Our days and lives are filled with waiting. For good, for bad, for new, for people, for change. Waiting is a God-designed practice.
However, as the worn, torn magazines in waiting rooms around the world can attest, patience in the waiting isn’t a natural virtue.
Waiting makes some of us crazy.
In fact, I’m pretty sure if God wanted to test us before we entered heaven to see how much we learned on earth, my exam would be “Sit right here. He’ll call you when He’s ready.”
I’d be pacing the clouds, trying to get through to the Lord via the prayer line: “Hello God. You brought me here. This is the appointment you set. How is it you are not on time?!”
What maddens me most about waiting is the helpless feeling of having no control over what’s going on. Waiting seems passive, and I am not passive.
Truthfully though, waiting isn’t a passive process.
Much like active listening, active waiting is a participatory activity.
Active waiting looks like this:
- Preparing
- Anticipating
- Hoping
- Being brave and courageous
- Watching
These are words God features in His Word. They are spoken by God in reference to His call to wait.
With a brief look at what God says about waiting, I’m finding the idea “godly waiting” means sitting quietly doing nothing while completely at peace is just plain wrong.
We shouldn’t wait on the Lord feigning patience.
We can actively wait, participating as God does with a patience that anticipates.
His example of waiting isn’t glamorous or easy, but it’s clear:
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” –2 Peter 3:9
Waiting isn’t about speed or suffering, but being purposeful.
God’s waiting is done with the perfect, purposeful patience of One who knows the wait is worth it.
God believes you and I are worth waiting for- that all people still coming to repentance are worth the wait.
In waiting, He does not sit idly by. He exposes our need for repentance and brings us to it. He offers forgiveness. He enjoys transforming every person up until the last one He is waiting on.
With God, waiting isn’t about the end, but about the beginning.
We wait as those preparing, anticipating, hoping, being brave, and watching carefully because there are new beginnings brought about by the Lord Himself.
It doesn’t matter if you’re waiting on good news or bad. Whether you’re waiting for dreams to be realized or simply for something to change. Maybe you feel all that’s left to wait for is an end of some sort.
Wait assured: God has a beginning ready for you and your “not yet” time is not a wasted time. Instead, your waiting is participation in God’s plan for your life. No sitting on hands required- they have a big job to do praying. No self-muttering needed- you have Someone waiting with you.
He’s demonstrated it for all of time to know: waiting is a purposeful place of peace, joy, and growth for the faithful.
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This is really good, Bethany. I appreciate it so much tonight! God bless you. 🙂
Timely advent message. Such a good reminder. Thanks.
I’m writing a series on waiting right now. Looks like great minds think alike!
I like how you turned things round to consider God waiting for us.
Bethany, waiting is not my favorite either, especially when I don’t know what it is I’m waiting for. But it does help to remember this: “With God, waiting isn’t about the end, but about the beginning.” And waiting is a bit easier when I’m with the right person, which is why I love this: “No self-muttering needed- you have Someone waiting with you.” 🙂
: ) Amen, Lois!
Yes, yes, yes! I was so relieved when God showed me that waiting meant I could prepare for whatever I was waiting for, and if I wasn’t sure I could seek Him on what to prepare. I love the points you brought out. So good, friend!
Thanks, Kelly! I’m with you on the relief of it!
Bethany, this is great! I love that you mention what we can do while we wait, and I love that you pointed out how God waits on us. I hadn’t thought of that perspective. The Lord is willing to wait too, and He certainly isn’t passive!
Right?! Recognizing that myself has been amazing. We follow a God who’s been where we are and gone before us- literally. He knows the demands of waiting better than we do, and we see Him respond with perfect patience. So much love!!
So many times I’ve flunked the waiting class. God is gracious, though, and I always enjoy this season of waiting, putting my feet in the shoes of the faithful who lived between the testaments and waited in hope. I long for that kind of a heart.
Thankful for His graciousness, too, Michele! Hebrews 11 : ) Reading through that list with all the known years of waiting for each of the faithful makes me long for that kind of heart too!
Well, here’s the good news girlfriend, if we were stuck waiting in the Throne Room, I’d be there with you. God is always in the practice of teaching this very impatient girl a lesson on patience! Love this post. Sharing! xoxo
Haha, Nicki, I have a feeling we’d be making eye contact and faces at each other from over the tops of the magazines we’d be partly-reading, but mostly using as comfort objects while we watched the clock. I think I’ve answered “patience” to the question “what’s God been teaching you?” for YEARS now. Glad you identify, hope you ace it! : ) Thanks for sharing!
Yes! Waiting is a spiritual discipline! To pray into our worries and wait for His response …even if we know that no response means to continue honoring our commitments with hard work until He signals otherwise. And I believe with all of my heart that when we are seeking His signal, it’s impossible to miss it.
Happy Thursday, from #LiveFree Thursday
Megs