Because …

Micah 7: 7

But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.  NIV

I Watch.

I Hope.

I Wait.

I Trust.

This is what my life here has become.  A year ago, I would have viewed all of these verbs as sideline activities.  “People who just watch, hope, wait and trust are not ACCOMPLISHING anything,” I would have thought.

But, accomplishing is not the position I’m called to play at the moment.

I’m not on offense, nor am I on defense.  Instead, I am part of a Special Team — watching, hoping, waiting and trusting in God for what comes next.

I’m not engaged in these activities from a position of desperation … I’m quite calm about it, actually.

The Message states just exactly how I feel, “But me, I’m not giving up.   I’m sticking around to see what God will do.  I’m waiting for God to make things right.  I’m counting on God to listen to me.” MSG

I believe that this is the peace that passes all understanding.  When I step outside my circumstances and view them critically from the world’s position, they might not look so good.  But, when I stay here, in the moment, watching, hoping, waiting and trusting, I feel like the rock that is at the center of the ripples … calm, steady and firmly grounded.

Many years ago, I was a Girl Scout leader.  Two friends and I had grown up in scouts.  We’d all gone off to college and gone our separate ways, but, after a few years, we found ourselves back in our hometown together.  One friend suggested that we should lead a troop, and the other two of us agreed.  I called our old elementary school, and found that there was a troop of Juniors (4th, 5th and 6th graders) that needed a leader … the school year was about to start and none of the mothers had stepped up.  So, we did.  We were issued six little girls, and by the end of three year’s time, we had more than 20.

On one of our first camping trips, I learned a very powerful lesson about children.  The concept of “Because,” is very important to them.

I had been assigned to help them build a fire.  Just as my leaders had done, I had each girl tie her hair back from her face before we began.  The next step was to get a big bucket of water.  I asked one of the girls to go and fill it, while I was showing others how to arrange rocks around the fire pit.  After a few minutes, I realized I wasn’t hearing any water going into the metal bucket.  I turned around, and there was the girl, holding the bucket, but making no progress.  I asked again.  She moved toward the spigot, but, didn’t quite make it out of the fire pit.

Finally, I turned to her and said, as calmly as I could muster, “Kristin, go and fill that bucket with water, because I’m about to start a fire, and if your hair catches on fire, I want to have a bucket of water handy so that I can dump it over your head.”  Boom.  The kid was off like a jackrabbit.  In moments, I had a full bucket of water.

Because …

I began this project with a strong sense that I had to stop worrying.  I knew it was a waste of time.  I’ve learned that God warned against it over and over.  I’ve learned it is a sin, that it is disobedient to worry, and that it shows a lack of trust in God.

Within the first couple of days of my project, I found myself in Philippians 4, but, it was just last week that I saw it for the first time, the “because.”

Philippians 4: 6-7 says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” NLT

Did you see it?

Don’t worry, instead pray … tell God what you need and thank him for all He has done, BECAUSE then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand … His peace will guard your heart and your mind.

BECAUSE

It was there all along … but it took me nearly a year to find it.  Both the clue that’s in the verse, and the true peace.

But, now that I finally get it, I can sit here — having turned my worries over to God, with thanksgiving — enjoying the view of the moment, while I watch, hope, wait and most importantly trust in God.

That’s what I’ll think about today.