Hello and welcome to Beauty, the no-frills, no-nonsense podcast about all things beauty. True beauty. God’s beauty. I am your host, Deanna, and today we are talking about waiting. I know. Not fun - but necessary, so let’s dive in. 

I often talk to women who are frustrated with their bible study and when I start to ask questions, it almost always comes down to the fact they were expecting something more out of their time with God. If you are looking to social media for guidance, you might see women sitting down with their notebooks and highlighters, in their peaceful surroundings. That might lead you to believe they have everything they need and are fully prepared for special revelation because their time with the Lord looks so perfect and surely, those are the times in which God speaks, right? We are then disappointed when our time doesn’t look quite like that and soon we spiral into a decline that leads us to ditch our time with God. I know it looks easy on TikTok, but bible study is a little more involved than what you see on a sixty-second reel.

Sometimes you will have a-ha moments as you read. Moments where something speaks to you or stirs your spirit and sends you into some study. For instance, when reading John 11, I kept going back to verse nine where Jesus heard Lazarus was sick. He told his disciples they were going back to Judea and his disciples questioned his decision because they knew the Jewish leaders wanted to kill Jesus. Of all the sermons I have heard and books I have read that use this story, I always heard about how Jesus waited for two days before going to care for his friends and how that act was to glorify God, and that it was an act of love. Verse three tells us the message to Jesus is, “the one you love is sick.” Not our brother is sick. Not the one we love is sick. But Jesus, the one you love is sick. If he had gone right away and healed Lazarus, he would have done the same thing he had previously done to others with his healing. But by waiting, he shows extravagant love. 

I can’t remember hearing anything about verses nine and ten, which is where Jesus responds to his disciple’s questioning. He says,

“Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world’s light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles for he has no light.” 

These are important verses. Have you ever wondered why Jesus says these words at this moment in the story? Me neither…until recently. Let me share the evolution of my thoughts with you.

Our lives are a series of days divided into ages and stages, and filled with opportunities. I was drawn to the contrast of light and dark because it is a reminder of the choices we must make. I spent some time writing about this in my notebook and I glanced at my commentary, but I didn’t have a lot of time, so I didn’t get too deep into my thoughts when I first read this passage of scripture. Later in the week, I heard a podcast where the speaker mentioned something about the contrast between light and dark. Interesting. That kept me thinking about what I read, and then, at the end of the week, I was in conversation with others in a class I am taking when the same analogy came up. Even more interesting. It allowed me to think about the scripture once again. When we walk in the light, we walk with God and with the intent to shine. In the darkness, we stumble because we are without God, without light, and we are easily led astray. By using the contrast of light and dark, Jesus was telling his disciples this was his time to go. To shine his light. To glorify God with the miracle he was about to perform on the person he loved so deeply - and it was going to make a big impact.

As you can probably guess, the concept of shining light is a core value in the business and ministry of Shining.Our.Light and the scripture I read early in the week, carried on throughout the week. Now remember, this wasn’t the first time I read that passage of scripture. Yet, when I read this familiar story I was reminded how we all have choices to make with the hours God has given us. It was the first time I heard that particular message - and I believe there was purpose in it. I don’t ever need a reason to sit and pray, but this story and the podcast and the class discussion I engaged in all worked together to bring me to the foot of the cross, to ask God for more. I believe God is calling me in a little different direction, one I didn’t expect, and I want to spend time with him about his call for my life and ministry. I believe he is helping me see the next step on my journey, for me to go where I am called, to shine my light and glorify God by building relationships and helping others use their voice for good.

I’ve been reading the bible for twenty-plus years and if I was discouraged because I didn’t fully understand every word of this portion of scripture (or any scripture), I wouldn’t have kept reading. There is a lot involved in this story - so much that one sermon wouldn’t do it justice. Just the same, one reading won’t do it justice. And unless we are reading and studying every minute of our day, we can’t comprehend the fullness of this story (or of any scripture). That’s why we have to wait. We have to continue reading and studying so that God will open our hearts and minds to all the intricacies of his love and instruction contained in the words of scripture, meant to propel us forward and grow our faith. 

I get up and read every morning and more often than not, something catches my eye. I underline it, and maybe write it out in my notebook, but that’s it… It could be days or months or years before God fully reveals to me something about that passage of scripture. My tip to you this week is to be patient and pay attention. If God doesn’t speak in the moments you are spending with him, he may speak in the ordinary moments of your life. Pay attention to what you are reading, the sermons you hear, the podcasts you listen to, and the conversations you have. Sometimes these things will relate to what you are reading and then you can start to connect the dots. Again, it could be days, weeks, months, or years before you reach that next dot. It requires waiting and attentiveness. Don’t walk away from your bible study unfulfilled. Instead, walk away with expectancy and see how God uses it to lead you.

For week four of Bible in Two, you’ll start with the story I just shared in John. Look for the things in that story - and in all of the scripture you will read this week - that catch your eye. And then, wait for the Lord to show you what he wants to show you, when he wants to show it to you. We all learn different things at different times. I believe there is purpose in that, too, because we all have a different sphere of influence and need different knowledge and experience to reach the world for Christ. Use what he gives you and don’t be sad or mad he didn’t give you what he gave someone else. Keep reading. Keep studying. Keep growing. And keep shining your light. 

Thanks for listening today. If you liked this little message, please share it with your friends and consider subscribing to this space. There will be one more free version of my Bible In Two Tips, and then these posts will only be available for my paid subscribers. But don’t you worry. If you like the encouragement this brings, I will still have some bite-sized nuggets of truth for you on my social media and, of course, I will continue to provide other amazing content right here on the blog and podcast. Until next time, be beautiful and keep looking for beauty.

Deanna

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