Wait For It

The last few weeks have been the most frustrating weeks of our journey in Columbia. Lots of second-guessing, questions, confusion, impatience, and sleepless nights. When you sign up for leading in new directions, seasons like this are inevitable - Seth Godin calls it the dip.

But, it still stinks when you hit one.

I've never done or been a part of a work similar to what God has called us to do here. Most decisions that I make are, at best, educated guesses. Consequently, my prayer life has never been more important or stronger, I think! I'm learning more everyday what Paul meant when challenged the church at Thessalonica to "pray without ceasing."

If I'm honest, I have to say that my patience has been stretched to the max throughout this journey. Sometimes, it gets stretched so far that I wonder if God is even there or if we've just completely screwed something up.

Then, last Wednesday, we gathered with the people that God is assembling together to launch this movement. We shared our hearts, we wrestled openly with what God is up to in and around us, and we prayed. One person shared this passage of Scripture and it rocked my world:

And the LORD answered me: "Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. "Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith. - Habakkuk 2:2-4 (ESV)

Too often, I am the guy who's soul is puffed up and not upright within me. When that happens, I question God's timing, work, calling, and presence in and around me. I live like everything is up to me.

But, God knows exactly what He's doing (surprise, surprise). He calls me to wait. He's not dragging His feet. He's preparing me for what He's going to drop. He's preparing our people for what He is going to drop.

The vision is coming. It will not delay. It will not be late. It will be right on time. When it comes, it will be clear. When it comes, I have to make sure it's clear to those who will work it. It needs to be clear so they can run unhindered in the right direction.

My call is to live by faith. My faith is not in what I can see, it's in what I cannot see. My faith is not in what I know, it's in Who I know.

I went to bed Tuesday night frustrated. I went to bed Wednesday night encouraged. I woke up Thursday morning and felt like a pastor again, not just a dreamer/visionary. The vision is coming...we're living by faith and waiting.

Comments

[steve]

Hi Jay! Enjoyed the post and know the Lord is continuing to do a great work in your life and your family as He continues to prepare you for His spot in Columbia! You may already be aware but we just wrapped up a 3 week series, titled Habakkuk with Craig Groeschel sharing at lifechurch.tv. In each message Craig shared using Seth Godin's book the Dip as an illustration point, helped to bring it home. If you haven't caught the messages might be worth worth your time. Have a great week!

[jay hardwick]

steve :: i literally just saw that you guys have been in habakkuk...and interesting that craig used the dip as an illustration. definitely going to download those messages...thanks for the tip!

[Darren]

Be encouraged, bro... the Lord is never slow concerning His promise! Keep being faithful, and keep up your passionate pursuit! ;-)

D PLUM

[Andria Dodson]

Jay~

I know how you feel. Your post reminded me of Romans 8:18-25.

"That's why I don't think there's any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what's coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.

All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it's not only around us; it's within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We're also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don't see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy." - From The Message Version

Hang in there. Hope to meet you and Lara Beth soon.

Andria Dodson

[Carey Nieuwhof]

jay...know this is a few days late, but i'm feeling for you and praying for you.

toni, my pretty amazing wife, received a vision for connexus before it was planted. she said it was one of intense pruning followed by great fruitfulness. I just wanted the fruit. the pruning has happened/is happening, both in terms of my character and in terms of quantity of people. what this has forced me to do is turn to God in ways I honestly wouldn't if it was straight success. i wish i wasn't so weak, but here we are.

[jay hardwick]

thanks to all for your great words of faith and encouragement! means more tan you know...we are very encouraged by what we see God doing around us and what we know He is doing in us!