|
The Quiet Times
by Marie Grossett There are times in our lives when we yearn for quiet times. Especially with us women where there is a busy household, we desire our 'me' times just to have some peace and calmness. But there are also circumstances when we do not want any quiet times. If you are a writer you would long to receive that phone call from an agent to inform of a book deal. Maybe your house has been on the market for months. You so need that 'we found a buyer' call, whatever it maybe there are times when we don't want any stillness. This can make us anxious, frustrated; you can start blaming other people even start blaming God. You pray for hours fast even and still cannot see the results you need. Doubt, confusion, and fear begins to take over until eventually you decide to surrender. Now surrendering can go two ways. You can surrender the situation to God or you can stay in a defeated mode, you surrendered because you have given up on the situation and don't believe it can happen anymore. Because we live in such a microwave society where everything needs to happen now, when we have our quiet times it can be a difficult experience especially when you believe it is a desperate need. But we must remember that God doesn't work in our time nor will he ever work in our time. He takes us through these periods of stillness for a reason and one of them is preparation. Before David was made King he went through the quiet periods, in a sense that he was running away from Saul. I am sure he wanted being a fugitive to end quickly. He anticipated hearing news that Saul was no longer around, so he can go safely back to his land. But it was a long time before he did. During his quiet periods God was training him to be a King and one of the things he learnt was survival. When David was alone in the wilderness he had to learn to survive and as a King you have enemies everywhere who could attack at anytime you have to learn how to protect not just yourself but your kingdom. David learnt this through his periods. Preparation is a key ingredient in our quiet times. If you are a writer honestly if a book deal came your way are you really ready to handle it? Are you really ready for the publicity, the criticisms, the book tour promotions which can mean spending time away from the family, the deadlines, spending more hours on the computer, the editors asking for constant rewrites, the television interviews etc. Whatever the situation maybe can you honestly say you're ready for it? I have learnt to thank God for quiet times. It is during these times I have learnt so much about patience, being joyful in these times. God has brought me situations within the book business that I can handle more confidently. I have appreciated spending time with the family and allowing the Lord to build my character even more. So when you have your time of stillness don't see it as a negative see it as a positive in fact thank God for it because you know what you have dreamed for will come to past. He is preparing you for it. During these times reconnect with God again, spend more time with family, writers build your readership and appreciate what you have. Learn about you during these periods and what God is teaching you. Because when the breakthrough comes you may never have this opportunity again. So be still and know that he is God. Habakkuk 2:3 'For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.' Be encouraged. Marie Grossett aka Vanessa Grossett is a published Author, and has interviewed best selling and award winning Christian Authors. She is a Literary Agent at The Authors Care Services ltd. www.theauthorscare.co.uk [email protected] Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |