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Who hasn't waited for something in their lives? Sometimes, these "waits" can be excruciating and steeped in suffering; when tests from the doctor take forever to arrive or a desperately needed job never seems to pan out. It is for these trying times that late author Russell Kelfer wrote Wait: A journey to discovering the heart of God. Kelfer's deeply powerful message of faith offers a fresh perspective for those who are frustrated by God's silence. Wait is a lovely, poetic tribute to the power of faith, the importance of patience and healing, and the necessity of true faith in God's plan for us. Take this opportunity to share some of your stories of waiting or stories of how the book, Wait, has ministered to you or a friend. Tell us what you felt and how you coped with your impatience. The first 25 stories we post will receive a beautiful 11x19 inch Wait poster. Click here to submit your story.
Shared Stories of Waiting
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I am now 57 years of age. I was raised as a Christian in a good home, by two wonderful parents. I went through life not really knowing God, and at times not really caring who he was. I did the usual things; went through school, dropped out at age 18, joined the Marine Corps and went off to VietNam full of myself. I returned a different person, one full of hate for God. He let all my friends die and the enemy live. I drifted from job to job and religion to religion. I had three failed marriages, and a son given up at birth. I did just about everything in those later years. I must have broken every commandment of God since Adam. I was missing something in my life and I wasn’t sure what it was, so I began looking again. I fell into the trap of satan when I became a muslim. For a few years I thought I had found what I was looking for GOD. I was wrong. Yet God had a purpose in mind for me. He sent a sister to speak to me and pray for me and be my friend. I asked her one day. “Why are you so happy”? she replied. “I have God inside” A few months later, I left Islam, broken disgusted and still not finding what I was looking for. I guess God knew the answer WAIT. Well finally on April 17th 2005 the waiting was over. I took that leap of faith. I was baptized. And in that moment, God spoke to me and called me by name. “Rick, I am here. Now do you truly believe” I waited 57 years to hear those words to a question I asked long ago. “God who are you, what do you want from me” So that is my story of WAIT. I hope it will help someone else see, as I see now. God truly never says NO….He says WAIT |
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I have been going through one of the toughest times I have ever had to deal with. I am 17 years old and I love this book. |
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My husband and I are waiting "for the time of God's favor" to bless us with another child. On January, we gave birth to our first baby, Caroline Hope. She was stillborn, and we found out later that she had died from a cord accident. We were 5 and a half months along. We aren't sure if we will ever get pregnant again. Our first pregnancy was a miracle that we had even gotten pregnant. We saw the miracle in her short little life, but were heartbroken that we didn't get to keep her here with us. |
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When I was 25 years old, I married my college sweetheart after a 2 year engagement. I was as happy as I could be and had the most beautiful wedding any bride could imagine. |
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My family and I had decided to return from the USA to Australia after nearly 20 years overseas. To do so, our married daughter's apartment had to sell. We all prayed - "God please let Amy's apartment sell." Nothing happened. Months passed. We were getting very anxious and depressed. And then I changed my prayer - "Please God give us the strength to know that you are in control. You know what we want to happen with Amy's apartment. Please give us the peace of mind to accept that things will happen on your timetable". The apartment sold soon after. Praise God and His comfort. Sometimes he keeps us waiting for a reason! |
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My husband gave me a copy of "Wait" one morning as I lay in bed ill with a migraine. Life just seemed so hard! I was not only struggling with my own faith but watching one of my dear children become very ill. He was later diagnosed with Crohn's Disease but during those early days I was lost, praying for answers, wanting healing for my beautiful child that seemed elusive. I had been unable to attend church because he needed care and couldn't attend so I stayed home while I helped dress and encourage the rest of my family to attend. I tried not to be angry or hurt, I started to feel forgotten. How could God allow such a bright light become so ill and why were answers so illusive? |
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I know you must hear quite often that the 'Wait' poem is a blessing, but I want you to know that it really is. To every person it touches, it must be a new blessing all over again. My own wait story surrounds my deep desire to be married. |
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I’m a Freelance Writer employed part time at the Hanover Bible Book Store. About a week ago I picked up a copy of the book “Wait” built around the poem by the same name. I have heard segments of the poem quoted before, but never seen it complete. What a blessing and what rich truths. |
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I just want to express our gratitude for the way you put the poem WAIT into print. Thanks for sticking at it. |
