{"id":6715,"date":"2025-02-24T22:00:47","date_gmt":"2025-02-25T03:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=6715"},"modified":"2025-02-28T14:04:44","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T19:04:44","slug":"stepping-back-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=6715","title":{"rendered":"(In the Moments) The Joy of Waiting"},"content":{"rendered":"

Stepping back can seem like quitting but think of it as waiting for another. I\u2019m not usually good at it. When we\u2019re taking a walk or shopping, my bride tells me she loves my butt, but would prefer not to be looking at it when we should be together. This slows me down and I take her hand. The point is being with her, not finishing the walk or checking shopping off our list.<\/p>\n

Walking with my wife is about savoring our moments together. It\u2019s also that way when I’m with God. Problems and duties give me various opportunities to walk with God and to wait on His timing. When I forge ahead on my own, I\u2019m missing out on being with<\/em> the Source of joy. I\u2019m also detached from the Source of Life, who guides and empowers my life.<\/p>\n

Why I Step Ahead<\/span><\/h3>\n

I\u2019m realizing that I step ahead because I don\u2019t really trust God is in control of certain situations. It\u2019s a terrible idea to try fixing life on my own terms, but I still do it. God is at work in all situations to conform me into the image if Christ. [1] Though I may not like His methods, stepping ahead doesn\u2019t save time. It prolongs the process.<\/p>\n

I also step ahead because I\u2019m compelled to accomplish. My sense of self-worth seems linked to my perceived success. This is exhausting, especially when I take on things God never intended me to do. The result is futility. Apart from God\u2019s life working in me, what I do has no eternal worth. [2]<\/p>\n

I\u2019m a slow learner with this one. How quickly I convince myself that this or that is a good thing and forge ahead. I\u2019ve worn myself out doing what seems good, instead of waiting on God\u2019s best for me.<\/p>\n

These actions are doubly harmful because when I don\u2019t wait on God and the empowerment of His Holy Spirit, I operate in my power instead. So, not waiting on God causes me to wear myself out doing things which have no real value.<\/p>\n

Nobody has time for that.<\/p>\n

Waiting Starts with acknowledging Weakness<\/span><\/h3>\n

After Paul repeatedly spoke to the Lord about his weakness, the Lord responded, \u201cMy grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.\u201d<\/span><\/em> [3]<\/p>\n

His response, \u201cTherefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ\u2019s power may reside in me.\u00a0So, I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures, because of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.\u201d (II Corinthians 12:9b-10<\/strong> CSB)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

What I\u2019m realizing is that waiting often depends upon the value I place in my weaknesses. If I truly believe my weakness is good, which is often hard to admit, God\u2019s power can be perfected in my weaknesses.<\/p>\n

This is by far the best route to take.<\/p>\n

My weaknesses remind me to wait for God\u2019s direction and power.<\/p>\n

In the Waiting<\/span><\/h3>\n

Waiting is the best. If I trust Him, God promises to guide me. God is at work. In His timing, He\u2019ll show me when and how to join Him along the way. If I’ll wait, He\u2019ll show me.<\/p>\n

In the waiting, I learn to trust in His control, His love, His strength. Stepping back is making way for another. Stepping back is waiting for Him to initiate and allowing His power from the vine to produce true fruit in my life.<\/p>\n

In the waiting, I’m with God, digging deeper into His love, basking in the joy of His presence, depending on His glorious power.<\/p>\n

Being with God really is what it\u2019s all about. I don\u2019t want to miss out on the most important thing by stepping ahead without Him.<\/p>\n

Challenge<\/span><\/h3>\n

Is there a situation in your life where you\u2019re waiting for God? Most of us have several. Perhaps you\u2019ve already inserted yourself to no avail. You may have even made matters worse.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s okay. God\u2019s mercies are new every morning. He can use even our bad choices for His ultimate plan to make us more like Jesus.<\/p>\n

Step back. Wait now.<\/p>\n

Waiting is hard but take courage. He is with us in the waiting.<\/p>\n

Prayer<\/span><\/h3>\n

\u00a0Lord, I\u2019m sorry for moving ahead of You. I see now how utterly futile it is. Please keep me from rushing ahead. Please build my trust. You\u2019re in complete control of every situation and You will show me my part. I open my heart to understanding Your great love for me. I look forward to the marvelous adventures which await in my communion with You as I wait.<\/em><\/p>\n

Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>[1] Romans 8:28-29<\/p>\n

[2] John 15:5<\/p>\n

[3] II Corinthians 12:9<\/p>\n

Post image generated by AI<\/p>\n

Other posts in our series<\/span> In the Moments<\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

As Sea Gulls Fly<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

It is Finished<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Behold the Moments<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Tranquility<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Stop Striving<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Simplicity In Christ<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

What is Good<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Yet Will I Rejoice<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Sorrowful, Yet Always Rejoicing<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Exploring Grace and Joy together<\/a><\/p>\n

