Hold your horses! Wait a minute. Hold on. Just a sec. I’ll be right there. Hang on. One second.
These phrases are often uttered in my home. I’m usually the one saying them. “Can I have a snack?” “Hold on.” “Mommy, can you play pink doll house with me?” “I’ll be right there.” My children get a little frustrated sometimes waiting for me to finish laundry, cleaning bathrooms, or writing an article. But I always come. I’m not going to leave my child in need.
This morning in my quiet time I got four, not one but four, verses about waiting.
We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. Psalm 33:20 NIV
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. Psalm 37:7 NIV
Wait for the Lord and keep his way. Psalm 37:34 NIV
I will wait for you, O Lord; you will answer, O Lord my God. Psalm 38:15 NIV
You think God is trying to tell me something? Hmmm…. I looked up the origin of “hold your horses” and found out it dates back to the 19th century. The phrase was first found in New Orleans in 1844. Back in the old days when men were incensed about something they would jump on their horses, sometimes with a whole posse, and ride off to deal with the problem. Also in battle when the men and even the horses got riled up, they were ready to charge off, sometimes at an inopportune time. “Hold your horses” meant to keep the horses still and wait.
Are you thinking about charging into a battle at a time that may not be God ordained? Hold your horses! Keep your horses still and wait. Pray and ask God about the right timing. He’ll always come. He’s not going to leave His children in need. But in the meantime, wait. Hold your horses! And I’ll hold mine.
I had to smile at the comment about “Holding Your Horses.” My youngest, when asked to do something, will often reply “Hold On.” We’ll always say, “We don’t want to hold on,” which makes her roll her eyes. Really it means wait, just the thing that we in this “microwave generation” do not want to do!
It’s awesome your bible reading had four different verses about wait. I’ve always heard that if God says something twice you better pay attention. Four times in one day is definitely motivation to stop and think it over!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I liked this post. I didn’t know where that expression came from, now I do. That is interesting. He has told me over and over to wait before. The big one that He brings to me over and over is to be still and know that He is God. To quit striving..and be still. I think that goes along with waiting on Him, at least to me. Blessings on your day.
Excellent post Carol. I love how you put so much in just a few words.
i so often want to RUSH…but the times I wait on Him are SO much better..thanks…
love
jess
Thank you, Carol. My patience with circumstances is running quite thin today. When no doors seem to be opening for me to just ride on through it is quite frustrating!!!
Blessings, girlfriend!!!
Thanks Carol and bless you for
“Hold Your Horses”, I always have had to learn to WAIT because I so often want to race ahead.
I thought I had made a comment here
when I read it…sorry.
This sheep hasn’t been out of her pasture much later but I’m always so bessed by what and how you write to transfer God’s message to our hearts and lives.
Children have a way of teaching us much! Inquisitive minds like your son’s are priceless…he’s already getting practice putting on his full armor for the battle…just by asking!
Bless you so much for being concerned about me. My TT post included you especially and making me one of your flock! Thanks shep!
Carol, thanks for stopping by. But more than anything, the fact that you take the time to remember my prayer request touches me. It means more than you know and I covet your continued prayers. Blessings to you.
Love, Sita
I have been known to issue some of these phrases myself. I never knew where hold your horses came from, but hold on is probably the most popular in my house. And wait a minute, except I say wait a minute several times in a row so my kids probably think it’s wait 16,000 minutes.
Can you “hold on” three more weeks? Can’t wait to meet you at She Speaks soon!!!
Sweet Blessings!
Waiting is my hardest issue!Thanks for putting it into perspective for me.
This was a fun post, and a good reminder. With six children I am always saying something like that. I’ll remember to listen to God on this one today!
Stopping by from Lysa’s site. See you at She Speaks.