Seven days…that’s how long I have left to wait. What I am waiting for is irrelevant except for the fact that when the answer comes it could change the course of my lifetime. Each day I play in the sandbox of normalcy; yet, my mind and eyes wander outside the box and delve into my vivid imagination.

My imagination: a living theatre which shows me pictures of events yet to happen as if I were a mesmerized child watching an entertaining movie. Yet, my imagination is both wicked and wonderful… full of the carnal and spiritual…my realized failures and my anticipated hopes. The moments I trust in myself and the moments I trust in God each battle for a starring role. These seven days have played out like a horror picture in my mind. All the while, I continue on the physical path of normalcy.

Have you ever waited for something that during the interim brought fear into your imagination? Maybe it was the result of a medical test, a desire to hear a voice of someone you miss, nervous anticipation about an upcoming meeting, a decision to be made, a tug to move beyond, the feeling of waiting to fail, or simply the prayer that things will change financially, spiritually, emotionally or physically.

I consumed fear like popcorn, numbly putting thoughts of heartache, pain, and despair into my soul. The devil became satisfied with my appetite. As the movie of my doubts and possible failures finally ends, the credits appear upon the screen of my imagination:

PRODUCED and DIRECTED BY: THE DEVIL

The stark white lettering upon the black screen burned my eyes as the words slowly scrolled up only to be replaced by a second line:

LEAD ACTOR: YOU

I cannot move. The seventh day moves past me and I still remain as I was…under the direction of the devil. His ability to put fear into my soul disables my desire to get the awaited answer, to move forward with my plan, to progress beyond the mundane and into my passions, to move beyond my struggles and get busy being the person I know God meant for me to be. I have no idea what day it is now. I become lethargic as fear gradually is replaced by apathy. I no longer care as I should. Time passes like a slow, black river and I drift further into darkness.

Just when I feel my soul slipping into the devil’s laugh, whiteness bursts forth as these words alone appear on the screen: “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

I hear the devil scream as more words flash before my eyes: “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you” (Romans 16:20).

I stand and turn around to face the projector. Words intended for the screen now wrap around upon my body: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).

PROMISE: God will give me rest.

MY PART: Come, Take, Learn, and Find.

I exit the theater of my imagination, toss my remaining fear-laden popcorn into the trashcan, and head out to take, learn, and find a new opportunity to have my physical actions coincide with my mental and spiritual thinking. As the brightness of the day pours upon my face I feel reborn and rested from the inside out. The waiting is over…my answer is alone in CHRIST JESUS.

No more anxious waiting.