Lessons in the Waiting
By Greg and Michelle Cryer
More then 3 months ago, I had the privilege of announcing to you that God had answered our prayers in bringing us our new teaching pastor! Shortly after that announcement, Russell Johnson stepped on the stage to teach for the first time. That moment represented a clear answer to our time seeking Him to find the pastor He was calling to Faith Bible Church. We are so thankful!
In the first devotion, we focused on waiting on the Lord. That devotional closed with this statement: “when He brings our next pastor, we will give Him the glory both for the person but also for what He accomplished in us through the waiting.”
Michelle and I started this devotional thinking about all the things we wanted to share to give God the glory for all He has done. There are so many stories. So many cool things to look back on, and we can see God’s hand. As we attempted to tell these stories, we quickly realized we would be writing a book instead of a devotional! We have decided to attempt to provide a glimpse into God’s active work in the last 18 months.
In the first devotion, we focused on waiting on the Lord. That devotional closed with this statement: “when He brings our next pastor, we will give Him the glory both for the person but also for what He accomplished in us through the waiting.”
Michelle and I started this devotional thinking about all the things we wanted to share to give God the glory for all He has done. There are so many stories. So many cool things to look back on, and we can see God’s hand. As we attempted to tell these stories, we quickly realized we would be writing a book instead of a devotional! We have decided to attempt to provide a glimpse into God’s active work in the last 18 months.
The Power and Presence of The Spirit
During this season, God has done so much in us, in our team, and with our church. We have celebrated all that God has brought through our teaching team and through our continued ministry in the community. We have celebrated changed lives. God reminded us that Faith Bible Church is not about any one person but about the bride of Christ loving each other and making an impact in our world through that love.
During this period of transition and searching, we labored to find the man and family God was calling to Faith Bible Church. As we did this, God demonstrated again and again the power and presence of His Spirit.
I can remember so clearly sitting around a table with our elder team working on the job description for our teaching pastor. We all shared the qualities we would like to see in the role. After many rounds of discussion, it was complete. The job description was a picture of all the things we wanted for the people of Faith Bible Church. It attested that our elder team loves our church body and wants the absolute best for all of us!
We then started the search. As we processed the job description and interacted with candidates, we wrestled with the reality that no single man could embody all of the aspects of the job description we had written. We quickly realized that this decision would be even more difficult than we first imagined. How would we assess so many different qualities? How would we know what to prioritize? How would we know what God wants? HOW?
Looking back, I can’t help but think how great it would have been to have the person of Jesus sitting at the table with us. He could help us refine the job description. It would be perfect. He could help us prioritize the most important things. He could help us identify that next pastor that He wanted. He would make it clear!
John 16:7 says this “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” Jesus is clearly saying to the disciples here that it is better to have the Helper (the Holy Spirit) than to have Jesus Himself in the midst of the disciples.
This in many ways still blows my mind. However, it is truth. Having the Holy Spirit with us is better. And, the Holy Spirit WAS at the table with us. The Holy Spirit WAS there as we wrestled with candidate decisions, priorities, and job descriptions. The Holy Spirit IS in every one of us who believe leading and guiding us like only He can.
Finding the next Teaching Pastor was an impossible task for us as humans. BUT, it was not impossible for the Spirit! The Spirit was there. We saw Him move us one step at a time … candidate by candidate … prayer by prayer … person by person … to the candidate that God had for Faith Bible Church. The Spirit brought us together in unity as it became clear that Russell was the candidate God wanted to bring to Faith Bible Church.
The work of the Spirit in this process cannot be overstated. He showed us what He wanted!
Be encouraged. If you have believed, the Spirit is inside you. You have 24-7 access to the Helper, the Spirit of God. You enter no room alone. It is not on you to solve your problems. He is with you – ALWAYS!
During this period of transition and searching, we labored to find the man and family God was calling to Faith Bible Church. As we did this, God demonstrated again and again the power and presence of His Spirit.
