You’re ready for it.
You’ve worked for it. You’ve studied for it. Others have told you you deserve it, or you’ve earned it. You’ve prepared for it. Most importantly, you’ve prayed for it. But…you wait.
In your waiting you begin to question God. Does He really hear you? Are your prayers bouncing off the ceiling? Does He even care about this thing you’re waiting for? Maybe you begin to doubt God’s goodness, or His promises.
I don’t know your situation, or what you’re waiting on, but I know what God has taught me in the waiting.
See, so often in my waiting, I make the thing I’m waiting on an idol. I focus all of my attention and energy on obtaining this thing I’m waiting on. As if, the harder I try, the more likely I am to get it. But God has brought me back to the basics.
“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
– John 15:7
When I meditate on this verse, I’m humbled to admit that so much of the time I’m not abiding in God. Or Psalm 37:4 which says,
“Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
But what if the thing I’m waiting on becomes my delight when I receive it, and thus takes my delight away from the Lord?
God is able to read your heart and my heart far better than we could ever understand it ourselves.
The truth is waiting is hard, but it has a purpose. You didn’t need me to tell you that. But maybe you didn’t realize this… we’re almost always waiting on something.
Waiting for a job… a spouse… a house… kids… a new car… a vacation…
What are you waiting on today?
For this pandemic to be over?
For a shipment to arrive?
For career development?
For an apology from someone?
For restored relationships?
For anxiety and depression to cease?
For joy to come?
For the ache of loss to lessen?
Whatever it is, you’re not alone. Everyone is waiting for something. I’m thankful that God’s Word has a lot to say about the waiting.
“The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.”
– Lamentations 3:25
“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, more than watchmen for the morning.”
– Psalm 130:5-6
In your waiting, don’t stop hoping. Don’t stop believing. And don’t stop praying. I know it feels like God isn’t hearing you, or doesn’t care, but He does. I’m writing this for myself too. Let’s remember to keep our eyes on Him in our waiting. We can try to make it all happen in our own strength, but don’t forget we serve a God for which nothing is impossible.
Make this your prayer,
“Lord, today You know what I need to do, but You can do more in my waiting than I could do in my doing. So I won’t run anymore. I’m waiting on You.”
“I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!”
– Psalm 27:13-14
Billy Peterson
Children’s Ministry Director