Wait…Stand
Still
In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart! I have overcome the world.
John 16:33
Looking up from making sandwiches, Judy
glanced out the kitchen window just in time to see her son, Jason,
get slammed to the ground in a game of ‘backyard’ football. Half
way to the door, intending to ‘save’ her son, the Holy
Spirit ‘checked’ her, “Wait…stand still.” So she
waited…and watched.
Tall and willowy, Jason looked fragile
in comparison to his much larger peers. She watched as he tried once
more to block the boy across from him. An involuntarily gasp escaped
her as the boy flattened Jason on his way to the quarterback. Still,
the Holy Spirit said, “Wait.”
As Jason got to his feet, Judy realized
she’d been holding her breath. In turmoil, she watched as the next
play developed. Oddly, Judy sensed something remarkable was about to
happen, peace settled over her. As the center snapped the ball Jason
faked his block, spun, and went out for a pass. Judy watched as the
quarterback threw a perfect spiral toward the end zone. Running at
full speed, Jason caught the ball and pulled it in. He was
immediately tackled, but not before momentum carried him across the
goal line for the touchdown! The hard hit didn’t seem to faze him
in the least as he jumped up holding the ball aloft in victory. The
Holy Spirit whispered, “Okay. Now you can go tell them lunch is
ready.”
†
Had Judy gone out earlier she would
have embarrassed Jason in front of his friends, robbing him of
self-esteem and confidence. He would have lost the opportunity to
succeed against overwhelming odds, and been kept from finding out
what he was capable of. And as hard as it is to watch our children
get knocked around by the world, there are times we should ‘wait’.
Jesus said we will have trouble. He
also said He can deliver peace in the midst of it all; peace that
will give a mother pause to allow her child to run faster, jump
higher, and succeed against serious opposition; peace that ‘waits’
while the remarkable happens.
Prayer
“Lord, it’s hard, as
You know, to watch your children be mistreated by the world. Show me
when it’s okay to interrupt and call them to lunch, or when to
‘Wait’. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”
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