The Hard of Waiting

The time was right…

I had read this blog post years ago, and something about it resonated with me.  I remembered it.

(Truth is, there are often things that resonate with me in this woman’s writing.)

We were in a store when we noticed  the tulip bulbs and remembered the post. 

My husband knew as well as I did, that it was time… for us both.

We chose a box of bulbs.  

One box filled with beautiful shades of pinks and oranges…

a promise of new life.

Even though the promise was wrapped in something that looked kind of dead 

and very unpromising.

On a dark and dreary, cold November day after Thanksgiving was over, 

we took those bulbs outside and dug some deep holes in the ground, 

and buried them.

Because our hope is in the God who loves us more,  we remembered as we put the bulbs into the ground, that this hard we faced was something we did not control.  

That it had to be Him who brought life, or there was no hope.”

And because there is always hope, we can bury it.

whatever it is

And leave it in His hands.

We had no idea how He would move in the things that were on our hearts that morning.

But what we did know was that He would move.

Isn’t that what He is always doing?  

From ancient times no one has heard, no one has listened, no eye has seen any God
except You,
who acts on behalf of the one who waits for Him.
Isaiah 64:4 (HCSB)

Those tulips had great potential to grow and bloom. 

If they survived the dark.  

If those hungry squirrels did not get to them first. 

If there truly was life in them, 

Too many ifs can distract us from the promise.

So we walked away.

And waited.

Whatever happened with these dreams and our hopes, 

He was here with us. 

And in His presence all our hopes are met.

The hopes and dreams that were buried?

Our lives could go on without us ever realizing them as reality.

But we could not go a moment without His Presence.

And we had that.

Even when I go through the darkest valley, 
I fear no danger,
for You are with me
Psalm 23:4 (HCSB)

We waited for the bulbs to bloom

and looked forward to the spring.  

I wondered if maybe Easter we would see them appear.

It would have been a beautiful picture if that was how it happened.

But that was me again… 

trying to picture God moving and working in ways I planned.

In ways I directed or controlled.

In case you don’t know it yet, God doesn’t do that.  

He doesn't take direction from us.

And our tulips did not bloom at Easter. 

-and-

There were no tulips in Spring.

...

They bloomed before Spring.

They bloomed while it was still Winter. 

Before my expected time.

And at a time in our life where their appearance meant more than it ever would have meant had God waited until my idea of perfect timing.

This God of ours?

He moves in mysterious ways.  

In dark places where hope is not easily seen or achieved.

He is making things beautiful …

in His timing and for His purpose.

His dreams for us are so much better than ours could ever be!

So whatever it is that you are facing?  Whatever you are dealing with?

You will never put that situation in more trustworthy hands.

Leave everything to Him.

Even when the tulips don’t bloom…

Even when you bury your dreams and you do not see good in the situation.

When you see no reason for HOPE at all…

You can trust Him.

He is good.

And He loves you so very much!!

He loves you more.

For us? 

Those tulips were a reminder.

A reminder that even in our hopeless days... there is always still hope.

Because the God of Hope is moving in the stillness where we can’t see.

But sometimes He gives us a glimpse of what is waiting for us one day...

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The Rain Keeps Falling by Andrew Peterson

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Psalm 130:5-6
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.