How Do You Wait?
Everyone is waiting for something. It might be for a person, an event, a fulfilled goal, or an item they hope will make them happy. Waiting can also be negative, such as anticipating bad news. Regardless of what you’re waiting for, maybe the better question to ask is, how are you waiting?
As I’ve observed in previous posts (In With a New Word and Waiting Fruitfully), I don’t wait well. So, of course, God is using this word to grow me beyond my comfort zone, this time by showing me wait is not a solo word. Pairing the word wait with various adjectives reveals how well—or how badly—I’m waiting.
Am I waiting impatiently or patiently? If I’m constantly checking the status via phone calls, texts, emails, or simply checking the time every five minutes, my impatience annoys not just me, but everyone around me. And it proves that while I say I trust God, I’m not trusting His timing. Instead, I’m more like King Saul in 1 Samuel 13:5-14, when he waited 7 days for Samuel, then made the offering to God himself. Samuel arrived just as Saul finished. If only Saul had waited the full day rather than rushing ahead!
Am I waiting reluctantly or expectantly? In Acts 1:4, after His resurrection, Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they received His promised gift of the Holy Spirit. The disciples may not have understood what Jesus meant, but they knew He keeps His promises, so they waited with expectation for the “gift.” And what a gift it was!
Am I waiting enviously or contentedly? Psalm 37:7 reminds us not to get upset while we’re waiting for the Lord while evildoers are successful. It’s easy to be envious of the prosperity of those who don’t love the Lord. But when I’m content, I’m trusting God while I wait for Him to provide what I need when I need it.
As I learn to wait patiently, expectantly, and contentedly, I’m growing in my ability to trust the Lord. I’m earning to be still and know He is God (Psalm 46:10). And I’m relying on Him for strength and energy to accomplish what He has called me to do when He’s called me to do it (Isaiah 40:31)!
What words can you pair with waiting that accurately describe how you wait?
Nobody likes to wait, especially in the unknown. If you know you’re birthday’s coming and you’re sure you’re getting that pony you’ve been awaiting, it’s all good. But waiting for the test results, for an answer to a question that might hurt, for anything with negative connotations, waiting is pain. Thanks, Ava, for helping us look toward the one who upholds us in those times. God bless!
Waiting can be hard at times, but I have learned most valuable lessons while waiting. God’s timing is always best. Have a blessed day! 🙂
This is much needed. Waiting WITHOUT ENVY can sometimes be hard, but we must be content in our waiting. God will bring blessings in time.
Ava, very interesting how you say wait is not a solo word. Ouch! We either wait well or we don’t. “Am I waiting impatiently or patiently?” Double ouch! Good message on waiting.
Ava, these are all great examples of the reasons and the need for us to be patient when we wait. This is a powerful statement: Impatience “proves that while I say I trust God, I’m not trusting His timing.” If I’m not trusting God’s timing, am I trusting Him at all? In what other ways am I not trusting Him? I think this “little” indicator of impatience shows that the problem is wider and deeper than we originally thought it was.
I am not a good “waiter” so I always need to hear these kind of messages. I pray God helps me to become better at waiting. Thanks Ava.