Wait on the Lord

As I read the devotion this morning I was reminded of a story I heard during our recent Family on Mission trip in Lynch, Kentucky. Harry Johnson, the assistant director of Meridzo Ministries, was recounting how he came to Meridzo to serve after his retirement. He had contacted Lonnie Riley, the director, about the possibility of doing work at Meridzo. The talk was positive and encouraging and he returned home anticipating feedback from Lonnie. Several months passed and Harry heard nothing so he figured Lonnie was not interested in his help. Strange thing is that Harry could not shake the sense that God wanted him and his wife in Lynch to serve alongside Lonnie and his wife. One day Harry and his wife drove to Lynch and told Lonnie they were there to serve – that God just wouldn’t let them not come. Harry asked Lonnie why he hadn’t called. Lonnie told him that he knew from the beginning that God wanted Harry to serve in Lynch, but that he wanted to make sure that Harry came to serve because God moved him; he did not want Harry to come because Lonnie played on the emotions of Harry and got him to come. Lonnie was willing to wait on the Lord’s timing and because of this Harry and his wife know they are in Lynch because God told them to get up and move, not because they were drawn to a man and his vision for service.

How easy it would have been for Lonnie to tell Harry at the beginning that he knew God wanted him there. How much better it was to wait for God to confirm beyond a shadow of a doubt to Harry and his wife that He, God, wanted them to serve Him in Lynch, Kentucky. It is a powerful thing to wait on the Lord.
Cindy
Children's Minister