Waiting. It’s one of the most difficult things to do when you know something huge is on the horizon. At the moment, for me, it’s the World Race. After getting accepted and finally committing to this adventure (after getting over the realization of what I had committed to…11 countries in 11 months and living out of a backpack for that whole time….I’m not gonna lie there was a brief moment of panic where I was like, WHAT DID I GET MYSELF INTO??!!) I was ready to get on a plane and leave the next day to start on this adventure. Making Him famous to the nations.
Instead I’m in the season of waiting. I know this is one of the moments where I’m suppose to say, ” I love this time! Waiting is teaching me so much!” Honestly, it’s really hard! Due to a few set backs, I now have an extended waiting period. When I signed up for the WR I was suppose to launch in August (like right now) but instead bumped it back to launching in January. So now here I am still waiting and looking on to the next season of my life to what I think will be the most exciting and adventurous one yet.
I notice that this is a common trend in my life; not satisfied in my current season and always looking on to the next; thinking it looks even better than the one I am in. (You know, the grass is always greener on the other side, right?) In middle school it was always, when I get to high school that’s when everything will be perfect and I will no longer be awkward. (Plot twist: still awkward) In high school it was always I can’t wait to get to college and be independent! (Side Note: Don’t become an adult it’s a trap.) Now after college, it’s wait until I graduate and then I get to really have an adventure! What I always seem to overlook is the new set of challenges and obstacles each phase of life seems to present. Funny enough, things never turned out the way I had planned on. Each lesson was an opportunity for the Lord to mold me and shape me into the woman of God I am now. Still deeply flawed and always falling short but covered in His grace.
As overstated as this is: we do live in a world where we want things (and often get) things instantly. Fast food, Amazon two-day shipping (which maybe the greatest invention ever but my wallet may say a different story), internet. Very seldom do we have to wait for anything more than five minutes. So you could look at waiting, especially patiently waiting, as a lost art form. (Let’s be honest, how annoyed are you when your meal at McDonalds takes longer than two minutes to be delivered to you or the internet takes longer than two seconds to load the next episode of Grey’s Anatomy on Netflix?) I once herd a sermon about being content where God has you at the moment. Not looking ahead and wishing you were there but pausing and truly taking in the moment you are in right now. The example used was David.
David is one of my all time favorite characters in the Bible. Even though the dude royally screwed up a few times (Bathsheba anyone??); he was still known as a man after God’s own heart and God still used Him to further His Kingdom.The dude also knows a thing or two about waiting and trusting in God’s plan. Whenever God anointed him King of Israel, his reign didn’t start immediately. No, he had to go back to his daily life and continue to herd sheep and wait. (Like over ten years!) Not only did he wait ten years but spent a good bit of that time trying to avoid Saul (the current king) from murdering him. The entire situation was far greater than him and was completely out of his control. The only thing David could do was trust the Lord… and wait.
David wasn’t excused from his daily responsibilities or told to do nothing and it definitely wasn’t easy. He continued to work and pursue the Lord daily even when faced with difficulty. (I would consider facing a giant with a rock and sling a pretty difficult task, IDK about you). He had to trust that God had his back. (like when he was being hunted by crazy Saul) God was faithful in everything and continued to prepare him to be king. David had to be content with where he was at the moment. Through that season God prepared him for the next life changing season.
I’m not being hunted by a crazy king (that I know of) or having to take down giants with just a rock and sling shot and my calling in life is not ruling a nation but God has called me to an amazing journey and brought me an amazing opportunity but just not immediately. Even though it seems so far away, like David this is the season that He is preparing my heart for. He is faithful. He has plan. We just have to trust Him.
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and courageous. Wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14