Stay Present My Friends<\/a><\/p>\n

Quiddity. It Could Change Your Life<\/a><\/p>\n

The Cake Maker’s Blunder<\/a><\/p>\n

God at Work (No Trespassing)<\/a><\/p>\n

Hidden with Christ in God<\/a><\/p>\n

Finding Joy in Love and Relationships<\/a><\/p>\n

Escaping the Rat Race<\/a><\/p>\n

When I don’t Feel God’s Loving Kindness<\/a><\/p>\n

Experiencing Completeness in Christ<\/a><\/p>\n

Overcoming Pain Through Faith<\/a><\/p>\n

Recalibrating Our Hearts<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God\u2019s nearness in the midst of life\u2019s adventures.<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Subscribe to get email notifications of new posts. We post a few times a month. Thank you for reading.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Robby Buck<\/span><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Nonfiction books by the Author:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Because joy is rooted in God and is eternal, it doesn\u2019t ebb and flow with the waves of circumstances. In fact, as we grow in our understanding of joy, we can even experience it more acutely when life is hard. Why? Because God uses trials to conform us into the image of Christ. With this awareness, which gives us glimpses of God\u2019s greater purposes, we rejoice because of His masterful work to free us from needing anything but Him.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

For these reasons, and many others, joy in the Lord is commanded in scripture. It\u2019s not just a good idea, it\u2019s vital to our journey as human beings.\u00a0Rhythms of Joy<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Novels by the Author:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

What happens when a professor figures out how to send messages to his younger self to try and avoid the suicide of his best friend? Did he change more than he bargained for?\u00a0\u00a0Beyond Time<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

By finding two undelivered letters in an old shack deep in the woods, Cassie and Daniel unknowing set off a series of events which uncover a plot to wipe out a whole family Hope Remains<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Please Check out the\u00a0\u00a0Cola City Podcast<\/a>\u00a0. Discussions that impact the vision of reaching every man, woman, and child in a city.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Stepping back can seem like quitting but think of it as waiting for another. I\u2019m not usually good at it. When we\u2019re taking a walk or shopping, my bride tells me she loves my butt, but would prefer not to be looking at it when we should be together. This slows me down and I take her hand. The point is being with her, not finishing the walk or checking shopping off our list.<\/p>\n

Walking with my wife is about savoring our moments together. It\u2019s also that way when I’m with God. Problems and duties give me various opportunities to walk with God and to wait on His timing. When I forge ahead on my own, I\u2019m missing out on being with the Source of joy. I\u2019m also detached from the Source of Life, who guides and empowers my life.<\/p>\n

Why I Step Ahead<\/p>\n

I\u2019m realizing that I step ahead because I don\u2019t really trust God is in control of certain situations. It\u2019s a terrible idea to try fixing life on my own terms, but I still do it. God is at work in all situations to conform me into the image if Christ. [1] Though I may not like His methods, stepping ahead doesn\u2019t save time. It prolongs the process.<\/p>\n

I also step ahead because I\u2019m compelled to accomplish. My sense of self-worth seems linked to my perceived success. This is exhausting, especially when I take on things God never intended me to do. The result is futility. Apart from God\u2019s life working in me, what I do has no eternal worth. <\/p>\n

I\u2019m a slow learner with this one. How quickly I convince myself that this or that is a good thing and forge ahead. I\u2019ve worn myself out doing what seems good, instead of waiting on God\u2019s best for me.<\/p>\n

These actions are doubly harmful because when I don\u2019t wait on God and the empowerment of His Holy Spirit, I operate in my power instead. So, not waiting on God causes me to wear myself out doing things which have no real value.<\/p>\n

Nobody has time for that.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6740,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1868],"tags":[78,1262,1554,3353,1598,3356,3352,3354,47,408,1872,509,1608,888,170,58,3355,1047,1856,510,679,680,1024,134,7,3357,1871,664,1557,470,632,3350,3351,1869,1864,2774,1023,356,1045,1855],"class_list":["post-6715","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-waiting-on-jesus","tag-christ","tag-christ-is-my-source","tag-communion-with-god","tag-compelled-to-accomplish","tag-confromed-to-the-image-of-christ","tag-depending-on-him","tag-empowers","tag-forge-ahead","tag-fruit","tag-fruit-of-the-spirit","tag-glorious-power","tag-god","tag-god-is-the-source","tag-gods-larger-story","tag-gods-love","tag-gods-presence","tag-gods-timing","tag-grasping-gods-love","tag-ii-corinthians-129-10","tag-jesus-christ","tag-jesus-guides","tag-jesus-is-our-one-thing","tag-jesus-the-vine","tag-john-155","tag-joy","tag-joy-of-his-presence","tag-life-source","tag-loving-like-jesus","tag-romans-828-29","tag-savor","tag-source-of-all-joy","tag-source-of-joy","tag-source-of-life","tag-step-back","tag-strength-in-weakness","tag-true-source-of-life","tag-vital-life-source","tag-wait-on-god","tag-waiting","tag-weakness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6715","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6715"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6715\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6992,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6715\/revisions\/6992"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6740"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6715"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6715"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6715"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}