93 - Phil – When God Strips You Bare: Discovering the Beauty of Less
“ This brother had been involved in the biker lifestyle. He had struggled with various addictions, which the Lord had given him freedom from. Now some adverse living and job circumstances had pulled the ground from under his feet and left him wondering if he was going to need to move out of state and go through a major life upheaval. He was being pressured from friends and family, and I made him a message reminding him how important it is to desire the Lord’s will and to wait for His guidance.”
Waiting on God: Finding Peace in the Pause
Are you facing a crossroads, unsure of which path to take, like Phil in today’s recording? Do the voices of well-meaning friends and family clamor for your attention, each offering their own advice? In moments of uncertainty, it's tempting to seek direction from “flesh and blood”, but true guidance comes from within, from the quiet whisper of God.
"Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him" (Isaiah 64:4). This verse reminds us that God moves in the lives of those who patiently seek Him. He rarely, if ever, offers a quick fix or a detailed roadmap. Instead, He invites us to wait, to trust, and to listen for His gentle guidance.
Waiting on God is very difficult and requires faith. It means surrendering our own plans and timelines, acknowledging that His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9) and standing directly against your own flesh. It's in the waiting that we learn to discern His voice from the noise of the world. He speaks through His Word, through circumstances, and through the quiet working in our hearts (Phi 2:13).
"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD" (Psalm 27:13-14). David, a man after God's own heart, understood the neccesity of waiting. He faced countless trials and uncertainties, yet he remained confident in God's goodness. His words encourage us to be strong, to take heart, and to persevere in our waiting.
Sometimes, waiting on God means being stripped bare of our comforts and possessions. It may feel like a wilderness experience, a time of testing and refinement. But it's in these moments of vulnerability that we discover the true source of our strength and freedom. As A.W. Tozer wisely said, "Blessed is the man who possesses nothing." Detachment from material things allows us to fully embrace God's provision and experience the richness of His spiritual presence.
So, if you find yourself in a season of waiting, take heart. Embrace the stillness, tune your heart to God's whisper, and trust that He is working all things together for your good (Romans 8:28). In the pause, you will find strength, clarity, and the unwavering assurance of His love.
