are going to cause you to faint if you are not careful. A bad atmos phere can cause a faintness. South ern California can often be envel oped in a dense smog. All sorts of restrictions and legislations have been passed but the fact endures that the smog remains and is even worse with each passing year. There are a lot of Christians who are in a smog spiritually. Such an atmosphere can cause us to be critical and cynical, always finding fault with things. There are even those who would treat the things of the Lord with levity. Do not be involved in that kind of atmos phere. I recall hearing my wife warn me on occasion, as we have been out travelling on the road, "If I do not get some food, I am going to faint." Have you ever felt that way? A lack of proper nourishment may cause you to feel faint. How well- nourished are we, spiritually speak ing? Some of us have not only fainted, but also we have nearly expired. It has been so long since we were on a proper, balanced diet of Cod's Word. One may also faint from discouragement, seeing all of the problems and difficulties on every hand. If we do not trust the Lord, it can be devastating. Then, one can faint through chas tisement. Scripture admonishes us, "My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him." Disciplining is necessary and we should learn to accept it as given in love from the hand of the Lord. Now, no doubt you have used this last verse in seeking the Lord's leading at some point in your life. No doubt you have heard other people quote it, too. There is a
very pertinent message for us to day to understand. David urges us, "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." Do you know, I find waiting is one of the hardest things in all of the world any of us have to do. When I was a boy growing up I well remember how long it was to wait until Christmas. It just seemed like the calendar and all time slowed down when it came to that season. Then, in later years, I think back to how long it seemed before I could get my driver's license and how interminable it was before I got my first car (that 1934 Plymouth coupe with a rumble seat in the back). I can also think back to an extensive wait of three days. That was how long it took Margaret, af ter I had proposed to her, to make up her mind that she would marry me. I know, it was only three days, but it seemed an eternity. Have you ever had to wait for someone or for something? I have been in doctors' offices where I have just about exhausted all hope of getting to see the busy physician. Waiting for more than an hour can make one quite impatient. When I called for an appointment with my eye doctor, he said it would be four months before he could see me. Just too busy, too many people wanting his services. All of these things seem as noth ing when compared to waiting on the Lord. And this is what is really necessary. And, oh how valuable are these lessons to be learned. Things are revealed to us some times only by patience. There is a real purpose behind it, although it is not easy. In James 1:4 we have a good explanation for this situa-
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