Life is full of waiting – from our mothers waiting expectantly for us to be born, to waiting for food, traffic lights and queues. Or watching and waiting to find that special person, waiting to hear back from a job or career opportunity, waiting to see if you made the team, waiting to be paid, waiting for other people to catch up or be ready, waiting for answers or clarity from God….waiting, waiting waiting.
However we can learn alot about ourselves while we wait. Like are we trusting God and being patient, are we being loving and kind as we wait or do we become moody, tetchy and impatient? Do we wait with a good attitude or start to lose heart and get distracted, and on the wrong path, doing unproductive and even harmful things? Do we give up while waiting or keep standing expectantly?
God wastes nothing and regardless of what is happening (or not happening), and how long we have had to wait, I’ve discovered He is more interested in who we are – our character and what sort of man or woman we are becoming, than in what we’re usually actually waiting for. He is always good and wants to grant us the desires of our heart, but He also knows some things take a certain amount of set and when the right time for them is to arrive. Much like a baby…if it arrives too early it can be dangerous, is more stressful and is far better to arrive in 9 months rather than at 8 months when most mothers are getting uncomfortable and fed up with waiting.
God knows everything has an appointed time and rather than grumble, complain or have a bad attitude He wants us to grow in the wait, and to learn to lean on His goodness, and to trust Him even when the answer or dream looks long in coming. He forges our character in the wait and sharpens, refines and works on us like a mastercraftsman creating a masterpiece. His work is done far quicker and properly if we stay put and don’t keep running off doing our own thing or throwing a hissy fit because we think everything is taking too long.
Unfortunately from experience I’ve learnt impatient grumbling attitudes and behaviour usually hold things up. God is never in a hurry, but He is interested in us becoming all we were made to be, and He definitely, if we cooperate will use the waiting times for good in our lives.
“Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.” ( Proverbs 14:29)
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”(Galatians 6:9)
Today whatever or wherever you are in life I encourage you to learn and grow in the wait. Trust God’s appointed timing and that when you have finished waiting it will be all the sweeter for the testing and proving of your character and your increased appreciation for what you have waited for.
Prayer: Lord I’m choosing to trust your appointed perfect timing and to have a great attitude as I wait. Please work in me and create a right heart and attitude in me today. In Jesus name amen
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