How to Practice Gratitude in the Midst of Waiting by Wycliffe Bible Translatorsનમૂનો

Let Others Inspire and Encourage You

It’s good to have heroes to look up to, but it matters who they are and how you let them influence you. Some of the greatest role models are in the Bible. Spend time today in Hebrews 11, and thank God for the inspiration from heroes of the faith described there. Like you, they experienced times of waiting on God and wondering what He was doing. Be encouraged by their stories and others like them in the Bible, too. For example:

• Sarah dared to laugh at God (Genesis 16) because she’d waited so long but had never had children. And then God blessed her far beyond her imagination through her son, Isaac.
• Hannah was called drunk by a priest (1 Samuel 1) while she waited and prayed for God to bless her with a child. Eventually, God gave her a son named Samuel, who became a prophet for God, and she had more children, too.
• Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, and he suffered great injustices and prison time while he waited on God. But eventually God blessed Joseph — so much so that he became second only to Pharaoh in ruling over Egypt (Genesis 37-41).
• The Apostle Paul waited on God from prison cells multiple times, yet through it all, he learned that “... everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him” (Philippians 3:8-9a, NLT).

There are many more examples from the Bible of people who waited on God and then experienced His great blessings. As you read about and remember them during your own seasons of waiting, there are still people around the world longing to experience the Scripture you read over the last few days in their own language.

The Isnag people in the Philippines waited more than 66 years to have the full Bible translated into their language! After the Bible was printed, they held a joyful celebration where they exchanged their well-worn New Testaments for new Bibles. Other people like the Isnag are still waiting and praying for God’s Word in their language too.

In the midst of your own need for patience, keep letting God comfort and guide you through each verse of His Word. As you do, continually ask Him how He wants you to share Scripture — and all the encouragement, hope, and power He gives you through it — with others.

Reflection:

• Which hero of the faith in the Bible impacts you the most? Why?
• How might you take God’s Word for granted? How can you change that?
• How is God asking you to share His Word with others?

We hope this plan encouraged you! Journey with us to learn more about Bible translation and how Scripture is bringing faith and hope to communities around the world.

For over 80 years, Wycliffe Bible Translators has been connecting people to what God is doing around the world through His Church to bring His life-transforming Word to every man, woman and child.