I can remember so clearly sitting around a table with our elder team working on the job description for our teaching pastor. We all shared the qualities we would like to see in the role. After many rounds of discussion, it was complete. The job description was a picture of all the things we wanted for the people of Faith Bible Church. It attested that our elder team loves our church body and wants the absolute best for all of us!
We then started the search. As we processed the job description and interacted with candidates, we wrestled with the reality that no single man could embody all of the aspects of the job description we had written. We quickly realized that this decision would be even more difficult than we first imagined. How would we assess so many different qualities? How would we know what to prioritize? How would we know what God wants? HOW?
Looking back, I can’t help but think how great it would have been to have the person of Jesus sitting at the table with us. He could help us refine the job description. It would be perfect. He could help us prioritize the most important things. He could help us identify that next pastor that He wanted. He would make it clear!
John 16:7 says this “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” Jesus is clearly saying to the disciples here that it is better to have the Helper (the Holy Spirit) than to have Jesus Himself in the midst of the disciples.
This in many ways still blows my mind. However, it is truth. Having the Holy Spirit with us is better. And, the Holy Spirit WAS at the table with us. The Holy Spirit WAS there as we wrestled with candidate decisions, priorities, and job descriptions. The Holy Spirit IS in every one of us who believe leading and guiding us like only He can.
Finding the next Teaching Pastor was an impossible task for us as humans. BUT, it was not impossible for the Spirit! The Spirit was there. We saw Him move us one step at a time … candidate by candidate … prayer by prayer … person by person … to the candidate that God had for Faith Bible Church. The Spirit brought us together in unity as it became clear that Russell was the candidate God wanted to bring to Faith Bible Church.
The work of the Spirit in this process cannot be overstated. He showed us what He wanted!
Be encouraged. If you have believed, the Spirit is inside you. You have 24-7 access to the Helper, the Spirit of God. You enter no room alone. It is not on you to solve your problems. He is with you – ALWAYS!
What Did God do in the Waiting?
David waited. We saw this in Psalm 27, and we see it again in Psalm 40. The context is not fully known, but we see that David has been brought out of a serious affliction: “He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud; And He set my feet on a rock, making my footsteps firm.” Psalm 40:2.
What was God’s response to David’s waiting?
This waiting had intensity behind it. God responded. It says that “He reached down to me and heard my cry.” This creates a picture for me of a Father reaching out his strong, gentle hand as a rescue. In the waiting, we sometimes fumble. In the waiting, we often struggle. His gentle mercy steps in, in His timing, and rescues us.
God did that for us too. Our circumstances were different than David’s. But, our need for Him was not. He stepped in His perfect timing and answered our prayers.
What was David’s response to God’s rescue?
In verse three it says “He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.” In response to God’s loving hand, David worshipped the Lord. He acknowledged and celebrated what God had done. It has been sweet to celebrate together on Sunday mornings remembering God’s work in the waiting. This worship is a big part of our appropriate response. We are to praise Him with thanksgiving.
But, it is bigger than Sunday morning. There is a way to sing a new song so that “Many will see and fear and will trust in the Lord.” This means there is something broader God wants. David goes on to say “I have proclaimed good news of righteousness in the great congregation; Behold, I will not restrain my lips, Lord, You know. I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your mercy and Your truth from the great congregation.”
We are to sing a new song. We are to tell our stories. We are to speak of His faithfulness. We are to speak of His salvation. This way many will have the opportunity to see and fear and trust the Lord. God has done things in our lives in the waiting. We have already begun to feel Russell’s impact. God is going to do more. Sing praises to Him. Sing them publicly. Join us in telling the story of how God is faithful so that many can experience the richness of belief in Him.
What was God’s response to David’s waiting?
This waiting had intensity behind it. God responded. It says that “He reached down to me and heard my cry.” This creates a picture for me of a Father reaching out his strong, gentle hand as a rescue. In the waiting, we sometimes fumble. In the waiting, we often struggle. His gentle mercy steps in, in His timing, and rescues us.
