He Is Working in the Waiting
“Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart be courageous. Wait for the LORD.” Psalm 27:4
Raise your hand if you like to wait for things. Christmas morning, your Starbucks order, your friends to come over, the last bell of the school day to ring. Anyone? Okay, me neither.
I feel like I am often the most impatient person in the room. My husband laughs at me because I’m usually ten steps ahead of him, literally and mentally. I just go at a fast pace, but often that lightning-fast pace means I am missing what God is doing right in front of me.
Most of the time, I wish that God had given me what I’m currently praying for yesterday. I wish He moved more in my time. You want it right now? Here it is. And I do think He works like that sometimes, but the beautiful thing I’m learning about God is just how good and life-changing it can be to wait on Him.
Let’s be real and start by saying it doesn’t feel good AT ALL. The times I wrestle most with God are the soon but not right now seasons, and I think a lot of us probably feel that way. We’re waiting on God to provide friends, a partner, healing for relationships or sick family members; we’re waiting on money to come in, situations to change, dreams to come true, you name it. And there’s a rub because we’re praying and believing God can come through, but it’s not happening quickly. We can’t see the healing or provision yet, and it scares us. I don’t know about you, but when I’m in that place, I can feel like Peter walking on the waves with Jesus (Matthew 14: 22-33); one minute I’m trusting and it’s amazing, the next I’m looking down, freaking out, and drowning. But God is always there to pick me up again and remind me that if I wait on Him, the timing will be beautiful and just right. Each experience brings me to trust Him and understand Him a little more.
It really does take strength and courage to wait on the Lord. We can’t see the way He sees, and can so easily think our way is the right way. But what I believe God wants to do is take us on a journey to get where we are supposed to go, so that in the end, we can see His power and not our own and really appreciate His great love for us.
So whatever you’re waiting on today, be encouraged. Let us hold fast to the truth that the Lord loves us, fights for us, knows and wants the best for us, and that His timing is the right timing. We can trust that what He gives us is good, and that no day or experiences is wasted in His eyes. Be strong friend, and take courage; He’s in the waiting with us.