All of us are waiting for something on some scale. Maybe it’s something tangible with a defined timeline like graduating college, or closing on your house, giving birth to your baby, etc. Or, maybe it’s something more intangible and undefined like overcoming anxiety, stepping into a dream of your heart that seems to be delayed, waiting to find your spouse or for that proposal. Waiting is part of being human, and it’s not always easy or fun, but it is something God uses to grow us and prepare us for the coming season.
Here is some good news: if you find yourself waiting, you can rest assured you’re in good company. David was anointed king as a boy, but wasn’t appointed king for another 15 years [see 1 Samuel 16 – 2 Samuel 2]. Jesus himself lived 30 years in hiddenness, knowing full well who He was and what He was called to do, before he stepped into the appointed time of revealing Himself as the messiah. God himself is waiting to return to earth and bring all of his children into glory with Him [1 Thessalonians 4:16-17]. Scripture is full of those waiting for God’s promises to be fulfilled.
I recently have found myself in an extended season of waiting and hiddenness beyond what I’ve experienced before, and it’s been one of the most challenging, yet refining and productive seasons of my life. I’ve been waiting in regards to direction for our family, and for personal dreams and desires of my heart. I think all of life is a process that ebbs and flows, and we never fully arrive and understand it all, but today I am going to share some thoughts with you on what I’ve learned so far.
Things I’ve learned from being in seasons of waiting:
•God cares more about you being healed and whole than He does about what you can do or offer. It comes down to IDENTITY!
+ Your worth is tied to your “being”…WHO you are, not WHAT you are or WHAT you do.
+ God uses waiting season to heal us and produce true identity in us. Here is a personal example: Many years ago someone who I care about, and who’s words I weigh heavily said to me, “You’re a B, and we need As.” This was directly related to a passion and gift God has given me, and was honestly said with the purpose of encouraging me to grow, but it crushed me. At the end of the day I forgave the person and knew their heart, and moved on with my life. FIVE years after the fact God started waking me up early in the morning around 5am (and my husband can attest to this because I don’t wake up that early easily unless it is God). I would be compelled to get up, go downstairs and worship Him, pray, or just sit in stillness in His presence. About 3-4 mornings into this God spoke to me so clearly: “You forgave this person, but you believe you’re a B, and I’m saying you’re on my team, and you’re an A.” And I saw God putting a varsity jacket around my shoulders with a big bold A on the chest. I had taken on these words as a label, and God used part of my waiting season to reveal this to me, and heal that wound. Let Him heal you and speak identity over you in a new fresh way, so you can carry that into what He has called you to do.
• People are not your enemy or opposition, even if it is other people’s decisions that seem to be holding you back.
+ Do not waste energy in this season on carrying anger, resentment, bitterness towards people who are doing their best. I’ve been there, and it’s truly just a tactic of the enemy to distract you. Clear the air and have uncomfortable conversations if you need to to do so.
+ Reinforce trust in God and HIS ability to bring about HIS plans for your life in HIS timing. Get into the word and stand on his promises as an anchor for your hope. Keep a journal with these truths, and any words God has given you personally or through other people, so when you feel discouraged you can remind yourself of what He has said. [I will post encouraging scriptures at the end of this post.]
•There will be times when your emotions, thoughts, and humanity will be raging. You may need to cry, yell, utter a couple choice words, and have some tough conversations.
+ Please be brave enough to be real with yourself, other necessary people, and especially God. It’s ok to let the mess out, so that it’s OUT. Then be willing to let God fill you back up with truth.
•There’s sometimes a temptation to run, or to quit, or give up.
+ I believe that 99% of the time, this isn’t the answer. Make boundaries for yourself, cut back on unnecessary things, be intentional with who you confide in and who you take advice from, take extra intentional time with God, but DO NOT RUN or QUIT. If anything, dig your roots down deeper, and be determined to serve or invest where you are planted with your whole heart. God will make it very clear if He is going to move you. Embrace the journey because where you are at is part of it, and you don’t want to miss what God is instilling you by taking HIS route.
•There will come a time when you fully rest and find joy in the waiting, when you are no longer fighting against the current, or trying to create one.
+ There is nothing wrong with wanting growth or to move forward, but fighting against a current is exhausting. It’s so so so much better to sit in the raft, let the sun shine on your face, take in the view and move along at the pace the Holy Spirit is setting for you. Even if what you’re waiting for is a miracle, there is an element of rest because we can’t manufacture a miracle. It’s a gift of God’s mercy and kindness, and we can receive that from resting in His ability, not ours. [Listen to the song Defender by Rita Springer (also sung by Katie Torwalt) on repeat. You’re welcome.]
•Comparison is not only pointless, it’s a snare that will only hold you back, and rob you of the ability to rest in that raft I mentioned before.
+ It doesn’t matter in the slightest where your bestie is at, how much your sister has accomplished, what that girl with 500k followers on Instagram says. God’s process with you and the journey you’re on with Him is between you & Him. He is setting you up to carry something sustainable, and enduring, and maybe it isn’t supposed to be instantaneous. Did you ever stop to think that God has something so big for you, that He is taking His sweet time to prepare you to receive such a massive blessing? Did you ever think that God is a romantic who likes a story to unfold slowly, and to enjoy the little details along the way, while you don’t even know that He is building something grandiose right under your nose? Don’t miss these sweet golden growth moments by comparing your life to someone else’s.
•You won’t always fully understand, but that is ok.
+ God’s plans for you are good. He’s a good father. He has an amazing plan tailor made just for you, and He isn’t going to let you miss it. It’s not in His nature. So keep your eyes and your heart on Him. Love Him, love others, and you can’t go wrong. I was at an incredibly confusing and frustrating point in my process, and one day I was laying on my bed in the middle of the day in tears. I asked God, “What am I supposed to think about all of this? What do you think about all of this?” I wasn’t fully expecting a response, but God still replied. I immediately saw a picture of myself standing in front of this massive beautiful tree, and there was a flower crown on my head, and I was wearing a lace kimono, and Jesus was standing in front of me. He took my hands, smiled, and said, “You’re my daughter.” I was moved in that moment, because I knew that a daughter of the king was secure. She didn’t have to worry about her future or the details because her father would see to her affairs. All she had to do was walk in the authority of who she was, and whose she was.
I hope that in whatever season you are in right now that this blessed and encouraged you in some way, especially if you are in a challenging season of waiting. My prayer is that God gives you personal and fresh perspective for your situation, and that you know more than ever that you are a beloved daughter or son of the best Father there is, and He loves you so much. Keep your eyes on Him. As always, if you have any comments or questions please don’t hesitate to reach out! Thank you for reading today. 💕
ENCOURAGING SCRIPTURES
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
“But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:8-9
“no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”” Isaiah 54:17
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1
“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.” Psalms 63:1-4
“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah” Psalms 62:5-8
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:9-11
“O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.” Isaiah 25:1
“When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad.” Psalms 126:1-3
“so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:17-21
