Have you ever noticed how many people express frustration and discomfort with waiting? We assume so many others are better at waiting, and we are somehow defective because we weren’t born with the patience gene.
When the truth is, no one is inherently good at waiting.
“I’m great at waiting,” said NO ONE EVER.
I believe that’s why God prompted Paul to include patience as an integral part of the Fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 ESV
Our all-knowing Father understood our human frailty. He created us, and from his great love and mercy, God gave us instruction to pursue these things, knowing they would be a challenge. Patience doesn’t come naturally, but our relationship with Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit help us through our weakness to exude these godly traits.
So as we enter a season where God asks us to wait, we can rest in the assurance of his character as the Giver of grace and peace for as long as we have to wait. We can once again come to him with our pain for enduring the season of waiting and seek his help.
He is faithful to help us when we call on him.
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2
Why Is Waiting So Painful?
The beginning of this new year ushered me into an unexpected season of waiting. In fact, we’re right smack in the middle of waiting right now.
When waiting comes without warning, we’re thrust into a whirlwind of decisions to make. My auto-pilot tendencies kick in, and I begin figuring out what I need to do to help things along. I busy myself during the wait to force time to move faster. I convince myself that I’m being patient, when in reality, I’m simply distracting myself from the worry that comes with the wait.
Waiting seasons are painful when we allow ourselves to sit with worry and the unknowns instead of sitting with Jesus and seeking his peace.
The peace Jesus offers us is more powerful than the peace the world offers. When our hearts cry, “I don’t understand why this is happening. Why won’t God answer?” The peace of Jesus covers our unknowns like a warm blanket. It is the only thing powerful enough to calm us when we face circumstances beyond our human understanding.
Looking to Others Who Waited Well
We’re given a great gift in the stories recorded in Scripture. Stories of those who demonstrated how to wait well and trust in God’s timing, and also of those who lacked patience. (Some even took matters into their own hands. Oh, how I can relate!)
We can learn from these men and women of faith how to wait well when we’re struggling. We find encouragement through their lives and uncover habits we can apply to our own times of waiting. Recently, I listened to a conversation my cohost Carmen and I recorded about how to have faith in the waiting. If you’d like to listen, you can find it here. In our chat, Carmen and I discussed Rahab’s waiting season. Rahab’s story demonstrates for us what it means to fully trust God, even when circumstances seem to be caving in all around you. Carmen also reminded me of a short prayer she likes to pray:
“Lord, I trust you as I wait.”
This simple prayer reminds us to trust that God is working behind the scenes to bring about his perfect plan. We will not see the intricate details, but we trust because God is faithful to keep his promises.
The Benefits of Waiting
There are many circumstances in which we’re expected to wait. Waiting for test results. Waiting to see the doctor for pain that won’t subside. Waiting on an open door or a job opportunity. Waiting for that important phone call or to hear a loved one’s voice. Waiting for God to answer the prayer we’ve been praying for what seems like forever.
Whatever brought us into our waiting season, resetting our perspective will open our eyes to the benefits and beauty surrounding us as we wait. Here are 3 surprise benefits that happen in the waiting.
Waiting puts us in a front row seat to witness God’s hand at work in our lives.
“Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10
My type-A personality likes to take matters into her own hands. Get to work. Find a way to solve the problem. Being still is a tall order, yet it’s a clear directive from the Lord. God can do infinitely more when I step back and allow him to have control.
Waiting helps us see and experience God’s character.
One of the most impactful things I can do while waiting is reminding myself daily of who God is.
God is sovereign. He is faithful. He is my strength and shield. Listing God’s attributes gives me peace and confidence in him as I wait. Writing them in my journal also allows me to revisit them again and again, when the waiting seems unbearable and fear tries to creep in.
Waiting gives us new appreciation for time spent in God’s presence.
Waiting often means we cannot move forward until we get the answers we seek. So, what do we do with the extra time? We can busy ourselves with endless tasks, or we can take the time to seek more of Jesus.
“But they who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
Trusting God’s character, time spent in his presence, and seeing him work in ways beyond what we can imagine. Let’s renew our minds when it comes to waiting, and the next time we enter a waiting season, may we see the benefits we have as children of God. He loves us. He is merciful. He is our constant presence and help while we wait.
