Wait

Everyone finds themselves in periods of waiting sometimes. Often, even. Chances are, everyone you meet is waiting for something: a new job, a new relationship, a new purchase, the next big thing.

I'm convinced that people are often so busy looking forward to the next thing, that we forget to enjoy the stage that we're at--even if that is a season of waiting. When you're 9, you want to be ten. Then you want to be 14 and get your driver's permit. Then 16 to get the full license. Then 17 so you can get into R rated movies. Then 18 and become a legal adult. Then 21. Then 25. Then you want to get married. Then you want kids. Then you want.....

The list could keep going.

And those are all good things to want and to wait for--or, to not want to wait for--but we have to understand that when we wait, we wait expectantly and we trust that God is getting ready to bless us in one way or another. Waiting mirrors hope and a trust that God works all things for our good. Even when we have to wait.

This should change our attitude of waiting. We should complain less because we know that God is working in the background in ways we cannot even fathom.

Since ancient times no one has heard,

    no ear has perceived,

no eye has seen any God besides you,

    who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.

-Isaiah 64:4

This verse says that God will act on behalf of those who wait for him. He honors our waiting and gives us the best. God is the one moving while we wait.

I waited patiently for the Lord;

    he turned to me and heard my cry.

-Psalm 40:1

Again, in this verse we see that God is the one moving. As we wait, He turns to us and hears us.

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

-Exodus 14:14

This is one of my favorite verses about waiting. Again, as we are still, God does the hard work for us. And would we really want it any other way? The waiting is hard, but there is growth in being still and waiting expectantly for God to take care of us in a far better way than we could ever take care of ourselves. Our relationship with God grows during this time as our hope and trust are put to the test. Our relationships with others can grow during this time too, as most people find themselves in a stage of waiting and can relate and encourage very easily.

When we are still, God is ever-working on our behalf.