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On Wednesdays we are thrilled to fling open the doors to all of YOU! We love hearing your dreaming stories…the lessons you’ve learned, the roads you’ve walked, the dreams He’s planted in your hearts! Today we are excited to welcome Kristi Woods to God-sized Dreams…and she shares the reminder that God always has a purpose, even when the waiting seems long. Thanks for joining us today, Kristi!
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How long?
How long do I have to stay here?
Mommmmmmmm!
Her little fingers, donning short nails that had obviously been nibbled and chewed upon, ran along the recliner’s hard ridges. It was the back and forth motion of a child’s touch noting the harshness of the green chair’s edging. Her chubby little summer legs often witnessed its harshness through the bright red imprint left behind. It was hard, and it hurt.
This was not a nice chair.
On one hand, she loved the recliner because it was her father’s favorite. In fact, it was officially known as “Dad’s chair”. The title alone commanded respect. He rested there on occasion after a hard day’s work. His grease-stained fingernails, a mechanic’s must, would rest atop the arms as snoring inevitably ensued.
But even more so, she hated how the chair became her jail. The bars were nonexistent, but the cell dutifully held her busy body. There was no lock, but it was a cage against her freedom, imposing its power to contain in the name of discipline.
It was timeout. The little girl contained no fondness for it.
She flung one leg over the arm. The other leg followed suite. The little girl’s body wriggled here, there, and a bit of everywhere.
Inevitably an arm would fly up over her head, plop halfway between the top of her head and the chair back, then jerk down again. A huff of impatience rose as she wriggled to a new position, kicked her feet a bit, and then started the charade all over again.
She hated the wait.
There are days when I feel like I’m that little girl once again, waiting in the chair of life. I begin to wriggle. The wait takes on its own cloud of negative, raining on my plans. But its true current says this is for my good.
Shouldn’t we already be there, Lord?
When, God?
But, I don’t want to sit here…
Once again the cage begins closing in. But, there are no bars. I can’t see that in the midst of my feet kicking, arms flinging, bottom wriggling scenario.
The threats of you’ll be left behind, you’ll never get it right, and aren’t I good enough, God begin to bark their disciplinary orders.
But then I begin to settle in the chair. My eyes shift to Jesus.
It’s a complete focus shift: from me to He.
Lord, this is Yours, this life, these plans. (<====Tweet this.)
Jesus, I’ll simply worship You in the wait. I’ll offer thanks in place of grumbling, lift praise in lieu of negative, and will trust You in joy.
You’re the spiritual spinach to my fleshly Popeye. When my focus is on You, Jesus, selfishness loses its life-giving roots. They are uprooted with the mighty flex of Your love.
Your hope builds me…like Abraham. I want to believe You, trust You, wait, and walk with You.
Praising You mimics David in the court. I want to be a girl after Your own heart, Lord. I will raise the praise.
Sacrifice and worship finger their roots deep into the fertile soil of my spiritual maturity. Ruth walked and toiled here. I desire to walk in the same field, Jesus.
Instead of wriggling in the cell of frustration and impatience, I will trust in You, Lord. I may wait, but I’ll be free. There are no jail cells in the heart of worship. (<====Tweet this.)
The book, the answer, the ministry, the “whatever”? Lord, I will shift my focus from a wriggling me in the chair of life to a me that worships You in the here, the now, in the wait. Yes, concerning the book, the answer, the ministry, Lord, I will shift my focus from “me” to “He”.
Photo Credit: Neil Conway
Kristi Woods loves a warm, sunny day and to write, read, and talk all things Jesus. She’s passionate about seeing women walk deeper in their relationship with the Lord and clicks her words of encouragement onto the screens of BearingBranch and KristiWoods.net regularly. Kristi, her retired-from-the-military husband, and their three children survived the nomadic military lifestyle and have now set roots, along with their furry, rescued pets, in Oklahoma.
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Do you have a God-sized Dream story to tell? We’d love to have you share your journey with us!
Visit our Guest Post Submissions page to learn more!
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Sharon C. says
My God size dream is to get well and find God’s purpose for me. Being sick I find staying home is like a never ending prison where you don’t see anyone or do anything. I need to find God’s purpose and get involved like I used to. Life is passing me by too fast.
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Kristi Woods says
God does have a purpose for you, Sharon. And I’m beyond convinced that it’s good. I’m sorry you don’t feel well. Home can certainly feel like the infamous bars of prison when you’re shut-in. Mind if I send a hug across the miles? I’m thankful you have a computer. That can be a ministry in itself as you reach out to others online. Or, maybe a letter or phone call. Perhaps it’s making something for those in need. I’ll be praying for you to hear the Lord and walk in His will concerning this.
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Lynn D. Morrissey says
Kristi, thank you so much for giving us new lenses through which to look and appreciate that waiting on the Lord is not just waiting. Waiting on Him is pregnant with purpose and, ultimately, with peace. When I shift my purpose from me to Him, He meets me in unexpected ways and gives meaning to everything I do (or don’t” do). Bless you for sharing to encourage us in the waiting room.
Gratefully,
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Kristi Woods says
You are welcome, Lynn. And, yes! It’s pregnancy. (No wonder I was so impatient during pregnancy. Waiting was difficult in the natural as well.) Truly, there is peace now in the waiting room.
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IntentionallyPursuing.com says
What a beautiful reminder. Kristi: “There are no jail cells in the heart of worship.” When I switch my focus from me to the He, I find myself free … free from worry, free from stress, ready to accept God’s grace and live free in Him.
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Kristi Woods says
No jail cells in the heart of worship. There’s only freedom. Yes indeed!
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dawnklinge says
Oh, yes, this is so good, Kristi. I have dreams that I get so impatient with, but I need to remember this, to shift my focus from me to Him. Thank you for writing these beautiful words.
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Kristi Woods says
All glory to God. Have a beautiful day, Dawn.
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betsydecruz says
It’s great to see you here today, Kristi! May God enlarge our vision of Him as we wait on Him. May worshiping and serving Him be our all-consuming passion, whether it’s through putting dinner on the table or through going on a speaking tour to promote a new book! 🙂
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Kristi Woods says
Amen, Betsy. Amen.
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sandraj2015 says
Kristi – What a lovely post. Love your wording in: ‘You’re the spiritual spinach to my fleshly Popeye. When my focus is on You, Jesus, selfishness loses its life’. How I need for my selfishness to lose it’s life….daily! Thanks for the encouragement.
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Kristi Woods says
I think we’re all in the same “daily” shoes.Praise God that He’s patient and faithful. 🙂
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debwilson2 says
Kristi, I too wrestle with waiting. The story of Abraham had calmed me many times. When I shift my focus from what I think needs to be happening to resting in and enjoying Him, I enjoy peace.
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