WAITING IS SOMETHING WE ALL STRUGGLE WITH, YET IT IS OFTEN IN THE WAITING THAT GOD DOES HIS DEEPEST WORK. REVD MARK’S DEVOTIONAL INVITES US TO LOOK AT DELAY NOT AS WASTED TIME, BUT AS A SACRED SPACE WHERE GOD SHAPES US, STRENGTHENS OUR FAITH, AND REMINDS US THAT HIS TIMING IS ALWAYS PERFECT.
Morning all… Have you noticed how frustrating waiting can be? Whether it’s a red light that never seems to change, a delivery that’s late, or sitting in a doctor’s waiting room, patience isn’t something that comes naturally. We want answers now, solutions now, change now. But God often works on a very different timetable. In 2 Peter 3:9 we read: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you…” From our perspective, God can feel late, but in reality, His timing is always perfect. Think of Abraham, waiting decades for the promise of a son. Or Joseph, betrayed by his brothers and left in prison for years before God lifted him to a place of influence. To them, the waiting must have felt endless but looking back we can see how every delay was part of a greater plan. Waiting is never wasted with God. Sometimes He uses it to strengthen our faith – teaching us to trust Him when we cannot see the outcome. Sometimes He uses it to prepare us, shaping our character so that when the answer comes, we are ready to receive it. And sometimes He uses it to align circumstances we cannot yet understand, weaving together details that will one day reveal His wisdom. The truth is, waiting stretches us, but it also draws us closer to the heart of God. It reminds us that He is in control, and we are not. And in that surrender, we discover peace that doesn’t come from getting what we want, but from knowing Who we’re waiting on.
PRAYING YOU HAVE A BLESSED WEEKEND – TOMORROW WE HAVE A WEDDING.
Morning all… Sometimes life doesn’t go to plan. We prepare, we give our best, we pour ourselves into the work – and then the outcome isn’t what we hoped for. That can feel discouraging, but here’s the encouragement to reflect on this weekend: our effort has not been wasted. God saw every moment, every act of commitment, every step taken together. 1 Corinthians 15:58 reminds us: “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.” What a promise that is. Our labour is not in vain. Even when the result feels delayed or different than we expected, God counts it. He uses it. He weaves it into His purposes in ways we may not yet see. Think of a builder laying stones for a wall. Each brick seems small on its own, but together they create something strong, lasting, and beautiful. That’s what our work is like. Every conversation, every bit of preparation, every ounce of care is another stone in the wall God is building through us. So, let’s lift our heads. This was not the end – it was simply a pause. The harvest will come, the fruit will show, because God is faithful. And when the call comes again, we’ll be ready. Together, we’ve got this – because God’s got us.
REVD MARK INVITES US IN THIS DEVOTIONAL TO SEE THE HAND OF GOD AT WORK IN THE ORDINARY MOMENTS OF LIFE. WITH THE SIMPLE PICTURE OF SCAFFOLDING, HE HELPS US RECOGNISE THAT EVEN WHEN THINGS FEEL MESSY OR UNSETTELD, GOD IS LOVINGLY SHAPING AND STRENGTHENING US. AS YOU READ, MAY YOU BE ENCOURAGED TO TRUST THE MASTER BUILDER, WHO NEVER LEAVES HIS WORK UNFINISHED.
Morning all… Walking through town the other day, I saw some workmen putting up scaffolding around a building. At first glance, it looked messy, inconvenient, and even a little unsafe, with metal poles crisscrossing, walkways blocking entrances, and dust covering the pavement. I actually thought the building was about to fall down. But then I realised the scaffolding wasn’t there to ruin the view, it was there to protect, to stabilise, and to create the conditions needed for repair and renewal. It struck me that God often does something similar in our lives. Philippians 1:6 reminds us: “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Sometimes, the “scaffolding” of life – the ones that feel untidy, uncomfortable, or awkward, are actually God’s way of doing His deepest work in us. Think about it: scaffolding is temporary, but it’s essential for the process. Without it, the building couldn’t be safely restored. In the same way, God sometimes surrounds us with structures, disciplines, or even limitations that feel restrictive. We might feel like life is on hold, or that things don’t look as polished as we’d like. But all the while, He’s reinforcing our foundations, repairing hidden cracks, and preparing us for what comes next. It may not look pretty while it’s happening, and others might not understand the mess. But God isn’t finished with you yet. So today, if you feel like your life is “under scaffolding,” take heart. You’re a work in progress, but you’re in the hands of the Master Builder. And when He takes the scaffolding down, what He reveals will be something strong, secure, and beautiful, a life rebuilt by His grace.