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All my life all I ever wanted to be was a wife and mother. When my husband and I got married, we never dreamed that there might be anything that would keep us from having children. Early in our marriage, I visited the doctor, thinking I was pregnant. I wasn't. That day, shortly before Thanksgiving, I found out that we would have to go through infertility treatments to conceive. There's just something about the word infertility, though, that makes one desperate to try anything that will achieve that goal. |
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When I first found a version of this poem on a infertility newsgroup back in 1997, it captured the cries of my heart after our then-5-year anguished pleeding for a child. Infertility is a constant cycle of wait, hope, broken dreams, and again waiting. I would plead with the Lord to either give us a child or to take away the longing. I too needed "a 'yes', or a go-ahead sign. Or even a 'no,' to which I could resign," and yet God kept bringing me back to "his most precious answer." This poem became an instant treasure to my heart! |
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We've been waiting on God for the blessing of children for almost 4 years now... |
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God loves you! Do you really know how much? I learned about His unending love - the width of it...the length of it...the height of it...the depth of it - after not being on His road for 14 years. It was during my walk back that I discovered Wait: A journey to discovering the heart of God. It is a poem written by the late Russell Kelfer whose wife, Martha, allowed to be put in book form with beautiful illustrations by Marianne Richmond. It spoke especially to my heart to commit, trust, rest and wait for the time when all of life's experiences (preparations) will combine with a heart's passion and purpose in order to intersect with His divine plan, which is what destiny is all about (Jeremiah 29:11). One of God's names is Jehovah - Rophe: the God of Healing (Exodus 15:26b) and Restorations (Joel 2:25). Only when life's ashes are lifted up to Him, can He then transform them into something of beauty that will bring Him glory. I challenge you with the following questions: Are you where you're supposed to be? Are you doing what you're supposed to be doing? May He speak to your heart through Wait. |
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July 2003 I just had to send this email to let you know this book really blessed by soul. It just touched my heart. I haven't read a book like this book before. It just give me strength, while I was sitting home reading this book I received some important papers in the mail box that I have been waiting for. I thank God because through it I know God is able, I am in God's waiting room now. But I know it's God's timing, not mine. He will see me through. |
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July 2003 I am waiting to move into my own home. I had one and had to sell it. My husband and I had to move in with my mom last year. Our son was born prematurely and we were so inundated with hospital bills we couldn't keep up with out other expenses. Although its hard not being on my own after being used to it for ten years, I am grateful that my mother was generous enough to help us through these hard times. And more then anything I am grateful to God that my son, who will be one on July 3, is now as healthy and happy as any one year old. We are almost caught up on our bills now and hope to have a new home in a few months. In the mean time, it is worth the wait to have two beautiful children. |
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July 2003 18 months ago I told God that I wanted to serve him better. I had become |
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June 2003 Just a quick note to say I love the Wait book. Tuesday night this week we invited into our home a couple from church who are really struggling with their 18 year old daughter. I had gone to our Christian bookstore the day before and picked up the last copy in the store of Wait. She seemed really touched when I gave it to her. I know I first read it when were struggling with Sara (name changed) and it ministered so much to me then -- and through the years since. |
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May 2003 Just today I found Marianne's site and then saw the link about this contest. Since I'm going through a situation which is causing me to draw upon my Lord, I was able to write out my coping ways. Please accept my submission for this contest. I don't know if you'll trust opening up an attachment so I'll also enclose the text on this mail. Entering into the world of unemployment is a scary place to find one's self. You never know how long you will be there and you never know where you will end up. During these times I thrust myself upon my Lord with greater urgency. Picture along with me the currents of the Sea of Uncertainty beating heavily upon my shores with the only means of support being those large, rough, scaly pylons holding up the long, wooden pier that extends out into the turbulent ocean waves. Leaving my circumstances on the shore, I bravely swim out through the pounding waves to the strong support and with all the strength I can find wrap my cold, trembling arms around it clinging ever so fiercely till the storms of life dissipate. As my slippery hands find each other and clasp together my face scratches against the crusty barnacles and then a peace begins to fill my soul. Oddly, that which was waging war within me has been replaced with a steady calm; a serenity from One who has joined me in my circumstance. Just as the Disciples were frightened when their boat was filling up with water and the waves were towering over them they turned to their Lord and with few words He calmed their storm and His peace relieved their fears. (Matthew 8:24-26) Each day I make an appointment with God and release myself into His trusting hands. I recognize that He is my Master and I am His servant. I report for duty waiting to hear His voice of instructions for this day and keep my eyes ever focused upon Him; watching for any indication of where to go and with whom to speak. This kind of practice has brought me into His presence where He has ordered my steps in such a way that by nightfall I am often overflowing with praise for the many different things He has accomplished in and through me. Because of Him, I can face tomorrow. |
