I drive up to a stop sign and hate that the car in front of me lingers an extra ten seconds. I go to grab some food at Chipotle and find myself annoyed at the gap in the line being caused by that texter. I go to the grocery store and size up the length of the lines to get out quickly.
I hate waiting.
What are you waiting for? A marriage to finally work its way to peace? A time when you can finally quit your job and work toward your dream? A child who will come back home and change his or her ways? A prayer that you so desperately want answered? A future that you no longer need to worry about? A solution to the problem that you just can’t piece together?
Waiting can feel like agony. It can also feel like injustice. Or torture. Or frustration because you don’t know why your good God isn’t pulling through.
May I tell you something? He is pulling through.
Waiting is not about destroying hope, but renewing you.
“How?” you say.
The 5 Ways Waiting is a Blessing
- Waiting addresses your heart-issues.
What you can’t see through times of abundance becomes the red hot potato in your hands during waiting. Here, you can see the burning anger, irritation, bitterness or frustration at God and others. Waiting points a finger to the places God is ready to bring restoration through a heart of confession. - Waiting creates a deeper dependence on God.
When I really need my husband’s help to hang a picture or to get something done, I hang near him. I want him to see me and be reminded of what it is I asked him to do. We do the same with God. We hang closer to Him when we really need him. - Waiting reworks our vision.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted a lesser gift from God. Years ago, I thought it was a silver convertible that was going to be my joy. I prayed for it, desired it and got it. That day was glorious. A couple of months later, it was just another car on the road. I realized I longed for a lesser gift, when what I really wanted was joy. In a wait our vision often adjusts, and rather than asking for a lesser thing, what comes to light is our need for a greater thing. - Waiting sends us out in ministry.
You are not alone in your wait. Thousands of other women and men sit in the same shoes with the same hope, deferred. Waiting helps us to get our eyes off of our demands and to see the dejection of others. As we reach out to them, see the needs and address them, the weight we placed on ourselves lightens. The desire to help and love them increases. Peace swoops in like a dover of hope. - Waiting prepares your heart today for the abundance coming tomorrow.
It’s in the waiting that God does his preparing for the gifts, goodness and greatness he will bring tomorrow. As we wait, impurities fall, so we’re ready to walk into His best with purity. Waiting prepares us to become holy vessels.
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Sometimes we think waiting is a curse but i love how you shared with me that waiting is indeed a blessing! Thanks so much 🙂
xo, Silvia
Love these truths! Sometimes (often) I push ahead, rushing into something because I am impatient. There are amazing blessings and gifts in the waiting. Praying I remember that.
I don’t like waiting either, Kelly. Thanks so much for helping us to see the blessing. I especially like #4: God sends us out in ministry while we wait. He’s definitely doing that as I seek to write a book. Rather than hole up and get it done, I know He’s calling me to step out and reach real live people with my message. Longer process. So I’m waiting!
Honestly? I read your title and thought, “Ugh.” Waiting is the place where my faith is tested every time. Lately I’ve been reviewing this thoughts from Ann Voskamp’s The Broken Way: when we’re waiting we should do what waiters do — serve. So I’m learning, very slowly. Thanks for adding to that process today.
You’re right, we don’t like waiting, but it truly serves a purpose. If only I could remember in the midst of waiting God’s time is always best. And seek what He has for me while I wait.
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Waiting??? Seriously, I’m so over it! (LOL!) I can see that I really needed this post today. Thanks for reminding us all how important it is to wait, and thanks for hosting!
Kelly,
As I grow deeper in trust with my Daddy, waiting isn’t the horrible thing it used to be.
Praying your week is blessed with joy and peace. 🙂
~Sherry Stahl
xoxo
I like how you correlated hanging around near your husband with staying close to God until you get what your waiting for. I noticed children do that with their parents, too, when they’re waiting for something their dad or mom promised them. And they do a lot of “You said, mom….”
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“Waiting creates a deeper dependence on God.”
So, so true. This sentence struck me the most.
Waiting is not easy, but your post reminds me that there are reasons why I must wait. I think it would be horrible to wait and not learn or gain anything from that waiting period. Inspirational 🙂
Waiting makes us a holy vessel. Love it!
What a powerful post, Kelly! It resonated with my heart. Your insights are spot on. You are so right about waiting uncovering heart issues. I like that you pointed out how God reveals those to us because He’s ready (and so are we) for Him to work on them with us.
I needed this read today. Thank you!
all five great points – from one who has waited. (:
I used to despise waiting for anything, and the God taught me how to wait well. I love your points of what waiting does, especially the analogy of wanting your husband to hang a picture and how you draw near. I still don’t like waiting, but I know God’s got it all under control. I found serving God while I am waiting was the best thing I ever did.
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Thank you for sharing this. This is very timely for me. I have been going through my own waiting period for nearly two years now. A period where I so want to do work for God, but I am waiting to see what He wants me to do. I am stuck though in a job I don’t want to be in. I feel like Joseph and I am trapped in a place I don’t want to be, and I am trying to keep on to the hope that God is working through all of this. I just need to stay close to Him. Blessings to you Kelly.
Waiting is so hard. Right now, I am praying over financial decisions. I recommend one way to my husband, but he has not responded. I am waiting on God and him to decide how to fix some financial issues. I will keep my faith. God will work all things for my good because I love Him so much. Thanks for the list of how waiting can be a blessing. It really encouraged me and helped me in my waiting period that I find myself in now.
Wow! This post really spoke to me. My summer was full of a waiting. And you are so right….all these things you mentioned blessed me during this time.
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