Marydean Draws

  • Home
  • About
    • About & Contact
    • Creating my hymn prints
  • Bible Studies
    • My Substack
    • The Gospel of Luke Studies
    • The Jesus Speaks to Women Studies
    • Bible Study links
    • Bible on the Blog (by topic)
  • Podcast
  • FREEBIES
  • The Blog Archive
  • TEACHING
  • WHOLESALE
  • the SHOP
    • SHOP ALL
    • NEW
    • ART PRINTS
      • Hymns
        • Spring 2026 Print Collection
        • HYMN POSTCARDS/Mini Prints
        • CHRISTMAS
      • Florals
      • Birds
      • Jesus Speaks to Women
      • Landscapes
      • Encouragement
      • Harrisonburg/Local
      • CHRISTMAS
    • Greeting Cards
      • Boxed Card Sets
      • Christmas Cards
    • POSTCARDS
      • All Postcards
      • Postcard Sets
    • Stickers
    • 2026 Hymn Calendar
    • Notepads
    • BIBLE PRINTABLES
      • Full Color Card Sets
      • Coloring Pages
      • Advent + Christmas Printables
      • PRINTABLES in SPANISH
    • Classroom Printables
    • Watercolor Templates
    • $5 BIBLE CARD SETS
    • Gift Cards
    • SALE
      • STUDIO SALE
    • Your account
    • Wishlist
  •  
December 16, 2014 hope•Jesus•trials•waiting

the longing heart

I’m waiting, not so patiently. Thirty-seven week pregnant and three weeks (or less) seem so far away.

I realize when I’m forced to wait that my faith is often small, my hope short, and my patience untested.

I am waiting for a baby that will most definitely come at some point. Small potatoes.

Others in my life are waiting too:
One for a foster child to fill a beautifully decorated room in her home.
One on a chaotic government to come through so she can bring home an adopted daughter from abroad.
One for a child to be conceived miraculously in her womb, waiting through miscarriages, another through terrible losses.
One for a spouse and a lonely bed to be warmed.
One for God to work in a marriage and spouse.
One for her body to heal and pain to cease.

So much waiting. And there is no erasing the pain of waiting. There is no promising that the waiting will end soon.

But there is ONE we don’t have to wait for.

JESUS.

We started putting this package (and only this one until Christmas day) under our tree last year.

He is here. NOW.
He HAS COME.
He HAS DELIVERED.
He WILL DELIVER.
He is my Comforter, Counselor, the Mighty God, Prince of Peace.

In my waiting, He may be up to a thousand things–or more. I like John Piper’s quote: “God is always doing 10,000 things in your life, and you may be aware of three of them.”

On this I can rest my hope and turn my weary head, even in my “small potatoes” waiting.

I’m loving this Charles Wesley hymn this Christmas (and great video here):
Come, Thou long expected Jesus

Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

So I am praying these things:
  • Release us from our fears and sins
  • Let us find our rest in YOU
  • Be the joy of our longing hearts
  • Rule alone in our hearts
  • Raise our eyes to Your glorious throne!
Merry Christmas friends!

Previous Keeping in step
Next homeschool kindergarten: fall round-up & things we like in the homeschool room

Related Posts

When weak is strong

burdens

Something weird happened last night: reflections from an MRI machine

anxiety

Jesus Speaks to Women: The Widow

Jesus

the courage to wait + Psalm 27:14 Bible verse coloring page (Spanish + English)

gospel

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to the blog!

I’m Mary and I’m glad you’re here! Since 2014, I’ve been sharing encouraging words, fun Bible printables, and accessible art activities.

let’s talk about . . .

SEARCH THE BLOG

❤️ (Sticker in the shop) ❤️
(Sticker in the shop)
I really enjoyed my conversation with Emma about t I really enjoyed my conversation with Emma about the story of the Samaritan woman in John 4. It's an incredible account, but we so often get the whole conversation wrong, and it's way richer than we realize. 

Listen at The Pictured Word podcast or look for Marydean Draws on Substack.

You can find me at www.marydeandraws.com or on my Substack page at https://marydeandraws.substack.com/
Prints and cards going in the mail today! Prints and cards going in the mail today!
When you walk with a community of praying women fo When you walk with a community of praying women for years, you see lots of hard life lived, but also miracles and answered prayers. 💕
Follow on Instagram

Subscribe to the Newsletter!

Copyright ©Marydean Draws 2025 2026 Marydean Draws
Theme by SheShoppes

Hi there! Would you like to join my newsletter?

I send new Bible studies on Wednesdays and a free newsletter
on Fridays filled with encouragement, good reads, and shop updates.
As a thank you for signing up, I’ll send you a printable 5×7″ print.