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May 2003 My name is Helena, and I am a Korean-American and the 4th daughter of a family of 6 children. All of us raised in the United States were brought up with Korean culture and the teachings of the Catholic Church. I currently am married with 2 children and my family attends a non-denominational Christian Church. I am waiting for the day my parents accept me for who I am, the daughter of my parents and the daughter of our dear Lord. I know our dear Lord accepted me from the beginning when I was a Catholic and He accepts me now as a Christian. I long for the day when my parents can accept me as well, just as they did when I was single and Catholic. I remember the first time my parents met my husband, the first words from my father to him was "If you want to marry my daughter, you must turn Catholic." My husband's response was, "I will think about it." Ever since then, my parents disliked him. As months passed and my parents were lead to believe that my future husband, had no intention of becoming a Catholic. My parents forbid me to see him and that was the beginning of my long wait. A year passed, and there I was, walked down the church aisle by a man who I hardly knew. As I look around the church, with my face freshly painted and wearing a long beautiful wedding dress, I saw no one that I knew. No parents, no sisters, no brother, not even a friend. As tears rolled down my face, I looked in front of me, and I saw not only the church Pastor, but slightly above him a beautiful CROSS. Then I heard His voice call out to me, "I am here." How sweet His voice I heard. Now, there were more tears falling but my tears were of joy. After years passed, my husband and I have two wonderful daughters who had never met Grandpa and Grandma. In the early years of our marriage, my husband and I tried everything possible to have my parents in our lives. Nothing we tried was successful so we slowly just stopped keeping in contact. There are a lot of mixed emotions, hurtful feelings, and never ending answers on why my parents are the way they chose to be. I long for the day, that my parents accept me for who I am, a Christian who loves God. I know that God has a plan and I believe in His plan, but the waiting is the hardest part. Even when I know that God's plan is worth the wait, waiting is so hard. I pray every day that my parents will open their hearts to me, and my family. I also pray that my wait will not be long. Will you pray for me too? Thank you for giving me a chance to share my story. |
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May 2003 In 1996, my husband and I found out that we could not biologically have our own children. In 1998, we applied for an adoption through an agency. However, during the process, a birth mother approached us and wanted us to parent her child. We were so excited and set up our soon to be son's room. She delivered early and after the birth changed her mind. It was the most painful experience my husband and I had been through. Shortly after, some friends knew a young woman who was pregnant and wanted to give her baby up for adoption. She came and met us and found out that we were missionaries. We raise our own support, so it is always a factor of whether a birth mother would want her baby raised in such an environment of trusting in God monthly for our support. She was a Christian and loved what we did and a couple of months later made the decision to let us be her child's parents. We flew out to wait for the baby to be born in January 1999. And she waited an extra week to be come into the world. We fell in love with her the moment we saw her in the nursery. Again, we were in the precarious stage of wondering if the birth mother would change her mind too. We waited three anxiety filled days waiting for the absent birth father's rights to be terminated and for her birth mother to sign the papers. We took our beautiful daughter to where we were staying, the next day we went to the adoption agency (who did our adoption for cost only after they found out we were missionaries) and walked in as a couple and came out a family. Meraiah was the name we chose for her years ago and looking in a baby book waiting for her birth, we found out her name meant "wished for child". Truly, she was a "waited and wished for" child. That was over four years ago and we are once again "waiting" for God to bring our next child to us. "Waiting" seems to be a theme of our life, with several more adoptions falling through since then, yet it is in the waiting that we become dependent not on ourselves but on the One who is sovereign and gives us good gifts in His timing . . . from Jeanette B. ---------------- back to top ---------------- |
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May 2003 Dear Marianne, I don't know if you remember me. I am a friend of Kelly G's and an unfortunate member of her club (a person who lost her husband in the 9/11 attack). Kelly and I were talking this morning about how hard it is to have that blind faith that God will give us some direction in out new lives. So often we wonder where He is and when we sill have an answer to what we need to do next. About an hour later Kelly called me back with the news of "Wait". She had mentioned months ago how you were so touched by the poems message. I almost feel that maybe this was God's way of helping Kelly and I to hold onto that blind faith. I leave for Idaho on Sunday where I will be returning to a place that is my healing, safe place. It's a health and wellness ranch called Hidden Creek. I plan on reading your newest book on the flight over with the 10 other friends I have made in my support group. I will share the message that this poem has given me. I know it will help the others who are feeling like Kelly and I have been lately. Thank you so much, Marianne, for creating such a beautiful work of art. Most Sincerely, |
