I'm just going to come right out and say this - I do not like waiting. I don't like it.
But there have been seasons in my life, and I'm guessing seasons in yours too, that waiting is the name of the game.
The in-between.
The in-the-meantime.
The uncertainty of the not-knowing.
If you're in a season of waiting right now, you know this to be true - these are hard days. Waiting requires a daily decision to hold courage and trust by the hand, and fix our eyes on the One who knows the next steps.
In the darkest days of my life, I felt God asking me to wait. Since waiting is one of my least favourite things, the push-pull during that season was significant. But then there was that day, that one really important day, when I put my hands in the air and told God He could have the reigns.
I was willing to let go, and wait. And not only that, I wanted to wait well. I wanted to be a willing, pliable, teachable person, ready to move when He said move.
Not so surprisingly, when I took myself off the case of having to control outcomes, and gave that over to Him, things smoothed out in all kinds of ways.
Here's a few things I've learned in my seasons of waiting:
1. God does not disappoint - He withholds no good thing, and He knows what He's doing.
Your season of waiting is not a surprise to God. He still has His eyes on you, and He still has a plan. A really good plan, uniquely designed, just for you. This is hard to keep in mind when the waiting is long and painful.
I highlighted countless biblical reminders that He is in control, He has a plan, and He will bring good through the waiting. If you're in a season of waiting, search for and then write out 10 scriptures to remind you that you can trust God in the waiting.
Here's a few to get you started: Ps. 84:11, Is. 43:1-3, Rom. 8:25, Ps. 27:14, 2 Peter 3:9, Ex. 14:14
2. Waiting is not a passive experience - To wait well means we choose to grow through the waiting.
To see it as an opportunity to learn more about ourselves, and more about who God is. We can choose to sit back and wait impatiently for the next chapter to begin, or we can actively pursue wisdom, insights, and growth.
Documenting the wait might help change your perspective a bit. Write down what you're learning, write your prayers in a journal, and keep your eye out for areas of growth or times you're noticing God showing up in extra special ways.
3. My timeline and God's timeline usually don't match - and thats a good thing.
The truth is, in my impatience, sometimes I've rushed God and jumped ahead of Him. My inability to wait has left me spinning in my own mess. But when I have waited well, and given God back the reigns, He always rolls out a beautiful plan in the perfect timing.
God is active behind the scenes and He has a plan for you. Stay full of hopeful anticipation, knowing that God is with you in the waiting. And when He is ready to reveal the next chapter, or the next season, you'll be ready to step forward in His plan.
God Bless you this month as you continue to wait well. He will not disappoint you.
Nicole