A Little While

John 16:16 In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.


The disciples wondered what Jesus meant by "a little while." First they won’t see him and then they will see him. During the first time of waiting, out of sight, the LORD was marvelously at work. He was defeating the principalities and powers of darkness that had kept humanity bound. He was rescuing the world though it did not appear so, but the LORD was at work. This "little while’ also accomplished something in the lives of the disciples themselves. Their task was to lay hold of the promise and live in faith that they would see him again.


You too will experience "little whiles" in your life, times when it seems the LORD is absent. What is needed at times like these?


First you need knowledge. The banner to raise up over a time of waiting is simply this: "The Lord is at work." No other promise, no other reality can so buoy up your heart with confidence as the knowledge that he is at work. You are not going through a time with no meaning. He is accomplishing something for you.


Secondly, you need to trust, to hang on by faith to his promises that you will see him again. Jesus promised, "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him" (Jn 14:21). You will grieve but your grief will turn to joy.

So this is what was waiting for me on my email this morning...and it couldn't have come at a better time either. It was written by a retired pastor in our congregation that shares his faith in 1-minute devotionals by email. Wednesday, I thought we were going to the hospital to have a baby. I had contractions for 9 hours that day. Jamie came home early and did the last minute preparations while I endured the contraction action. We went for walks that intensified the contractions and brought them closer together, and just felt the excitement of it all. In the back of my mind, I was trying to convince myself to not get too excited...it could still subside, but that thought seemed to get crushed with each contracting pain I felt. Finally, I decided to try and get some sleep if it was the real thing because the hard part would soon be approaching. But, the contraction action did in fact subside despite a full moon that night. How disappointing to wake up to nothing I had felt for most of the day before. I was upset, disappointed and a little embarrassed, because now we had to tell the few people that knew we were "in labor" that it didn't progress. Some would call it false labor, but I don't like that term at all because it implies that all that work did not have purpose. I am sure all this work my body was doing has gotten us that much closer to the big day, because besides feeling all the things mentioned above, I was just plain worn out too, and so was Callie. We barely moved yesterday from all the work, (although I did find the energy to throw myself a little pity party.) Will it ever happen, God? Then, I opened my email and the Lord spoke. Just because I can't see Him working all the time, doesn't mean He isn't working still. Just because those contractions didn't produce a daughter to be held in my arms that very moment doesn't mean God isn't still working to make it happen. I now have some idea of what the disciples must have been feeling when God told them that they would see Him again in "a little while." How long is a little while? Only God knows. So, I know we will meet Callie in "a little while," but in the meantime, I am going to pass my time by noticing and appreciating all of God's creations in His wonderful world, big and small. Read "Ants" by my super awesome sister-in-law Tami at http://kingsjourneys.blogspot.com It was the second and equally important thing I read this morning, and has really made my day a day for the Lord. May your faith be strengthened so that you hold onto the promise of the Lord's known and unknown works in your life.