truly believe in and feel like I am faithful in.

But what came next in her message stirred up some serious emotion inside of me.

She made so simply the request for the congregation to practice in our waiting:

‘Jesus, while I wait, make me more like you.’

And woof, tears welled up in my eyes as I thought of many situations in which that hadn’t even crossed my mind.

Next, she rattled off situations in her life where she had a darn good idea of what she would like to see happen. Throughout this, I was back giggling, knowing that’s exactly how I roll. In most situations, I’ll have a finely executed plan A, B, and C for good measure.

Yet how often, am I slowing down to think about how I can be more like Jesus in these everyday situations, big and small, that I take for granted.

Some recent prayers of mine, came to mind.

Lord, can this nausea be done now?

Lord, heal my loved one.

Lord, can you fix this frustrating situation?

Lord, I am so worried about what could happen.

Lord, help me to decide what to do next.

Lord, why is this relationship changing?

All of which, I’d been asking for a very specific outcome in times of waiting, frustration or pain.

And even more embarrassing, each of these asks were selfish as I really started to reflect.

When instead, they could have looked like.

Lord, remind me to acknowledge the symptoms of pregnancy as a beautiful sacrifice for my family.

Lord, help me to continue loving and supporting my loved one while knowing only you know what’s best in their life.

Lord, help me to develop more patience as I navigate frustration.

Lord, help me to rely on you and your will instead of my earthly worries.

Lord, guide me in my steps as you lay out the plan.

Lord, help me to simply love rather than overanalyzing actions.

“What is it that You Want?”

So, when we truly ask ourselves, ‘What is it that you want?’, I hope this impactful message was as helpful for you as it was for me.

For me it can’t be fast-forwarding this pregnancy, healing loved ones from stresses, pain or illness or wanting to remove frustration, but instead asking Jesus to make me a little more like him - loving, patient, humble, faithful, obedient, forgiving and selfless - in my waiting.

Philippians 2:5-11: In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on the cross. Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earn and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Matthew 20:20-28: Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and kneeling down, asked a favor of him. ‘What is it you want?’ he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.'“ ‘You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. There places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my father.” When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave - just as the son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”