Day 2 – Intimacy In The Waiting

“You are my flock, the sheep of my pasture. You are my people, and I am your God. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!” (Ezekiel 34:31, NLT)

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.” (John 10:10-11, NLT)

“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18, ESV)

My toddler recently started doing something that melts me. Whenever he gets hurt, he holds up whichever body part has been affected, looks at me, and says, “Kiss?” He’s an increasingly independent boy who loves to climb, run, and do all the daring things—constantly keeping this mama on her toes. But whenever he’s hurting, he knows exactly where to go: straight to the one who loves him without condition.

This is how we often interact with God. When life is all roses, it’s easy to be independent and forget our need for Him. We can go days, weeks, even months without truly connecting with Him. But the thorns of life, as painful as they may be, keep us pressing into Him. And there’s something about waiting in particular that offers us an invitation to intimacy with the Lord. Day after day, you’re waiting for those finances to come through. Month after month, you’re waiting for that positive pregnancy test. Year after year, you’re waiting for the right person to finally walk into your life . . . and stay. With each day that passes without receiving the thing you’re waiting for, the ache grows. You beg, Please, Lord, see the desires of my heart.

I assure you: God sees, hears, and knows. And you will see that He has a good plan for you— whenever and however it unfolds. But there’s something unique about this time right now. Our pain creates a hunger that is satisfied in the personhood of Jesus. What does that mean? It means He meets our every need . . . but until we are aware of our needs, we can’t fully appreciate the ways He meets them. It might not seem like it in the middle of the pain, but on the other side, you’re likely to look back and see it as a season of precious closeness with the Lord—depending on how you approach it.

If your pain is keeping you pressing into God, ask Him to show you how He is using it to build your relationship so He can encourage you while you wait. If you feel hardened to God in your pain, ask Him to soften your heart and gently reveal any lies you may believe about His character so He can reveal His tender love and care for you.

Psalm 34:18 says, “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (ESV). When you feel overwhelmed with heartache and pain, find comfort in the truth that God draws near to you in it. Ask Him to show you all the ways He is present and active in your life right now.