I will serve you while I’m waiting, I will worship while I’m waiting.
When we were young, our parents tried to instill in us many lessons. The one that stuck with me the most was ‘patience’. Whenever I would become restless in church, they’d tell me to “be patient” it’s almost done. During long car rides they’d hear the most commonly asked question “Are we there yet?” my answer was “be patient”. When Christmas came around and I wanted to open the presents early, my parents would say “be patient”. Even as a 23-year-old, my parents remind me that if I’m patient, the wait will be well worth it.
Is this not the exact thing God tries to tell us every day?
Up until about six months ago I still wanted everything now. I didn’t think I had time to wait. I didn’t want to wait. However, I was still hearing the same thing from everyone I talked to “be patient”. I was tired of waiting for a change in so many things I’d been working endlessly at. I was tired of working hard in the gym and not seeing results. I was frustrated with how much effort I put in at work and I still never seemed to reap the rewards everyone else was. I was kind to everyone and still wasn’t being treated by my ‘friends’ the way one should be. Just like everyone, I was repeatedly being faced with difficult decisions and I never seemed to make the right choices. I was one of ‘those’ people who thought the world was against them. Despite the work and no reward, I kept moving forward, living life, but at what point was I allowed to give up? When was enough, enough?
I struggled for so long with multiple setbacks, just like many who struggle, I hid the fact that I was suffering. I would remind myself day after day, the words I heard so many times, “be patient”. I was holding onto the hope that something great would eventually come from all of this disappointment; the truth is I was falling apart.
That’s when God showed up, in a parking garage. Yes, you read that right.
A parking garage.
Keep in mind this was at, what I felt was the lowest point of my suffering. I can remember the moment so vividly, from the noises, to the smells. It was last summer, some of my coworkers and I went out after work. I had no ambition to be there the entire night, I felt that if I left, no one would notice. I mentioned to my friend that I wanted to leave and she agreed it was time to go. We began walking back to our cars in silence, this was unusual. We finally reached our vehicles when she broke the silence, “Alright, you need to talk”. She continued to tell me how angry I had become, how checked out I had been, everyone missed the ‘old’ Moriah, the happy Moriah. She was worried about me.
Someone cared? Someone noticed? I’m not worth anyone’s time.
The thing is, when someone gets to such low points, they listen to what people say, but they don’t hear what they’re saying. They walk around feeling invisible. No matter what anyone says to them, they can’t believe it. They feel alone, even when they’re surrounded by family and friends who love them. It’s a hard concept to grasp unless you’ve really been there.
Back to the parking garage. The pressure had hit and I broke. I told my friend everything I had been going through, every thought, and every disappointment. God showed up in that moment. My friend immediately wrapped me in her arms and began to pray over me as I cried, in the middle of a parking garage. She asked God to restore my faith and trust his plan. She asked him to wrap his arms around me as I patiently waited for him to work in my life; and that even on the darkest of days, I would remember the sacrifices he’s made for me. He is for me, not against me. My friend doesn’t realize the magnitude of those words spoke over me that night. However, I replay them in my mind often, and thank God for bringing her into my life.
As I continued into the months that followed I’m not going to say things were magically perfect and everything fell into place. I did however, stop dwelling on the disappointment and started taking the necessary steps needed, in order to find my purpose. That’s when The World Race came into the picture, and before I knew it I was planning a trip that would forever alter my life. It was during this time that it all finally made sense. These ‘disappointments’ were merely God’s way of telling me to be ‘patient’ and that he had a much bigger plan for me.
Was it worth it? The hurt and suffering? The wait?
Absolutely!
It’s difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel, I didn’t believe it was possible. Trust me, it is. Whatever is getting you down and holding you back, ‘be patient’. Your time will come and it’ll be greater than you’ve ever imagined.
Now that I’ve entered the next season of this journey, fundraising, I’m reminded of this story and how I must remain patient even when it seems the funds are slow to come. This wait will be worth it.
I also want to thank everyone for the love and support I’ve received during this exciting time. I will never be able to repay you and thank you enough for helping me make The World Race possible. I’d also like to ask you all to prayerfully consider helping me reach my fundraising goal of $18,100. While I know this is a large number, I have no doubt that God has called me to this incredible adventure and will provide. Just $10 a person will help me reach my goal and do BIG things on The World Race.
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer” Romans 12:12
