Waiting and Trusting Go Hand in Hand

Two dear friends, wonderful women of God, went to be with Jesus in recent days.  Christine Alexander Terrasson in Sweden and Cindy Patrick in Trinidad, Colorado.  We worked with Christine in Amsterdam, and Cindy in Stonewall, Colorado.  Both had endured years of suffering.  They are now at peace and fully healed!  I take comfort in that.  I keep thinking what a wonderful reunion we will have some day with all our dear ones who have gone before us into glory.

I've always said that people are our greatest gift - and these two women certainly exemplify that.  I was cooking something and pulled out my hand written cookbook.  I have lots of recipes from family and friends.  Christine helped me copy them into one book.  Her printing/writing was so much better than mine.  It brought back so many memories of how she loved and served us - and prayed for us!  She was a great intercessor.

I have beautiful cross-stitch pieces hanging in my office - including a large one for my 50th birthday - all done by Cindy.  She was amazingly talented - in so many areas.  Her cross stitch pieces are just one example.  I treasure her works of art.  Cindy loved to read - she was an avid reader.  And she loved to have discussions with Floyd about things she was reading.  Cindy and her dear husband Tom were such a blessing to our community.

I don't know why Christine and Cindy had to suffer so long before Jesus taking them home.  I still don't understand that about Floyd either.  But I know I trust God's wisdom and timing.  A quote I saw - "Patience means awaiting God's time without doubting God's love."  It's a simple statement - but very profound!  Waiting and trusting go hand in hand.

There are many things we can wonder about, even worry about - but we have to anchor our hearts and minds in trust.  God has reasons that we don't see or understand.  Time and time again I've had to rest and just trust.....speaking it out to the Lord.  He brings beauty out of ashes, joy out of sorrow, peace out of adversity.  He is continually at work to bring good things out of every hard thing we face.  Sarah Young says "we will find golden pockets of peace hidden in the hardness of our problems."  I can testify to the truth of that!!

"My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him."  Psalm 62:5

"I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation."  Psalm 13:5

"My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me."  Psalm 63:8

"Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass."  Psalm 37:5

"He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord."  Psalm 112:7

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.  Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul."  Psalm 143:8

"God, you're my refuge.  I trust in you and I'm safe."  Psalm 91:2  The Message

"It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.  It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes."  Psalm 118:8,9

"He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage."  Proverbs 11:28

I'm glad I don't have to make the decisions that God makes.  I'd probably make a mess of things.  But I know I can trust the Lord's infinite wisdom.  Someday in our never-ending eternity, I'd like to ask God to share that wisdom on certain things.  Eternity is a long time!  Maybe He'll have classes to teach us more of His ways.