Waiting for Help
As I walk this journey of rest (obedience), I find myself, for the first time, learning to ask for help. I say learning, because I’ve always been one to set a goal, work at it and accomplish it, alone. My career is one where I am the sole admin in an office of engineers, machinists & assembly workers who rely on me for everything. I do it all & love doing it all. Yet in this season of rest, God is teaching me to ask and wait for help.
I think of the story of Sarai & Abram in Genesis 16. God had promised Sarai & Abram that they would have a child. They were getting old, so Sarai got impatient & insisted her maiden, Hagar sleep with Abram, in order to fulfill God’s promise.
{PRIDE} makes us question & doubt God’s promises.
{PRIDE} drives our minds to conger up ideas of how to make God’s promises come into play.
{PRIDE} turns God’s promises into curses (let me explain)
When Sarai doubted God’s promise & came up with an idea of how to make it happen, she turned the beautiful promise from God into a curse from God.
In Genesis 16:11-12, we read what the angel of the Lord spoke to Hagar, who was pregnant with Abram’s child & who as a result, Sarai now hated & sent away:
The angel of the Lord also said to her:
“You are now pregnant
and you will give birth to a son.
You shall name him Ishmael,[a]
for the Lord has heard of your misery.
He will be a wild donkey of a man;
his hand will be against everyone
and everyone’s hand against him,
and he will live in hostility
toward[b] all his brothers.”
Instead of the beautiful promise to have a child (Isaac), God put a curse on Abram & Hagar’s son, Ishmael; with whom the Muslim Religion was birthed & continues to be at war against God’s people.
Instead of waiting for help, trusting God’s promise & relying on Him to make it happen, Abram became the “father of many nations”, to which are forever at war (the curse).
How many times does God cry over us, when we impatiently make decisions that thwart his plans?
Waiting for help may not be easy, in our day to day lives, but if we don’t make a conscious decision to do so, we risk habitually reacting to the call of God in the same way, & potentially thwarting His plans for us.
This season of rest God has called me to is one requiring me to ask & wait for help. Spiritual help came through my friend Bonnie Gray.
For the next several weeks, with God’s prompting, I will be reading & blogging through Bonnie’s book, “Finding Spiritual Whitespace-Awakening Your Soul To Rest”. Although I have no idea what God has in store for me, I’m truly looking forward to walking this restful season with you, my friend.
If you would like to join me on my reading journey, you may ENTER TO WIN a copy of her book (giveaway ends 6/3/14) or you may purchase it here.
With Love,
Satin
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Satin Pelfrey
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WOW! LOVE the new look of your blog! Nicely done, did you do it yourself?
You know I love those verses in Gen 16, hence my tattoo 🙂 But I do love the truths you pulled from them. You have an amazing way of doing that. Enjoy your season of rest, friend. God’s got big plans for you…you’ll be glad you rested up!
Hello Friend! Thank you for the design compliment-I used a Word Press template & customized it with my own picture & color scheme. It was fun! 🙂
As for my post-thank you, I am oh so excited to see where God takes me on this journey. As Bonnie eludes to in her introduction, it may not actually be an easy road, but it will be a good road. Thank you for supporting me through my journey! xo
yes, Satin, my hubby & i r in a season of waiting for help, & trying to rest in obedience too…it’s so hard to not assist GOD, we don’t want to detour His plan or get ahead of GOD’s timing…ur writing this helps, blessings in bunches!!!
Thank you for stopping by! Lifting you & your hubby up in prayer that God will grant the desires of your heart, bless you beyond measure & in the meantime, give you rest as you wait on His Promises! Love to you! ♥
Thank you for this reminder. Patience is something I’ve had to work on throughout my walk with God. It is still hard. So often I try to take matters into my own hands, only to find that God’s way is always better. He is so faithful, even when we are not! Great insights.
There is so much truth in your words here.
Waiting well…there’s a worthy goal. 🙂
I can definitely relate to your words. I am very much an organizer and a controller. I am finishing up a contract with a company I have been editing/writing/proofreading for over the last two years. I am trying to enjoy the current time of rest, knowing that God has plans for me, but it is very hard for me not to worry and work up my own plan. Praying that my next steps will be made clear and that I will be open to following where he leads me … in His time.
Thank you for stopping in, Nina! Praying for God’s peace as you wait on Him. Much Love to you! ♥
Waiting on God is a struggle–no matter what stage of life or age. Thanks for sharing this encouraging post. Love the graphic! I’m visiting from Coffee for Your Heart. Blessings!
As you know, I’ve been in a season of still. It hasn’t been perfect. I feel I need do pull back at times even more. Bonnie’s book is on my list, a very long list. I look forward to reading your posts as you process through it. I LOVE the new look here! Good job!
Thank you for this word- I have been in a season of waiting but have felt like giving up and wondering what God is doing- trusting Him and that He has a wonderful plan for me even though I can’t see this part right now- Thanks for the encouragement- to rest and trust Him to provide the help I need.
Gotta love the Isaiah 30:18 graphic – especially the heart-shaped leaves that add a nice, creative touch. I echo Alecia’s words on your blog! Wow – beautiful, crispy clean and effective. So are your words, Satin. I always enjoy and appreciate how you pull this-life truth from bible stories. As you wait and rest I rejoice with you knowing “this is just the beginning” Honored and delighted to be journeying with you at this time precious friend.
Joining you from the Faith Barista’s link up. I am savoring each page as I read Bonnie’s book. Even though I’m working part-time and semi-retired and an empty-nest mom, I still find that I am the one who “does it all.” I am seeking this time of spiritual whitespace to bring bring God’s plan for me to fruition.
Oh sweet friend, I’m so sorry I haven’t been by. I LOVE your new look here. You’ve been on my mind and I’ve been meaning to text you all weekend (honestly!!). I just love your heart and I’m so looking forward to seeing what God has in store for you (and us) as you blog your way through Bonnie’s book. I have her book too and picked it up to begin reading but was then prompted to read the book Chasing God by Angie Smith. Love you so much. You are always in my thoughts and prayers. {Hugs}
Sounds exceedingly restful…I need to enter into a season of rest. Pretty burned out right about now! I am actually seeking God about areas where prides seems to be showing up…but masking itself as something else. This requires quiet with God. And He deserves my time! Blessings friend.
Oh friend, I will be praying with you on this matter. Thank you so much for stopping by & for sharing your heart! Much love to you on your journey to rest. ♥