In the Waiting

Everybody's waiting for something.

• a job
• marriage
• a baby
• direction
• a visit from loved ones
• the homecoming of an adopted child
• a prodigal child to return home
• healing
• a loved one to come to know the Lord

The wait can be long. painful. discouraging.

It can bring about feelings of doubt. hopelessness. fear.

Worry, bitterness, and envy.

We've all waited for something. In fact, it's likely we're all waiting for something right now. Through days, months, and years of waiting, I commonly believed that the thing for which I was waiting was the prize ~ the desired result ~ the end-all. I thought it was that thing which would bring fulfillment and joy and contentment.

But as I've waited (and continue to wait) over the years, I'm learning that while the end result can be (and often is) so sweet ~ it's what God does in our hearts in the meantime that is the sweetest of all. Because in the waiting...

• He comforts us and ministers to our hurting hearts.
• He teaches us to pray and persevere in prayer.
• He increases our desire to know Him and fellowship with Him.
• He gets our will in line with His and sometimes gives us new desires.
• He encircles us with those who have walked similar roads and because of that are now able to comfort with the comfort they themselves have received from Him.
• He gets us to admit our utter inability and our complete need for Him.
• He shows us that He is enough.

The pain of waiting is real. It's hard. And the emotions are often raw. Yet the God who has dealt bountifully with us in the past is faithful still today. Our hearts can rejoice and take refuge in His unfailing love.

"But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness." Psalm 69:13