I have watched this McDonald’s be built from scratch. I pass it every morning and afternoon on my way to and from work, and every time I see it, something is different–some type of progress has been made. They put the golden arches up just this week, and I got so excited. Now I didn’t get so excited because I love Mickey D’s that much (I mean, they do have the best french fries). I got so excited because it’s almost finished and I’ve watched the whole thing happen right before my eyes.
I love seeing progress! For example, I love painting–not painting pictures and such, but painting walls. I love how you can see progress with just one swipe of the roller. The progress is obvious. You can easily see how much you’ve accomplished and how much you have left. There’s nothing to wonder about.
I think this is why this season of waiting on God is so difficult. Many days come and go and I don’t really see any progress. I can’t really see how much has been accomplished or how much farther I have to go. I was reading in Ruth this week and was reminded of the invisible hand of God. Every time I read this book, I have to remind myself that Ruth was not on the outside looking in. Even though I can see God moving and making progress throughout the whole story, poor Ruth sits in the middle of her circumstances uncertain of what’s coming and uncertain about the purpose of what’s happening. I can definitely relate to that!
I don’t think it’s coincidental that Paul chooses the verb “stand” in Ephesians 6 when he talks about us putting on the full armor of God: ”Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to STAND your ground, and after you have done everything, to STAND. STAND firm then…” (Eph. 6:13-14). Sometimes in the middle of our uncertainty or our doubt or our feeling that we’re not making any progress, our job is not to WORK harder or RUN in a different direction or TRY to find answers for ourselves. In those seasons, it might simply be our job to STAND…stand in the certainty that we have a God who loves us and that we can trust Him to be at work in us. We can STAND on the promises He makes to us that He has a good purpose for us and that, through our obedience, He is constantly making progress toward that purpose.
And by the end of her story, Ruth sees how this is true. She sees how God was at work the whole time and there was never anything to wonder about. How exciting to think of being in that place one day!
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