• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Lauren Gaskill

Encouraging women to live in faith and joy

  • Home
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
  • Book
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Podcast
    • Episodes
  • Speaking
    • Events

Waiting with Expectation

July 25, 2019 • 3 Comments

I’ve been waiting for something for more than three years now. It’s something God has spoken over me countless times, through His Spirit and through people who don’t even know me. While I haven’t seen the fulfillment of everything yet, I know it’s coming and I’m learning more and more with each day how to wait and walk in a way that honors and brings glory to God.

About a month ago, I realized I hadn’t heard from God in awhile regarding this thing I’m waiting for. And so, with hands lifted during church one day, I asked Him: How long, Lord? How much longer do I have to wait for what I know is coming — what you’ve promised to me?

The words of His reply weren’t audible, but left a deep impression on my heart. Not yet, my daughter. But soon. Very soon, he said.

OK, Lord. OK. I’m going to stand in faith for soon. I don’t know what that looks like but I’m going to surrender, believe and wait with expectation. I replied.

Surrender, believe and wait with expectation. Of all of the things I’ve done while waiting on God the last several years, I think these three actions are the most essential — especially waiting with expectation. You see, this isn’t a passive kind of wait but a wait that stands in faith and worships and believes and calls things that are not as if they were. Because even when things look dark, we have a light shining on the inside that can expel darkness when we speak the truth in faith.

Beloved, we might not always know how God is working in our wait, but He is. And he hears every prayer and catches every tear.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” -Jeremiah 29:11

If you’re in need of a fresh word from the Lord in the middle of your wait today, here’s what I want you to do. Listen to She Found Joy’s latest podcast series, “Waiting on God.” Draw near to God. Don’t stop praying. Praise Him always. Don’t speak to God about your problem — tell your mountain to MOVE! Stand on His Word and keeping singing until all the walls fall down and the waters calm to a still. He will do it, for the Lord changes not and He is the ever faithful, ever true God.

Share This Post

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Email

You May Also Like

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Larry says

    July 26, 2019 at 8:54 am

    Although posts are geared toward women, I always receive a lift and blessing and have communicated this before.
    Larry

    Reply
  2. Jenielle says

    February 11, 2020 at 11:35 pm

    Lauren,
    The Lord has used your words to bring me comfort tonight. I’ve been struggling with loneliness the last couple days. I’ve reached my 30s and desire to be married. The enemy has been working on my emotions, but our God is stronger. Tonight He knew that I needed your words of encouragement…..to surrender, to believe, and to wait in patient expectation. This is what He wants me to do. Thank you for doing the work God has called you to. You are making a difference!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      February 28, 2020 at 10:27 am

      Hi, Jenielle! I am sorry that you’ve been feeling lonely. That is one of the biggest lies from the enemy. You are truly never alone and He is with you always. Giving you a big hug through this comment today. God bless you!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hi, dear friend! I'm so glad you're here. And though I wish we could be meeting face-to-face over coffee, I'm grateful for the chance to know you here. The community here inspires me, and I hope you feel like you belong while you're here. If you'd like to connect with me, please follow me on social media. I want to hear from you, so please reach out! And don't forget to sign up for my newsletter — you'll get access to special content and freebies.

Connect With Me

Subscribe for Weekly Inspirational Updates!

Into the Deep Book

Order Today!

Categories


Freezing some of these beauties @salesforce and @a Freezing some of these beauties @salesforce and @appexchange were so kind to give us so we can continue to enjoy them even after Baby G has arrived. I don’t talk about it much on here, but when God told me that @shefoundjoy would not be touring for awhile, I knew I’d need to find something more than the part-time work I’d previously been doing in addition to ministry.

That’s when a dear friend from college reached out to see if I’d be interested in something with Salesforce. My husband and I prayed about it and felt like God gave us the green light. So I went for it, and God provided big time. Initially, it was just supposed to be a part-time thing, but after a month, I was offered to come on as a full-time contractor. I can honestly say I never saw this job coming ... I never saw myself enjoying a role I never knew existed let alone enjoying work outside of ministry. But nearly one year into working with my team, my heart is full of gratitude that God led me in this direction for this season He has us in. I know I’ll be doing traveling ministry again someday, but in the meantime, I’m content with where God has me. And that’s a beautiful thing.

I share all of this to say, don’t turn down a potential opportunity from the Lord just because it doesn’t line up with what you thought it would look like. Provision and blessing often come in unexpected ways. God might ask you to take a job you think is completely unrelated to what you feel like He has called you to do. Don’t try to analyze it. Just listen for His voice, follow His leading, and obey what He tells you to do. You never know what He has in store ...
I have tried to be cognizant of how many pregnancy I have tried to be cognizant of how many pregnancy pictures I’ve posted during this season of our lives, as I know that it can be a sensitive subject for so many. Sometimes, I think it’s easy for us to look at someone’s seemingly perfect Instagram feed and feel like we’ve missed the boat or aren’t as blessed as they are. 