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May 2003 This book was a total blessing from the Lord. About 5 years ago I broke up with a boy that I had been dating for about 4 months--it was one of the hardest things I had ever done and he had been one of my best friends for two years before we began dating. We were just at different places spiritually and I feel God spoke to my heart about letting him go. I truly believed that he was "the one" and had prayed since I was young that I wouldn't date someone I wasn't going to marry (seems a little unreal in todays society I know...) so this was confusing for me. Well, for the past five years I have known that I made the right decision but I have not been able to rid of my feelings for this boy. We still are very good friends and are totally at this time serving where God has called us--he is totally growing in the Lord. Will he ever call us to serve together? I do not know.... But I must tell you that this book encouraged me more than ever to "Wait". And not to wait for the boy (God's will be done) but to truly wait on the Lord and learn from Him what he is trying to teach me through this time of uncertainties. |
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May 2003 For the last 6 months I've been experiencing many different health issues as well as spiritual battles. While waiting for answers on my health issues I've had to deal with faith issues. I've dealt with being afraid, wondering why God hasn't answered my prayers, and just plain wondering why I can't seem to "wait". Today I saw your book advertised in our local Bible store brochure, and so I decided to see if I could find the poem on the Internet, and sure enough it was there. "Wait" was just what I needed. The Lord led me to this sight and I have been blessed. It's such a blessing to know others go through these trials too. Thank God for Mr. Kelfer and this beautiful poem. I want all the blessings the Lord has to give even if I have to "Wait". God Bless you! . . . from Robyn W. ---------------- back to top ---------------- |
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May 2003 I went through a very difficult 3 years of infertility. This poem was circulated in my on-line support group called Hanna's Prayer. Let me share with you what my waiting blessed me with. I have always longed to be a mom to many children. We lost 2 babies to miscarriage, had two sons and then journeyed with God for 3 years into infertility. during that time I had longed and prayed that God would bless us with another baby or change my desire to meet His. Over the course of infertility I same to long for an adopted child, but my husband would not agree to that...so I continued to pray through the pain, month after month. On April 7 my husband and I had a huge blow up over nothing. But all of the hormone therapy I was on was making me completely irrational. Joe told me we were done with infertility treatment, we would pursue adoption. I was thrilled and relieved. Only to find out on the 9th that I was pregnant! While I was very excited I was also disappointed, I really wanted to adopt, and I didn't want to lose another baby to miscarriage. My husband came home from work within 10 minutes of my finding out about the pregnancy and we prayed together. When we were finished I said "Well I guess God answered our prayers about how to add another child to the family, through pregnancy." He then said something I will never forget, "Just because we're pregnant doesn't mean we shouldn't pursue adoption, He changed my heart about that for a reason and we still need to look into it." I'm happy to report that a healthy baby boy was born 12-21-99. His sister was brought home from China November 2002! I'm still amazed that My Abba did answer my prayers, and He gave me more than I would have dreamed of asking him for, both my precious son and daughter! I've passed the "Wait" poem on to many people, telling my story as I go, giving glory to God our Father for His abundant grace! His grace could have come in the form of deliverance from a desire that was not His purpose, instead He chose to fulfill a desire that I am certain, now, was from Him. |
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April 2003 "My friends would tell you that I am one of the most impatient people they know. I would have to agree. It’s very hard for me accept someone else’s timeline. Once I get an idea in my head, I feel I'm being pro-active when I charge ahead. I keep thinking about God helping those who help themselves. Well, this has been a source of constant letdown for me when I don't get my way. After reading this book, I realized that maybe I don't have all the answers and maybe I don't know when or what is best for me." -- Nancy, Minneapolis, MN ---------------- back to top ---------------- |
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April 2003 "We gave a copy of this book to our best friend who has been unemployed for 18 months. He cried when he read it and told us it helped him put things in focus. Now he reads it four times a day. He was so grateful for the reminder that there is a higher power watching over us." -- Christian book rep, Minneapolis, MN ---------------- back to top ---------------- |
© 2002, 2003 Wait. All rights reserved.
© 2003 Marianne Richmond Studios, Inc. All rights reserved.