Deployed: Encouragement While Serving In Harm's WaySample

Standing Watch

It’s 2:30 in the morning and you are standing watch until 6 AM.  You are worn out, sleepy and wondering how you’ll make it to the end of your shift.  Has that ever been you?  There’s nothing worse than counting down the hours and minutes until something you hope for comes to pass.  It’s waiting, plain and simple, but how we wait says a lot about our character and the importance of what we are waiting for.

So what are you waiting for? Is it a job, a promotion, to find a spouse, to have a baby or to be healed of a long-term sickness?  We will be in a waiting period sometime in our lives, but how we wait can make a big impact on those around us.

Let’s take standing watch for example.  You could have a bad attitude about standing watch, complain to anyone on shift about how awful it is, stare at the clock wishing the minutes away, and make that shift miserable for yourself and everyone around you.  

Or… you could do your job to the best of your ability, pass the time productively, and focus on the Lord and all the good He’s done in your life.  It’s all a matter of perspective.  The sun will not come up one second faster when you are waiting. It’s synchronized to God’s perfect timing, but a positive outlook during your wait will make that time seem to go quicker.  

So if you are waiting on something right now, choose to wait on the Lord.  Fix your eyes on Him.  He’s your protector, provider, and Heavenly Father.  He knows exactly what are you are waiting on and the best time to answer that request.  And before you know it, the sun will rise during your watch!

Questions:

1.  What are you waiting for?

2.  What would others say about your attitude during this wait?

3.  What are some positive things you can think on during this wait?