"No Evidence of Progress"

Several years ago, when I was still at Radford, I signed up for daily devotions by Elisabeth Elliott. She has long been one of my favorite Christian writers -- she was an amazing person who knew that being a woman of God had nothing to do with being "girly." Sometimes, she says just what I'm longing to hear:

At times nothing seems to be happening. So it must be for the bird that sits on her nest. Things are apparently at a standstill. But the bird sits quietly, knowing that in the stillness something vital is going on, and in the proper time it will be shown. It takes faith and patience for the bird, and such faith and patience never seem to waver, day after day, night after night, as she bides the appointed time. Restless and doubtful we wonder why we have nothing to show for our efforts, no visible evidence of progress. Let us remember the perfect egg -- unchanged in its appearance from the day it is laid. But while the bird waits faithfully, doing the only thing she is required to do throughout those silent weeks, important things are taking place.

I wait for the Lord. My soul waits, and in His word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning.
--(Ps. 130:5, 6 RSV)
(From "A Lamp for my Feet" by Elisabeth Elliott)