January 30, 2009 @ 6:37 pm | Filed under: Soul Food,The Solid Rock

I remember an old stoplight that I used to have in my Sunday school room. I used it for almost an entire quarter one year as I endeavored to teach a room full of eight and nine year olds about characteristics of sound decision making.

I’m thinking about that old light again today, except I’m imagining a God-sized version; one that I look to for direction in an effort to maintain order, minimize chaos, and streamline all I have going on in my life.

Who doesn’t love a green light? They generally mean yes, and usually turn us loose to run head-on, with abandon and enthusiasm, into a new venture, a new job, a new direction, or maybe even an escape, a vacation, or just a plain ‘ol fun time. These are times that fill us with joy, with good memories, with well-being. We feel loved, cared for, and it’s easy in these times to know Who we belong to and just exactly what our purpose is.

The red lights, the resounding, unmistakable sound of no…? Often times these bring us up short, cause us to freeze in mid-step, right as we’re about to step off the curb and into the crazy highway of Life. I’ve learned to graciously embrace a “no” when they come along because now I know that, while I’m unable to see what lies in wait for me down the way, He sees it all, knows it all, has it all in His hand. In His time. These are moments to catch our breath, slow down, gather strength and knowledge. While not always fun, they are essential to our well-being.

The yellow days, or the times of maybe, are perhaps some of the most challenging ones for me. On a good day, I’ve been known to reluctantly cling to a faith-filled “maybe.” These days are the times when we’re given no clear direction, only the message to take our time, exercise caution, be aware, and look both ways before crossing. One of the hardest to endure words in my psychological, mental, emotional, and spiritual consciousness is WAIT. Yet it is most likely when the most work is done within me.

The only thing that makes wait a concept I can live through is juxtaposing it with God’s promises; especially, Isaiah 40:31, “But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” I’ve strode to the rhythm of that verse like a mantra in my head during many a brisk morning walk, determined to get it into my spirit so that I could hold on, trust God, and go on to the next thing at hand.

I believe it is when we learn to accept the yellow lights, cross briskly and safely during the green ones, and hug the curb with forced patience while we endure the red ones, that God begins to grant us some of the greatest desires of our hearts. Long-time hopes. Eternal flamed-filled dreams.

When we have waited, persevered, held on to God’s promises, passed more tests than we fell short of, refused to give up hope, and denied giving the enemy of our souls any ground…the path in front of us begins to grow clear. Our way becomes illuminated and – it’s in those moments of clarity – we are able to see that the road falling away behind has carried us to such a special proximity to Him. And the road that is rising up before us is one that is guaranteed to challenge, to thrill, to motivate, to humble, to grow, to make us as strong and able-bodied as we need to be to finish this majestic, wonderful journey.

It’s because of these times that we stand here today, clothed in bright minds and yielded hearts, on the verge of realizing some of the greatest desires of our hearts. We’ve recently crossed the threshold into a new year – fresh, clean and unused – and prepared especially for us. A new year to live, trust, hope, pray, laugh, prosper, grow, praise, and believe God.

There is something inside of me that is vibrantly crying out that 2009 will have been WELL WORTH THE WAIT. It’s our time to shine. It’s our time to share during daylight what God has shown us in the dark, time to shout from the rooftops what He has whispered in our ears in secret.

I’m waiting on Him. During a season of yellow lights, I am mounting up with wings as eagles, I’m running without weariness, walking without the fear of fainting.