I suppose this morning you think I am going to write on the one who will judge us but that is not the case. I am actually going to write about a real judge.
During my tenure as a law enforcement agent, I had occasion to know several of our local judges. One of those I did not know personally, but I knew of him because he was a member of our church. I had heard only good things about him and those in law enforcement appreciate good judges on the bench as it reinforces adherance of the law and validates law enforcement.
This particular individual was an elected judge and while he had been on the bench for a while, an election was coming up. It was expected that one particular party would sweep the elections. True to form, that happened and our judge was caught up in the wave. He lost the election.
I wondered what he would do next, where would he go, would he stay in Houston, after all-if he decided to run again, there would not be another election for another four years. I felt for him. I was saddened that he lost his seat and we lost a good judge.
I recall thinking of how he must have felt. After all, when we have it all going for us and we hit a valley, how do we work our way through? Do we take matter into our own hands, do we try to fix it, or do we just wait. Of course the most difficult of those is the last. Nobody likes to wait. Least of all wait for a while. It would be four years!
Often when I heard of a ludicrous decision that had been made from the bench I thought of this judge and how he must be feeling. I thought of the decision he might have made in the same case. I thought of whether he was trusting God in the situation that looked so bleak. I did not dwell on the matter but did think of him often.
Waiting....the worst of all evils. What do you do during that time? Well, you wait! One of the partners to waiting is praying. The other is seeking God's face. How do you do that? You spend time in His Word. This could not have been easy for this judge. In fact had it been me, I would have been in tears daily. However, when you pray and seek God during your waiting period, He will give you direction. Then you slowly get up and allow Him to guide you one day at a time.
In four years this judge ran for office again. He ran to get his position back. This time the public would not be fooled and he won his seat. Can you imagine the elation, the excitement, the satisfaction of winning.
There was no more black cloud, there was no more waiting period, there was only success and victory.
Sometimes we have to go through valleys. In those times when we may feel most defeated, lost, or alone, God shows himself to us. He answers that yes/no/why- prayer with one word....wait. Please do not think that I am being flippant on this subject of wait. Believe me, our family is in this holding pattern as we speak.
Your waiting period may be one week, one year, or maybe even four. To you I say "do not be discouraged." While it may not be easy, rejoice in the Lord, pray and seek the face of the one true judge.
I waited patiently fo rthe Lord; He turned to me and heard me cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. Psalms 40:1-3
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