Abide
Such a calming word.
I loved this word from the moment it drifted softly into my mind last October. Tucking it away in the file of possible choices for my One-Word of 2013, abide was always my front runner.
Every time I thought of the word, I felt a bit of relief. From a spiritual perspective, if my job is to abide, can’t I stop all the struggling? Can’t I focus on doing what I know to do, like reading my Bible and keeping communication open with God and He’ll take care of the rest?
Yes yes yes…I adore that word.
But this isn’t my first rodeo, to quote Dr. Phil. (sorry)
Every single One-Word I’ve chosen, always ends up with some major surprises unfolding at some point. And abide is no different.
What I’m finding out in the early days of 2013, is that to abide you sometimes (maybe most of the time) have to wait. I’m going to tell you the truth, if the word wait had drifted into my mind in October, I would have swept it out with the trash. Waiting is hard and feels lazy. Sometimes it even feels a little like torture.
I. Do. Not. Like. To. Wait.
Not in lines at restaurants, not for an hour at the doctor’s office and I can’t stand waiting for my holiday weight gain to disappear.
But worst of all…I don’t like to wait on a relationship to heal.
Last week while I was praying about what else I could do to repair a broken relationship, my one-word slipped in before I could stop it.
Abide.
That’s a fancy word for wait I told God begrudgingly. You know how I hate waiting…
Wait for grace-
The thought, which I think was from God, gave me such peace. Somehow waiting for grace doesn’t feel lazy or like torture. It feels a little like trust.
Only three weeks into the new year and God is already using my one-word to teach me. How about you? If you chose a word for the year, have you learned anything new and amazing about that word?
Joyce @ Quilted Nest says
January 23, 2013 at 8:06 am‘Abide’ is an awesome word. I’ve done much of that in the past years and yes – MUCH waiting… (sorry!) But it can be a relief word too… it’s a word that to me says – ‘there’s nothing more you can do – simply Abide in Me and let Me do what needs doing… You just pray – don’t fret – pray!…’ My word for the year is ‘Joy’ – which in my ‘abiding’ has been sadly sorely lacking. As with many things – I realize it is a ‘choice’ – not always a feeling. And so far – it’s been good!
Robin says
January 23, 2013 at 4:12 pmJoyce- I loved reading that ‘it can be a relief word too’ – I think you’re exactly right. When there’s nothing more you can do..simply abide.
JOY! What a delicious word! That was my word a few years ago and it’s all the more sweet when you haven’t tasted joy in a little while- Prayers for your journey with joy this year my friend~
xo
Julie Garmon says
January 23, 2013 at 9:45 amAbide…even while waiting for a relationship to be healed.
Huge, Robin. I love it.
Robin says
January 23, 2013 at 4:10 pmJulie I like what you said…’abide…even when (while).
even while I’m worrying-
even when I’m afraid-
even when I can’t see answers-
even then…abide
bill (cycleguy) says
January 23, 2013 at 10:29 ami am not one who chooses a one-word for the year. But love this word and the lesson you have learned and will continue learning. it is so hard to wait for healing of a relationship. Praying you do abide and find His wait was worth it.
Robin says
January 23, 2013 at 4:08 pmBill-thank you so very much for the prayers. I have a feeling there are going to be lots of lessons this year ~
Pinky says
January 23, 2013 at 10:40 amI need to ABIDE and WAIT for a relaionship to be healed too. I am praying.
Robin says
January 23, 2013 at 4:07 pmPinky-Saying a prayer for you xo
Eileen says
January 23, 2013 at 11:36 amThe Merriam-Webster dictionary defines abide as this: to wait for, to endure without yielding, to bear patiently, to accept without objection.
As human beings, this has to be the hardest word for us to live by. Especially, in this day of “got to have it now”. The only way that I can see to achieve this, is to place ourselves in God’s hands and to rest there. Yes, it is hard not to want to take it into our own hands and change that circumstance right now. But, we need to keep pray without ceasing. That is the only way, we will ever have the patience to wait. God’s timing not ours.
I struggle with the same thing. Praying for you, Robin.
Robin says
January 23, 2013 at 4:06 pmEileen~ I love your insights…endure without yielding -accept without objection…whew. Thank you for your prayers friend. xo
Cindy says
January 23, 2013 at 10:16 pmBeautiful word, beautiful post!
Blessings,
Cindy
Robin says
January 24, 2013 at 7:30 amThank you much Cindy…xoxo