What I want to say about this is that we all need to start considering the bigger story of each one of our lives. We need to remember that no one’s life is 100 percent perfect all of the time. Trials are real. Warfare is real. Heartache is real. But so is hope. So is healing and restoration. And so is the testimony of Jesus. 

I remember when I was really sick, I didn’t want to hear testimonies of how people had been healed. It hurt my heart too much, because part of me believed I had somehow missed the boat. But then God woke me up and changed my heart. Even when things didn’t change in the natural, I started to celebrate breakthrough in other people’s lives and expect it for my own life. Because if God could do it for someone else, certainly He could and would do it for me. 

I share all of this to say, when we read about someone’s testimony or good news, we need to consider what might have led up to that good news being able to be shared. Consider that they, too, just like you, most likely have been through the fire a time or two. Consider all of the tears, prayers, or sleepless nights that may have preceded the testimony they are now able to share. And then celebrate. Celebrate the God who broke through for them and will break through for you. 

Rejoice, beloved. No matter what you’ve been through, there is wonderful joy ahead.
A few weeks ago, I felt the Lord nudging me to rec A few weeks ago, I felt the Lord nudging me to record a variety of journal entries, Bible verses, and prophetic words to play in my ear during labor (and the weeks leading up to it). As I listened to the recording this morning, two phrases stuck out to me the most: “determine to trust in His faithfulness,” and, “let go, surrender, and trust.”

I don’t know about you, but speaking those two phrases out loud just brings such faith, hope, and peace to my heart. 

Reminder: Even when man is faithless, God remains faithful. Determine to trust in His faithfulness today. You are not forgotten. You are seen and loved. And there is not a moment that He leaves your side. 

Let go, surrender, and trust that He will do exactly what the Promise Keeper has said He would do in your life. (Photo: @midwest_jess_)
Savoring all of the snuggles with this one before Savoring all of the snuggles with this one before his brother arrives. Reese has been our one and only fur baby for the past five-and-a-half years and while I know a significant chapter is closing, I am more excited for the one that is about to unfold. Love is about to be multiplied exponentially in our home and in our hearts. And I’m making room. 💜💛❤️💙🧡
In this season, God has been teaching me so much a In this season, God has been teaching me so much about the inheritance we have in Christ.

Do you know what is included in your inheritance in Christ? A shortlist from my time with the Lord pulled these keys words out: wholeness of body, soul, and spirit, healing, grace upon grace, redemption and forgiveness of sins, peace, love, joy, good gifts, freedom, righteousness, the Holy Spirit, a heavenly reward, blessings that overtake us, protection, deliverance, power and authority.

And on and on and on. But how do we receive and love in the reality of this inheritance? Read my latest blog for a few thoughts by clicking on the link in my profile. 🥰
A few months ago, I dreamed that the Father gave m A few months ago, I dreamed that the Father gave me a bracelet. 

As He held it out in front of me, I took a moment to behold the beauty of this priceless gift. And that’s when I noticed: This was no ordinary bracelet. Not only did one of the chains feature a glistening diamond, but both of the bracelet’s bands were interlocked by a golden connector that said “WORTHY” on it. And so, though the bands were two separate entities, the two became one because of this little connector.

The Father placed the bracelet in my hands and said, “my beloved, it’s yours.” And then I woke up. 

{Read the rest of my newest post: “God Has Made You Worthy to Receive a Glorious Inheritance” by clicking on the link in my profile, then “My Blog.”}
If creation sings Your praises so will I ... As I If creation sings Your praises so will I ... As I took a minute to sing to the Lord this morning, I thought about this picture my sister shared last month from @north. These polar stratospheric clouds in Iceland declare the faithfulness and promises of God unlike any painted sky I’ve ever seen.

If creation speaks of His goodness and greatness, how much more should we? Oh Father, may we be overcome with a desire to sing praise to Your Name for all You are, all You’ve done, and all You will do.
As Baby G’s due date draws near, this is how I w As Baby G’s due date draws near, this is how I want to remember this pregnancy and season of life. I want to remember that no matter the challenges I faced, I was embraced and cherished by the man and the God I love. I want to remember the countless ways God showed Himself faithful and reminded us of the promises He had made to us with a radical display of our own “rainbow signs.” I want to remember the way I surrendered to His perfect love and trusted in Him like never before.

Through faith and patience, we inherit His promises. This is what I know to be true and what I know I will continue to experience to be true. In every season, He is faithful. He is unchanging. In every season, He longs for us to encounter His loving embrace. This is what I want to remember most. Not just for this season but every season moving forward. Because His love is better than life. 

A lot has happened in the past year, and the new year is still unfolding, but my prayer for all of us here is more than the chaos, we would remember the Love that surrounds, steadies, strengthens and fills us. With His power, Word and love, we overcome. 💜🌈🥰
BACK TO TOP HomeContactSubscribeEvents
© Lauren Gaskill
Designed by Cocoa Creative
Developed by Earl Grey Creative
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.