The Lingering Place
What Is It?
Have you been there? In the space between not knowing and knowing, or where hope is stalled in the land of not yet? A waiting place where we long for God to reveal himself, change something or make it happen. Or answer a question that might change the direction of our lives? It’s somewhere we wouldn’t choose to camp or set up residence. The exit is shrouded in darkness and shadow. And so, we linger. Sometimes, God draws close and touches our hearts; others, it’s a place of silence that feels devoid of his presence. That’s The Lingering Place
Several years ago, I spent time in The Lingering Place, and it involved waiting for a surgical procedure that would determine if I had cancer. Due to circumstances beyond my control, it was delayed with no end point in sight. And so, I lingered in the morass of not knowing when I would have the procedure and, ultimately, an answer.
It was a tough time in my life, but in The Lingering Place, I experienced God’s closeness in a way I hadn’t before and haven’t since. It was scary, challenging, and precious all at once. After four months, I finally moved from not knowing to knowing, and thankfully, the test was negative. It would have been hard if it had been positive, but by spending time in The Lingering Place with God, I was confident I could face whatever came.
The Lingering Place might be physical, as Joseph and St. Paul from the Bible experienced when they were in prison. However, more often in my world, it’s where life happens while we wait. We may not always sense God’s presence there, but he promised never to leave or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8). So, we’re not abandoned and alone in a void because God is there whether we sense him or not. I’m not fond of the “not” times, but trust develops as we wait.
The Poster Child for The Lingering Place
Abraham spent much time in The Lingering Place and has much he can teach us. He waited 25 years for God to fulfill his promise of having a son, and he was 100 years old when God finally did. But this elderly gent found a secret to living life while lingering. Romans 4:18 says, “Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” (New Living Translation). Abraham hung on in The Lingering Place, chose faith in God and waited. There were bumps along the way, but he didn’t give up.
We all hit bumps along our journey, but, as the title of Warren W. Wiersbe’s book says, “The Bumps Are What You Climb On.”
Abraham's Secret
Abraham didn’t give up in dismay. Nor did he scrap the dream of being a Daddy, a Grandpa, and the ancestor of more greats than one cemetery could hold. What was his secret to living a meaningful life while lingering? He chose to believe what God said.
Romans 4:20-21 says, “Yet he [Abraham] did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” (NIV). Abraham knew God and clung to his promises. From him, we learn that the secret to living in The Lingering Place is strengthening our faith by getting to know God, believing in him, and trusting him. But how do we get there?
Abraham didn’t have the Bible, but fortunately, we do. It speaks about God’s faithfulness, promises, and heart. The New Testament tells us about the life of Jesus, what he did for us, and how to live our lives with and for him. Opening my Bible is an adventure like lifting the lid on a treasure chest and discovering nuggets of truth hidden inside awaiting discovery. When we get to know God, we have a solid base for trusting him as we linger.
The second part of Abraham’s secret was to give glory to God. When we get to know God, we can shift our focus from our issues to praising him for who he is and what he has done and will do. Abraham didn’t have the Bible, but he still strengthened his faith, gave glory to God, and then refused to get sucked into unbelief or despair. He hung on because he knew “God had power to do what he had promised.” That same God loves you and me and has the same power today as he did in Abraham’s day.
Eventually, we leave The Lingering Place when we pass from not knowing to knowing or when we can move on and leave the unknown in God’s hands. Either way, we can remember it as either one of great stress or a precious experience. We can leave disappointed or bitter or with a new depth of faith, ready to accomplish what God has in store for us, regardless of our circumstances. If you’re in The Lingering Place, let Abraham’s wisdom guide and encourage you as you wait and trust.
“Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.”
Psalm 63:7–8 (NIV)
Until next time,
Brenda Erb Roberts
If you want more to mull over, here is the link to my last blog post: https://brendaerbroberts.com/not-budging-no-way-no-how/.
If you need a laugh today, click this link to read the story of my vacation folly: https://brendaerbroberts.com/i-didnt-go-to-jail/.
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