Loco in Limbo...

[domoore]

Loco in Limbo…

That is the way it seems to me. I feel like I am going “loco in limbo!” Sometimes I wish God would just write down the “game plan” for my life, tie it to a rock and throw it through the front window in my living room. I would be happy to replace the glass and clean up the mess—If He would be so kind as to give me an “itinerary” schedule! But no—I am required to “walk by faith and not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 (I am smiling now- and I hope you are too!)

Do you ever feel this way? I mean—sometimes I just feel like I am going “LOCO” while I wait in LIMBO! My life has been a series of “hurry up and wait… hurry up and wait…” and then I wait some more! Do I possess more impatience- than patience…? Most definitely!

Life is an incredible journey. As a young person—I can remember wanting so badly to get out of high school. I couldn’t get to my senior year fast enough- “hurry up and wait…” But before I knew it—I was in college! The same was true of dating and marriage- hurry up and wait…and then before I knew it – I was married! Good grief!

In 2002, Donald announced to me that God was calling him to attend Seminary. I was not surprised by this- and also knew that God was calling him to do this! And so we started Seminary. A new “hurry up and wait” began for us. Hurry up for Seminary class- wait to see if you pass! (Of course he always did!) Just when I thought I knew God’s will for me and mine- my husband Donald was diagnosed with cancer. That was a whole new series of “hurry up and wait”—hurry up for treatment- wait to see if it works. It was an incredible time waiting on the Lord. Then Donald died. And I found myself in a new “hurry up and wait” game. Hurry up and grieve—wait to see what God has for me next. And then wait, wait, wait some more.

Not that I hurried or rushed my grieving and mourning process. I could have easily enough. But instead, I intentionally embraced my pain and loss for the purpose and work of healing. I don’t mind telling you- it was a long, hard haul too. But now that I have mostly come through that- and am growing and changing I can’t help but wonder “What next, God?” I desperately desire to be in God’s will. I want nothing short of God’s best for me and mine. While it would appear that I have been wishing my life away—nothing could be farther from the truth. But I am a “doer” by nature—and so this “waiting” just about kills me!

I do not have a home of my own—What next? Do I buy? Do I build? Will I even be here in Northern Missouri? Lord, doYou want me in Iowa? Missouri? Texas- back at Seminary? Timbuktu? Where, Lord? What kind of future will there be for me and mine- if we stay—or if we leave? OH! The uncertainty of it all!

But this is where God calls each of us. We are to know Him through His word. From knowing His word- and obediently following Him—we walk by faith. Please do not miss this: God calls each of us to faith- by knowing Him through His Word and through prayer- and then obediently acting on His Word. FAITH is “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) Without faith- it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God. (Hebrews 11:6)

Good grief… and so that is what I try to do—walk by faith—stumbling and falling down—stubbing my big toe over and over again. God never promised that walking by faith would be easy. But He did say in Psalm 37:23-24 “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.” (Emphasis mine.) Psalm 37:1 gives this further insight, “The law of God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.”

God is not the author of confusion. He delights in showing us the way to go! We look no further than Isaiah 48:17-18 where we read these words, “Thus says the Lord, Your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to My commandments! Then your well-being would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.”” (Emphasis mine.) Did you catch that “if-then” statement??? Take some time to study exactly what God is saying there! Please don’t miss the message!

So what of feeling like we are going “loco in limbo?” I know we have all been “there” at one time or another! I don’t know about you- but when I start feeling a little “loco” while I am waiting in “limbo” for God to act or for God’s plan to unfold—I have to remember a few things about God’s nature.

I must go back to the basics!

God is LOVE! (1 John 4:8)
God has a good plan and purpose for my life. (Jeremiah 29:11)
Even when things are falling apart around me—God’s promises and lovingkindness toward me will never be removed. (Isaiah 54:10)
God is ALWAYS with me- even when I feel lonely- I am never alone. (Psalm 139:7-10)
God is in control- I am not. (Psalm 115:3)
His thoughts are not my thoughts- His ways are higher than my ways. (Isaiah 55:8-9)
I can trust Him and more than that—I am CALLED to trust Him!
He is the same-yesterday, today and tomorrow. (Hebrews 13:8) His character is true- through and through.

These are qualities I know to be TRUE about my Lord!
The ONLY way I will know and practice these truths in my own life- is if I continually feed on His Word- the Bible! When I read and study God’s Holy Word- my faith and trust in Him are fed- and as a result- I will KNOW where He is leading me!

Glory! I am so thankful that I don’t have to guess on God’s plan! It is right there for me to know! His path is straight! He gently leads me! (Isaiah 40:11)

As a reminder: Isaiah 48:17-18 says, “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to My commandments!” (Emphasis mine.)

God leads us in the way we should go—IF ONLY we pay attention to His commandments! To discover the heart of God’s commandments we look no further than Christ’s own words found in Matthew 22:36-40. “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

From this passage, I know that my first priority (first steps on this “path”) is toward the Lord. My love and service to Him should eclipse myself- and others. I also know that the next steps I am to take- involve loving others—, as I love myself.

These two commands sum up the 10 commandments—If I have God rightly aligned in my own heart and mind—I will have no other gods before Him, I will not make any idols, I will not take His name in vain, and I will keep the Sabbath day holy. If I love my neighbor as myself- I will honor my father and mother, I will not murder, I will not commit adultery (even in my heart/mind), I will not steal, I will not lie, and I will not covet- (or be jealous for and want) what other people have.

These truths are foundational to walking by faith!

“Loco”- is the opposite of peaceful! Loco denotes restlessness, panic and fear. Heaven help us when we act out of a spirit of fear, panic or restlessness! I would sooner err on the side of caution- and wait on the Lord. The Bible has a great deal to say about patience and waiting. The idea of course is this—when you wait and are patient—you are working your faith muscles! Instead of feelings of going “loco” Isaiah 26:3 encourages, “The steadfast of mind You (God) will keep in perfect peace, because he (me) trusts in You.” God wants me to have “perfect peace.” When my mind is continually thinking on God—and trusting in God—my heart reflects perfect peace. Isn’t that wonderful!! I want more peace in my life! I work very hard for a peace-filled, peaceful home and life! When I begin to fret and worry over what I do not have or what to do next—all I have to do—is to stop “speculating” and begin trusting the One who is and always will be in complete control. (See also Philippians 4:4-8 for more on the “thought” life.)

Loco is a restless kind of fear, which consumes us to the point of acting in haste. “Whoever believes will not act hastily.” Isaiah 28:16b

And so what do we do?

Based on God’s Word- if we want to be in His will- if we want His perfect plan for our lives- we must hear (receive and believe) and obey His commands. How do we know His commands if we do not study His Word? We can not- unless we are in His Word- on a daily basis. We must seek after Him and love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.

Then can we know by experience that God’s Words are true, “I will lead the blind by a way they do not know, in the paths they do not know, I will guide them. I will make darkness into light before them and rugged places into plains. These are the things I will do, and I will not leave them undone.” Isaiah 42:16.

May God’s mercy, grace and favor rest on you and yours this day as you seek Him!

Sweetest Blessings My Dear Friends,

Julia

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