Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him. – Psalm 37:7
I don’t know about you, but I am not very good at waiting. Just last week, I was sitting in a doctor’s office (for what seemed to be an unreasonably long time), and I began to feel a bit frustrated. We’ve all felt it at some point. Waiting forever in a line at the post office, at a red light, on food to come out at a restaurant… surely this isn’t just me?!
In life, we are ALWAYS waiting on something. A 5-year-old is excitedly waiting to start Kindergarten. A high school senior can’t wait to graduate. A college graduate anxiously awaits their first job. Becoming a homeowner, falling in love, starting a family, a healing, retirement – it’s never-ending.
As an educator, I can attest to the fact that, if we’re being honest, we are usually always on the countdown. I have been counting down the weeks until school starts again because I love my job and the promise of a new beginning. But…I also know there are 78 school days until Christmas break (Where my teachers at?!).
What is something you are waiting on in your life right now?
It can be disheartening to feel like I spend my life waiting for the next great milestone or promise of God, instead of just appreciating where He has me RIGHT NOW. No, I am not married yet, and I haven’t started my own family – I am still waiting on those desires of my heart to be fulfilled. But God did not intend for us to live like this, wishing our lives away, full of worry and “what ifs.” There is SO MUCH He has for me RIGHT NOW, and I can have peace in knowing He is in control.
No matter where you are in life or what you’re waiting on, God has a plan for you. He wants to use this season to grow your faith and strengthen your relationship with Him. Waiting doesn’t have to be a bad thing! Enjoy the valley because there is a great mountaintop up ahead.
Patience is a Virtue
As the oldest grandchild on my mom’s side of the family (and the only girl), my Grandmother was constantly telling me to have “the patience of Job.” When I was younger, this would annoy me – I did not want to wait for my little brother to stop nagging me… I wanted to put him in a headlock. But, as an adult, my Grandmother’s words have been written on my heart. Job faced unfathomable trials and yet persisted through the valley to the other side. His faith was unshakable. Patience in the waiting draws us closer to the Lord as we learn to depend fully on Him.
How do you wait?
Because waiting can be so difficult, sometimes we wait by filling our lives with things to take our minds off of the stress – reality TV and social media scrolling are just two of my guilty pleasures. But is this how God wants me to wait? I have a feeling the answer is probably no. Instead, I can focus on spending more quiet time with Him through prayer, journaling, and reading His Word.
The Bible also says to praise Him, even in the waiting. When I am upset or feeling stressed, one of my favorite things to do is kneel down at my flower beds to plant something new, play Christian music, and praise Him. It’s humbling, and I always feel a little closer to Him when I’m on my knees. I recently bought these olive and sage plants, and digging in the dirt as I planted them was honestly therapeutic. It is amazing what nature and a little Jesus jams can do for the soul! Go for a jog, watch the sunset, mow the grass, star-gaze. Spend your wait glorifying Him and appreciating all of His amazing creation! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Teachers and Librarians, I am praying for you at the start of this new school year! Don’t wish away this first semester waiting for Christmas break, but instead, pour into every child God places in your path. Use this time to plant mustard seeds and make a difference for His Kingdom.
Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.” Luke 13: 18-19
Autumn, thanks for sharing your beautiful and inspiring message on waiting! Even though I am in a new season of life now with retirement, I often find myself waiting, too. Thanks for reminding me that I need to live in the present and savor every single day!
Thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog❤️
Now that I’m in Grammy mode I treasure my time spent with my “grand boys”, and I try to spend my time away from them lifting them, their parents, and my other children that live so far away, up to the Lord. In this day and time having the angels protection is the only way to go!!!
This is a true and honest read. Thank you for sharing.
WOW! Great words of wisdom and truth. We are called by God to live in the present in the here and now. Thank you for the reminder. Too often we wish our time away always wanting the “next thing” to come. Instead we should just breathe.