It’s amazing how the word wonder has different meanings. According to Webster the definition is “a cause of astonishment or admiration” or “a feeling of doubt or uncertainty.”
I think of the hymn lyrics:
Prone to wander, Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart, oh take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above
In 2005, I believed God told me in my time in scripture that I would be moving from Florida (my Egypt) to go to a “Promised Land,” which I believed was Colorado. It took five years, and God allowed many circumstances to move in my husband’s heart, but we went in 2010. We were there almost three years when great trials came. I felt the Spirit revealing that this was my wilderness time, and that it was temporary, but I was not open to hearing that message. I began to wonder if I had heard God correctly the first time.
Today I was reading Luke 7:18-35. John the Baptist was in prison, and he sent messengers to ask Jesus, “Are you the One who is to come, or shall we look for another?”
John was in wonder and amazement when Jesus came to be baptized by him, saying “I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” (Matthew 3:14). And “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who ranks before me, because He was before me’” (John 1:29-30). Why did John then wonder later when in prison, hoping to be released?
Jesus did not rebuke him, but said He was fulfilling prophesies in Isaiah through healing and telling others good news. We often doubt and begin to wander when prayers are not getting answered in ways we thought. Little did I know that three and half years later, in 2013, God would send us to live in Lynchburg Virginia, which I did not see as a “Promised Land.” But now, nine years later, I have more hindsight to see God working all things out for good and for our best.
The real struggle is to stay in scripture to continue to hear God speak until He gives full revelation of the work He is doing in our lives and in our world till He returns. Having my Yada sisters along for this journey was critical to not fully wandering away.
Like the lyrics, He knows I am prone to wander. However, He is the One who leads me to wonder in awe of all He does, despite my doubt. John was not released from prison but was soon united with Christ after His resurrection. I can only imagine the joy and wonder he experienced when he was was united with his Lord for all eternity.
Now that is a wonder that awaits us all!
Cindy Chamberland is our resident thinker and a forever student of God’s word. Cindy has a doctorate in clinical counseling and a private practice as a Licensed Professional Counselor in Lynchburg, Virginia. She has a passion to connect with people and help them find hope and healing. On the weekends Cindy loves to ride motorcycles with her husband of 35 years to see the incredible beauty in God’s natural world. She also enjoys running and hiking in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. She has two grown children and six grandchildren.
