“To do nothing at all is the most difficult thing in the world, the most difficult and the most intellectual.” This quote from 19th-century writer Oscar Wilde was used in a psychology article that I read recently. The article explained the characteristics of manic defense. An example of manic defense is the person who spends all of his or her time rushing around from one task to the next, unable to tolerate even short periods of inactivity. The more I read about manic defense, the more I realized how these characteristics have become rampant in the western societies, as we have become increasingly addicted to endless activities, even from an early age.
Everyone portrays characteristics of manic defense at some point in time, but some people use it to such an extent that it becomes impossible for them to handle even short periods of free time. You find them reaching out to their cell phones every other minute while walking in the park. You find them volunteering to plan one more party, and adding one more activity to their already over-committed schedule. You find them filling even their vacation time with nonstop activities.
And because it’s almost impossible for them to be still, they often don’t make time to sit quietly before God and seek his will before acting.
It’s a huge paradox for those of us who wish to follow God’s plan for our lives. Because, more often than not, finding the answer to our prayers takes time and quietness before God. And he is never in a hurry to act.
He is more concerned about molding and shaping our character than immediately answering our prayers.
[bctt tweet=”God is never in a hurry to act. He is more concerned about molding and shaping our character than immediately answering our prayers.” username=”PatHolbrook”]
It takes courage and faith to wait. It’s much easier to settle for immediate satisfaction than to wait for the right job, the right person to marry, or for justice when someone wrongs us. But if we wish to receive God’s best, then we must commit to deny our impulse to act, and simply be still in his presence before moving forward.
I don’t like it at all. Much like many of you, I want to receive the task, plan my way to accomplish it, and get to work. It’s hard to sit still and wait for the answer. But as I look back, I realize that, were it not for the times God made me wait and do nothing, I would still be the same unwise, impatient and impulsive person I was 20 years ago. Worse yet, I would have missed out on so many blessings received after a period of quiet obedience and stillness.
Indeed, waiting has been the No. 1 tool God has used to strengthen my faith and testimony. It’s not an easy task, though. But it makes it a little easier when we realize that, while we have the option to deny every urge to act, God never stops working.
In the quietness of our waiting, as we introspectively look within ourselves and deliberately choose to tame our impulsive nature and anxious hearts, we can take comfort in the certainty that he is going before us, preparing the circumstances in order to deliver his best, in his perfect time.
In my humble opinion, Wilde’s conclusion was only partially correct. Doing nothing is indeed one of the hardest thing to do, but it takes more than rationale to accomplish it.
It takes faith.
Faith that we are part of a bigger plan than our personal circumstances, and that there is a God, the master of it all, whose plans for us are perfect, even when the seeming hopelessness of our situations scream otherwise.
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Thank you, Patricia. This is incredibly helpful insight for those of us who tend to be “doers.” There’s a time to stop doing and just trust for the next step.
Thank you, Michele! I am the first to admit that I struggle with that as well… Type A personalities are the worst for thinking they have to always be “doing” instead of just “being” still and letting God show the way. It’s a lifelong lesson to learn, for sure!
I am so grateful for your faithful participation every Wednesday! Blessings to you and your ministry!
Patricia, you wrote in my sweet spot. That is exactly what I feel called to help women do. Wait, seek and find God working in their circumstances. I loved the way you presented this today. ❤️
This is my sweet spot too, dear friend! No wonder my life verse is Isaiah 40:31… waiting is not this girl’s forte! 🙂
Love you,
Thank you for these words. I, too, must learn to rest in God’s character when times are tough. And trust He is making me more like Him. Great post.
Thank you, Karen! I appreciate your support of #RechargeWednesday! Come back often!
Blessings to you!
You’re absolutely right! Sometimes, (often times), the waiting is the hardest part.
I’m still a work in progress when it comes to “being still.” Though I can honestly say I am getting better at it! It’s the place where God speaks the loudest. <3
Thank you for this!
That’s true, Rachel… and I can relate to the “work in progress”… I used to be soooo impatient and restless. By God’s grace, I am learning more and more to “be still” and “wait upon Him.” Thank for your encouragement and for stopping by!
Blessings!
It definitely takes courage and faith to wait. We’re not always so patient. But when we are, we are blessed. “He is more concerned about molding and shaping our character than immediately answering our prayers.” Amen.
Thank you for participating, Lisa! I appreciate you and your ministry!
Blessings to you,
But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day! – Habakkuk 2:3 (TLB)
Oh, how I love this prophet! Thank you for this Word, Connie!
Blessings!!
I’m seeing this theme a lot lately, maybe due to God pointing me the way He wants me to go! And also to see that the busyness, the filling of schedules only leads to depravity rather than a filling up . It is not long-lasting, but temporal. Seeking His wisdom has become my number one goal this year, replacing all the task – oriented goals. From that place I trust the action to take will flow. Wonderful post!
That’s a great goal, Lynn!! God will honor that. We all get caught in the rat race, even in ministry… thank God for His Holy Spirit that nudges us in the right direction before we get lost in our busyness!
Thanks for always participating! Blessings to you and your ministry!
Doing “nothing” is a hard one for me and yet it is so needed. Thanks for the reminder!
Guilty as charged here too, Donna 🙂
So glad you stopped by again! Blessings to you!
Guilty more time than I care to admit. I had to learn how to sit still with God and myself. I still fight it.