Waiting

 

I have spent much of my time in the garden these last couple of days. Lots of pulling of weeds, cutting of hedges, and digging of soil has taken place. I have also spent lots of time garden planning. We can plan all we want to but, as any gardener will tell you, you don't have full control. Sure, you can rip out and tear down whatever we want but try to grow something in a sunny spot that does not like full sun and you are on to a looser. Plants need the right kind of soil and conditions for them to flourish. People are much the same. We all need to be loved, nurtured, fed and watered. We need to right conditions to grow well and to bare fruit. I love apple trees. I love seeing those first buds appear and burst into flower and then for the flowers turn into the most tiniest apple like shapes. (I am sure there is a name for whatever they are called, apart from tiny little apples - no idea what that is though.) The best thing is to watch the apples grow and ripen ready to be picked. Who can resist the mouth watering delicious taste of a crunchy apple straight from the tree. Not to mention apple crumble and ice-cream, or lashings of custard if you are my husband. Yum! 

Today as I looked out on my garden that was being watered by the rain I saw a tiny bird sat on the rooftop. What on earth was it doing sat in the rain? It, like me, was waiting. Waiting for the rain to stop and the sun to come out again. I don't like the rain but without it nothing grows. The Christian walk can be a bumpy ride sometimes and sometimes we hit a stormy patch. Life has many twists and turns but it is through the rough stormy times that we grow the most. It is perhaps these times that draw us closer to God, sometimes kicking and screaming. 

This morning I have been reading Psalm 27, here it is:

 

¹ The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid?

² When the wicked advance against me
    to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
    who will stumble and fall.

³ Though an army besiege me,
    my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
    even then I will be confident.

⁴ One thing I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.

⁵ For in the day of trouble
    he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock.

⁶ Then my head will be exalted
    above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
    I will sing and make music to the Lord.

⁷ Hear my voice when I call, Lord;
    be merciful to me and answer me.

⁸ My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.
⁹ Do not hide your face from me,
    do not turn your servant away in anger;
    you have been my helper.

Do not reject me or forsake me,
    God my Savior.
¹⁰ Though my father and mother forsake me,
    the Lord will receive me.

¹¹ Teach me your way, Lord;
    lead me in a straight path
    because of my oppressors.
¹² Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
    for false witnesses rise up against me,
    spouting malicious accusations.

¹³ I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.
¹⁴ Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.
NIV (2011)

This is my prayer today, may it be yours to.