Wait Well

Waiting. A word that we don't want to hear a lot and we don't want to do a lot of if we would be truthful. Let's admit it...it can be hard to wait! It's hard to wait in a long line at the store or restaurant (especially when you're hungry or tired!). Once you get seated at the restaurant, it can be hard to wait for your order of food to come. It's hard to wait for an answer from someone you left or sent a message to. It can be hard to wait on the results of your health or a score on a test you have taken recently. While we're waiting, we may start to get impatient, worry, fuss, complain, overthink or just think the worse. Thinking about the worst brings about the what if questions, which we should try not to entertain or dwell on. We might also starting thinking how unfair it is that we have to wait. Just like it can be hard to wait in all the situations listed above, it can be hard to wait on God too. We know what God's Word says. We know He sees and knows everything. We know He cares about us and our situations. Even in knowing all of that, we can still have trouble waiting on Him. I'm in a season of my life right now where I'm waiting on God's promises to come to pass. However, God is teaching me in this season to wait on Him and to wait well. Is it always easy? No! Have I questioned? Yes! Is it uncomfortable at times? Yes! But through it all, He is getting me through day by day and I'm so thankful for that. I know with every day, I'm getting closer to seeing God's promises happen in my life. Let's see what Psalm 27:14 says about waiting. It says, " Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!" We can wait well when God is helping us. Here is what I am learning and I pray it encourages you! In the wait, we need to keep studying and living God's Word daily. We need to speak God's promises aloud. We need to speak who He says we are, not the opinions of others or how the world wants to define us. We need to be thankful and give God praise daily. God has a reason for the wait. He knows what's ahead and will protect us. That's why He didn't allow us to get into that relationship, go to that particular college or be on the road at a particular time. Perhaps you were in that long line at the store because there was an accident God kept you being in. I'm learning not to look at the delays as delays, but to look at them as steps ordered by God. Delays don't always mean denial. God will send delays to let you know that He has a better job or college offer ahead, scholarship or grant money, job or athletic promotion, a better relationship. He doesn't want us to settle (another life lesson I'm learning!). If we move too soon or too late, we may miss the opportunity. While we're waiting on the best, we also need to prepare for what we're praying for. We can take care of the space we're living in, learn to budget and manage money wisely, learn to cook simple and tasty meals, learn different skills for a certain job, apply for the business license, write, draw, create designs, take classes, study and take necessary tests for certification. I hope you saw yourself somewhere in the list. I know I did! We need to learn all we can where we are in the wait. We can trust God's timing and ask for His guidance. He will let us know when to take action or be still. Not only will He let us know when to take action, but how to take action also. We can use our time wisely in the wait. As Psalm 27:14 points us, God will strengthen us in the wait. There is greater on the other side of the wait. It's funny...I had plans to post this blog on Friday. Notice I said "I". God had other plans! So here it is on a beautiful Monday! Wait well, my friends and watch God move mighty in your life!

In the wait, pray.

In the wait, trust.

In the wait, love.

In the wait, serve.

In the wait, know God is working.