Life has its ups and downs, and no one is exempt from struggling every now and then. We’ve heard that how we react to situations is based on how much spiritual peace we can maintain, and I certainly believe this is true. In order to hear God’s still small voice, we need to be very close to Him. How many have experienced the agony of trying to be patient while waiting on God to move? Some of you might be going through this today. No doubt, it’s difficult to be calm when we are hurting. It seems we cannot think of anything else other than how we feel. Nonetheless, it’s possible to not only use these dark times of the soul as a ladder to help us climb out of our pit of discouragement, but to actually rise to a higher level of personal peace and contentment. It’s possible to learn how to transform our worries into confidence.
In the Song of Solomon chapter two, the Shulamite woman and the king are in love, and their dialogue is a beautiful expression of romance. In verse 15, she mentions how the little foxes damage the grapevines by chewing on them and eventually hinder the ability to make wine. To make a long story short, the foxes represent attacks of frustration and anxiety, while the vines are symbolic of our relationships, especially with God. She is trying to warn her future husband about the importance of keeping their emotions in check by being aware of negative forces that will attempt to ruin their marriage. This story reminds us to remain focused on God’s promises and not allow impatience and negative distractions that tempt us to let go of our faith. “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer” Romans 12:12.
We have become spoiled in an age of instant gratification, and this can unfortunately bleed over into our spiritual thinking. We have a tendency to make a decree, say a short prayer, and then expect immediate results, and when we do not have an answer by the end of the day, we move on to something else. Let us consider: this is not always how the Lord works. Have you ever experienced a stressful trial, and as you were searching for answers, it seemed that God was silent? Maybe He was quiet for a reason, and then it could be that we were just not listening to His future plans. Remember that Abraham and Sarah were told by God they would have a special child, but it was decades later until Issac was born. Hannah also prayed for a child, but it was years later that she gave birth to Samuel. Job had to endure suffering and wait before God responded to deliver him. Moses prayed for the Israelites, but the Lord did not respond until after a long period of wandering. Daniel interceded intensely, but his answer did not come until 21 days later. These are just a few of many instances that emphasize patience. Just because we do not see immediate miracles from our prayers does not mean that God is saying no. Heaven is not a vending machine where we just push a button and instantly receive our request.
Our heavenly Father is completely aware of our situation, and within His blueprint is for us to submit to His perfect will. Knowing Him is all about trusting Him even when it seems that no one understands or cares. In the book of Ephesians, we are given an explanation about our spiritual armor, and if we notice, the helmet and breastplate is given to protect our mind and heart from the dangerous arrows of outside influences. The enemy of our soul loves to use words against us because he knows how much damage they can inflict. When we are confronted with negative circumstances, we are tempted to absorb and agree, which in turn triggers our response mechanism to unleash a flood of harmful reactions. Unfortunately, anger, sadness, and self-pity have ruined many people’s lives because they let go of hope. Remember, hold on a little longer as Hebrews 11:6 declares that without faith it is impossible to please God. Whatever you are waiting for today, realize that God wants the best for you. Guard and protect your conscience from the attacks of depression and despair and embrace the absolute reality of His truth. If you know what He has promised, stand strong in your faith and know it’s going to happen.
Dr. Holland is an ordained minister, chaplain, and Christian author.