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Nov 3,  2021

 

In the world of education there is a concept called wait time that we consider good practice and promote among teachers. The basic idea of the concept is that after asking a question we should give wait time before calling on someone to answer. This gives all students time to think and process, and in cases where no one initially raises a hand, prevents the teacher from providing answers to quickly before learning has had a chance to take root.

 

Here on the drove, we are in wait time! While I’ve gotten better over the years at executing wait time as a teacher, I find that I still struggle as a student when it comes to wanting to cut wait time short and be given an answer. Can you relate? Now, mind you, I know all of those scriptures that say things like, “They that wait upon the Lord renewing their strength” (Isaiah 40:31), and I’m fully aware of the purpose of wait time which allows us to genuinely learn, but that doesn’t always make the process feel better! And, for a doer, it’s often hard to embrace the season and not feel unproductive, and so I grapple with the line between be still and still be. 

 

With that in mind, I’ve asked myself a lot lately what preparation should look like in the time of wait. For us that currently looks like preparing our space for that which is to come. Finishing up the barn so that we can bring Jack home. Finding the newest additions, likely goats, to keep Jack company atop the hill since the bottom pasture has become cow land and getting our newly acquired horse trailer ready for transport. Which reminds me that I haven’t shared God’s latest affirmation in the form of a blessing! 

 

Yes, God has provided us with a two-horse trailer that He brought our way via a connection with a neighbor who reached out to another neighbor to ask if he would be willing to sell us the trailer. Long story short, he gave us the trailer! We expected that with that gift would likely come much repair, but in typical God fashion He gave us a free trailer that only needs minor things tended to and also came with two saddles. Furthermore, with the gifts and talents He has bestowed upon Lee and Bob, we are quickly approaching ready to roll status. As they say in old school church, “God is good all the time, and all the time God is good!”

 

There are a million projects that need doing and a million provisions that need meeting, but our God is faithful and “where God guides, God provides” (M. Todd Transformation Church), and all the while He makes ready His children girding us up for the battles and journeys ahead. The lesson He is working within my spirit these past few weeks comes from Proverbs chapter 14, “The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception (verse 8), “The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps” (verse 15), and “The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge” (verse 18). I would love to say the education has taken firm root, but I am in wait time here as well. What I do know is that I desire to be crowned with knowledge and most definitely do not want to be a fool, and so I press in and seek understanding in deeper waters that only Holy Spirit can reveal. I do believe, however; that at least in part, I hear God whispering that prudence is necessary for the journey. I recognize that He calls me, and all of us really, to be self-reflective, thoughtful regarding our decisions (including when to take steps and when to stand still), and to seek discernment in who and what we believe. And in this exact moment, as I type, I hear Him whisper “and such is the purpose of wait time, for what better circumstances exist to create the space to turn inward and reflect than within the time of wait?”

 

Until next time…much love to you and yours! Praying that God gives you wait time so that you too will be still enough to hear His sweet whispers.

 

~ Jen