Prayer Gifts While You Wait giveaway with Lee Merrill

Today I’m thrilled to introduce my friend, Lee and she is guest posting on praying while you are waiting.  {Who can’t use a little encouragement on that?} Be sure to leave a comment on how God’s grace and timing helped you while waiting for a chance to win one of 3 giveaway books.

Now meet my friend Lee.

Lee Merrill Head Shot 1

A Louisiana magnolia transplanted in the Arizona desert, Lee Merrill is a full-time encourager. Whether she’s teaching students with special needs at her day job or penning uplifting posts on her Prayer Gifts blog at night, Lee is all about helping people thrive and realize their identity in Christ. Lee’s favorite way to encourage is by writing scripture-rich prayers she calls prayer gifts. Her first collection of prayer gifts, Prayer Gifts While You Wait: Grace for as Long as it Takes, is available on Amazon and Amazon Kindle.  Find more at prayergifts.net

Can’t Let This Wait Go to Waste

“He has made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 ESV).

When I was pregnant with my first son, my mom, sister and two aunts flew to my New Mexico home for a visit. I still remember the medley of excitement and anxiety I felt as their arrival approached. You see, I’m the baby of my family. This was my chance for the family to see me as a grownup instead of their baby girl. In anticipation of their arrival, I put a fat roast in the crock pot with potatoes, carrots and all the fixings.

Well, about that roast. I don’t know what went wrong, but it tasted more like salted shoe leather than tender, juicy beef. Everyone ate it politely. They chewed and chewed and gulped the bites down with iced tea chasers.

Mortified my attempt at non-Hamburger Helper cooking failed, I wanted to destroy the evidence, but Aunt Neda came unhinged as I headed toward the trash with the roast remnants. “Lee! Don’t you let that roast go to waste!” (Say that out loud with your best Southern accent for full effect). I wrapped the door stop—I mean roast—in foil and put it in the fridge. Thankfully, we never revisited the roast, and as soon as my guests left, I threw it out.

I’ve had other ruined roasts over the years, but that first one is the only one I threw out. I now know what my aunt knew back then. There are lots of ways to resurrect a dry roast, including my family’s favorite, Second Day Soup.

At first glance, time spent in God’s waiting room seems like ruined roast—dry, hard-to-swallow and useless. But we can’t let those moments go to waste. We waste them when we flood the silence with whining, wailing and asking why. If God has us in the waiting room, He has a purpose for it. Do you believe it, friend? Do you trust God to make all things beautiful in His wise timing?

Lord,
Waiting doesn’t feel natural. My inner drill sergeant keeps barking, “Move! Move!” My mind says waiting is a waste of time and a sign of weakness. But I hear Your Spirit singing truth to mine.
“My Daughter, I long to be gracious to you. See Me rise to show you compassion. You will be blessed if you’ll wait for me” (Isaiah 30:18).
I know myself, Lord. Left up to me, this season of waiting will be an ugly mess. Use this time to strip away anything in me that quenches Your spirit. Strip away pride and replace it with humility. Uproot insecurity and cultivate God-confidence. Chop down every idol in my heart and make a pure and glorious home for Yourself.
I refuse to let this wait go to waste. I choose to let You do what You need to do, no matter how long it takes. Amen

Now for the giveaway.

prayer book

Now who doesn’t love gifts?  Three lucky winners will win a copy of Lee’s book Prayer Gifts While You Wait: Grace for as Long as it Takes.  Please share your comment on when or how through waiting on God’s timing to answer a prayer you were blessed.

155 Comments

  1. Waiting on God’s timing in all things as we deal with aging parents has been difficult for me. I often have to remind my self that God is in control. That He will never leave me. God has slowly worked in some areas, one unusual way God worked we had an extremely cold winter and high propane prices her in Ohio, that was how God helped us to get my parents out of a house that was not healthy to live in. So we continue to wait and watch as he acts. Looking forward to see how His plan plays out.

  2. I had things all planned out (or so I thought). Wait five years after marrying to start having kids. So we did. And then I was diagnosed with PCOS, and my plan got derailed. Which was so good! Good used that time of waiting to teach me incredible things about hope and trust and His character. I try to remember when I’m waiting I should be still, and that’s when I know God has so much to let me learn! And I need to listen, so I can be who God wants me to be for my two little girls!

  3. I’m not great in waiting but when I do god gives gifts so much better than I can imagine! When I gave up on finding my own mate god brought me a handsome amazing man who wants more than anything to love God and serve him. I didn’t get married till I was 33. My children are beautiful and have open hearts for Jesus. God had me wait till I was 35 and 37. It’s hard to wait but when I do his gifts are way better then whatever I desired.

  4. Thank you so much for sharing your story!! My husband and I were finally in a point in our lives where we felt settled – everything was going great and we were ready to start fertility drugs to have the baby we have been trying for since our wedding night 5 years ago. My husband was forced to resign and not only did we lose his income, we also lost our housing. He hasn’t been able to find a job and while I work full-time, my income is not enough. We are almost out of our savings and I am stressed over all of this. I can say, that while it is not huge amounts of money, God has been blessing us in small ways – my husband’s allergy medicine was $6 off and it wasn’t advertised – my quarter got stuck in the newspaper box and when I hit the coin return button, it popped out more than I had put in. Instead of costing me $1, my newspaper (that I got just for the coupons) only cost me a quarter. It’s small amounts, but I know that praising God in those small amounts, He is preparing me for more blessings!

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