God did that for us too. Our circumstances were different than David’s. But, our need for Him was not. He stepped in His perfect timing and answered our prayers.
What was David’s response to God’s rescue?
In verse three it says “He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.” In response to God’s loving hand, David worshipped the Lord. He acknowledged and celebrated what God had done. It has been sweet to celebrate together on Sunday mornings remembering God’s work in the waiting. This worship is a big part of our appropriate response. We are to praise Him with thanksgiving.
But, it is bigger than Sunday morning. There is a way to sing a new song so that “Many will see and fear and will trust in the Lord.” This means there is something broader God wants. David goes on to say “I have proclaimed good news of righteousness in the great congregation; Behold, I will not restrain my lips, Lord, You know. I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your mercy and Your truth from the great congregation.”
We are to sing a new song. We are to tell our stories. We are to speak of His faithfulness. We are to speak of His salvation. This way many will have the opportunity to see and fear and trust the Lord. God has done things in our lives in the waiting. We have already begun to feel Russell’s impact. God is going to do more. Sing praises to Him. Sing them publicly. Join us in telling the story of how God is faithful so that many can experience the richness of belief in Him.
As We Move Forward
Derek Kinder summarizes Psalm 40 in this way: “The theme of waiting…now [has] its triumphant outcome…But trouble returns, and waiting is again David’s lot…[His closing prayer of distress] has a note of urgency, yet at the same time one of underlying joy, as David remembers a wider circle and a bigger cause than his most pressing needs.”
We all know this will not be the last time God asks us to wait. In fact, many of you are still waiting and praying. This is a posture that we as believers experience often.
Do we wait remembering what God has done in our past seasons of waiting? Or, do we forget?
As God responds to each season of waiting, we have an opportunity for our faith to be strengthened. We have an opportunity to step into that waiting looking beyond our most pressing needs and overcoming discouragement with an expectant joy that He will indeed move. May this experience of us waiting together for Russell be an experience we remember as we move forward!
We wait. God responds in His timing. We thank Him. We sing praises to Him. We sing them loud enough for others to hear. We remember what He did. The cycle repeats as we wait again. But each time, our faith grows, and we can wait with more confidence, knowing that He will reach out His loving hand again. The Spirit remains powerful and present in our midst. Believing these truths in our lives changes EVERYTHING!
We are excited about the things God has planned in this next season as we all do life together. There will be challenges and more waiting. He has given us an incredible leadership team in Russell, Chad, and Jamey. God has blessed us with an incredible pastoral and staff team. He has plans for Faith Bible Church. We are excited to continue to be on the journey with you as we allow God to work and give Him glory for all that He does along the way!
We all know this will not be the last time God asks us to wait. In fact, many of you are still waiting and praying. This is a posture that we as believers experience often.
Do we wait remembering what God has done in our past seasons of waiting? Or, do we forget?
As God responds to each season of waiting, we have an opportunity for our faith to be strengthened. We have an opportunity to step into that waiting looking beyond our most pressing needs and overcoming discouragement with an expectant joy that He will indeed move. May this experience of us waiting together for Russell be an experience we remember as we move forward!
We wait. God responds in His timing. We thank Him. We sing praises to Him. We sing them loud enough for others to hear. We remember what He did. The cycle repeats as we wait again. But each time, our faith grows, and we can wait with more confidence, knowing that He will reach out His loving hand again. The Spirit remains powerful and present in our midst. Believing these truths in our lives changes EVERYTHING!
We are excited about the things God has planned in this next season as we all do life together. There will be challenges and more waiting. He has given us an incredible leadership team in Russell, Chad, and Jamey. God has blessed us with an incredible pastoral and staff team. He has plans for Faith Bible Church. We are excited to continue to be on the journey with you as we allow God to work and give Him glory for all that He does along the way!
Posted in Spiritual Growth