I’ve never been very good at waiting. I don’t think any of us are, especially in our ‘instant’ society where we can send electronic messages across the world in seconds; pick up ‘fast food’ from the comfort of our cars in minutes; and scroll through dozens of tv channels with the flick of our thumbs without leaving the comfort of our recliners. I become irritated, distracted, and can lose focus if I am faced with waiting.
This morning, as I read my devotion, a couple of blogs, and scrolled through Facebook (yes, guilty pleasure!) I read several articles, memes, and scriptures about ‘waiting’….. is God trying to tell me something? Am I waiting right now? What am I waiting for? Is God preparing something for me to do? Where is God in the waiting?
We’ve all had to wait for something in our lives. Sometimes for a long, long time. I’ve waited for exam results, the right husband, medical results, for a child to be born, or for someone to die. I’ve waited for a job posting, a schedule change, and eventually retirement! Sometimes waiting can be a longer season - waiting for healing, restoration of a relationship, financial improvement, salvation of a loved one, or other answers to prayer. Waiting can be anxious torture!
Where is God in the waiting? Isaiah 40:31 “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles,They shall run and not be weary,They shall walk and not faint.” Oh, how I have clung to those words in my times of desperate waiting. Wondering. Have I prayed enough, or do I keep pushing through? Do I have enough faith, or is this prayer God’s will? So many questions, so many doubts, so many tears, especially in the waiting.
Waiting can also be a time of preparation. As I trained as a registered nurse, I studied and practiced my skills. I took exams and learned. I was mentored. Without the proper training I could be a liability instead of a blessing.
Sometimes waiting is a time for growth as with a pregnancy. A human baby takes 40 weeks to grow, mature, and prepare for life outside the protective womb of the mother. Without proper time spent growing, a child’s chance of survival is limited.
Waiting can also be a time of anticipation and excitement. Planning travel, a wedding or a special event the time spent anticipating a positive event can almost be as enjoyable as the event itself.
“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:13-14
Where is God in the waiting? He is here, right beside me, comforting me, leading me, guiding me, and keeping me on the path towards the unknown.
So I will wait. To see what God is preparing me for. To see where my journey takes me next. And in the waiting I will rejoice. I will praise God for what I see AND what I don’t see. I will try not to become distracted, discouraged, or lose focus. I know that he is with me, that he has a plan for me, and that the wait will be worth it.
