The Shop
  • Home
  • About
  • The Blog
  • Bible with Me
    • Bible Studies
    • Bible Printables & Screensavers
    • Bible on the Blog (by topic)
  • Paint with Me
  • The Substack Community
  • WHOLESALE
  • SHOP MY ART
    • SHOP ALL
    • NEW
    • Stickers
    • Notepads
    • POSTCARDS
      • All Postcards
      • Postcard Sets
    • Greeting Cards
      • Boxed Card Sets
      • Anniversary + Love
      • Baby
      • Birds
      • Bible Verse Cards
      • Birthday
      • Celebration
      • Christmas Cards
      • Friendship
      • Hymn Cards
      • Sympathy/Empathy
    • ART PRINTS
      • Hymns
        • Fall 2024 Hymn Collection
        • HYMN POSTCARDS/Mini Prints
        • CHRISTMAS
      • Jesus Speaks to Women
      • Landscapes
      • Birds
      • Encouragement
      • Harrisonburg/Local
      • CHRISTMAS
    • BIBLE PRINTABLES
      • Full Color Card Sets
      • Coloring Pages
      • Advent + Christmas Printables
      • PRINTABLES in SPANISH
    • CHRISTMAS
    • $5 BIBLE CARD SETS
    • Gift Cards
    • *SALE*
  • Your account
    • Your account
    • Wishlist
  •  
Categories

Marydean Draws

MENUMENU
  • Home
  • About
  • The Blog
  • Bible with Me
    • Bible Studies
    • Bible Printables & Screensavers
    • Bible on the Blog (by topic)
  • Paint with Me
  • The Substack Community
  • WHOLESALE
  • SHOP MY ART
    • SHOP ALL
    • NEW
    • Stickers
    • Notepads
    • POSTCARDS
      • All Postcards
      • Postcard Sets
    • Greeting Cards
      • Boxed Card Sets
      • Anniversary + Love
      • Baby
      • Birds
      • Bible Verse Cards
      • Birthday
      • Celebration
      • Christmas Cards
      • Friendship
      • Hymn Cards
      • Sympathy/Empathy
    • ART PRINTS
      • Hymns
        • Fall 2024 Hymn Collection
        • HYMN POSTCARDS/Mini Prints
        • CHRISTMAS
      • Jesus Speaks to Women
      • Landscapes
      • Birds
      • Encouragement
      • Harrisonburg/Local
      • CHRISTMAS
    • BIBLE PRINTABLES
      • Full Color Card Sets
      • Coloring Pages
      • Advent + Christmas Printables
      • PRINTABLES in SPANISH
    • CHRISTMAS
    • $5 BIBLE CARD SETS
    • Gift Cards
    • *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!

0
Previous Keeping in step
Next homeschool kindergarten: fall round-up & things we like in the homeschool room

Related Posts

Keeping in step

joy

Some hope if the news scares you, a greater fear + a printable promise

hope

The Question I’m Asking These Days

advent

Telling my soul the truth

hope

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

In my Friday newsletter today: 🌷 Wineskins and In my Friday newsletter today:
🌷 Wineskins and shrinking the Gospel
🌷 A Frozen/Frozen 2 analogy
🌷 the glorious "God-bathed" world
🌷 new artwork

Read it all here on Substack or the link in my profile!
Part 2 of the study of the Samaritan woman is up o Part 2 of the study of the Samaritan woman is up on Substack. I spent a lot of time thinking about the course and content of this conversation that has always been a little mystifying to me. I break down how I read it and why I find it so encouraging. 

You can read it all here:
https://marydeandraws.substack.com/p/jesus-speaks-to-women-chapter-3-the-4ad
My Friday newsletter is up on Substack! I'm talki My Friday newsletter is up on Substack! 
I'm talking about paintings plans, new artwork processes, and bad marriage advice (a podcast suggestion).

Link in my profile!
I've been trying to figure out a process for paint I've been trying to figure out a process for painting mixed media on a thrifted wood panel coated with cold press ground. I've been adding layers of ground to the flowers with a palette knife. Still not exactly where I want to go, but I learn something new each time. 😊🎨🖌

You can find all my work at www.marydeandraws.com and on Substack at You can find all my work at www.marydeandraws.com and on Substack where I share accessible and fun watercolor tutorials and Bible meditations for the weary, wounded and wondering! 

https://marydeandraws.substack.com/

Marydean Draws is a small business based in Harrisonburg, VA. I carry art prints, greeting cards, downloadable Bible printables, postcards, and stickers. ❤️ Retailers can find my wholesale line at marydeandraws.faire.com 🛍 

#marydeandraws #femaleowned #smallbusinessowner #watercolorist #hymns #virginiaartist #virginiasmallbusiness
Follow on Instagram

Subscribe to the Newsletter!

Copyright ©Marydean Draws 2025 2025 Marydean Draws
Theme by SheShoppes

So glad you're here! ♥ Get free shipping on orders of $75 or more. Dismiss

I send a FREE Friday newsletter filled with encouragement, good reads, and shop updates. On Wednesdays, I share watercolor tutorials and Bible studies. Wanna join me?

As a thank you for signing up, I’ll send you a beautiful free 5×7″ printable print.