This time of year I often find myself waiting. After the holidays I begin to long for Spring. This year I’m longing for the pandemic to ease because I’m tired of waiting to go to church with everyone and sing in the choir. I miss my grandchildren, and I haven’t seen my aunt, uncle and cousins in over a year.
At this time last year I wrote, on March 13th, “This is definitely the weirdest time of my life as far as world wide incidents go! Here in the US, Disney has closed its theme parks, professional sports teams are delaying any games, concert venues – closed. We were supposed to attend Alex and Logan’s track meet but it was canceled. The stock market is plunging big time! Everything is on hold for a few weeks in order to slow the spread of the Corona Virus.”
On March 17, 2020 I wrote, “Wow – our world is getting smaller by the day. Restaurants in Denver are now doing take out orders only. Theaters are closing, museums are closing, even some parks are closing. More and more we must stay at home. The shelves in stores are bare, even though the supply line is fine. People are hoarding out of panic – it's crazy! Worst case scenario is this virus crisis will last until June or July – that would be awful, but hopefully people will just accept this temporary event and CALM DOWN!!”
Little did I know a year later we would still be waiting.
This is also a season of spiritual waiting, a time of reflection and prayer. It's an opportunity to spend time with Jesus. I found a great devotional about waiting. It is from a website called Hope on Demand. This entry is entitled, “Moments With Jesus – While You’re Waiting,” August 14, 2020
While You're Waiting...
Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. – Psalm 27:14
5…4…3…2…1.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
That’s the trio of sound that’s like music to our ears. Time is up. The coffee is ready, the meal has baked, the laundry has dried – the wait is over! And if your stomach tends to talk like mine does, even waiting on the microwave for two minutes and thirty seconds can seem like an eternity.
Waiting to accomplish day-to-day tasks is a nuisance but waiting for God to move in a situation seems unbearable. Especially in a time like this. It’s easy to trust God when our prayers are answered quickly, but how do we keep patient when waiting doesn’t come with a countdown to completion?
Though
we can’t shorten the length of the wait; we can shift our focus in it. We can
move our attention from the object of our wait to the author of our faith,
fixing our eyes on Jesus. Seeking Him first helps us to rise above the pain and
see a greater purpose:
- Seasons of waiting are a chance for us to openly trust God in all things, helping us to remember Who is truly in control.
- The wait reminds us of His sufficiency and sovereignty and shows us how to truly depend on Him. In our weakness, we are wrecked. By His strength, we can endure.
- Life’s pauses are also an opportunity for God to develop our character. They allow Him to prepare us for what is yet to come and keep us humble in the process.
- Waiting stretches our faith and deepens our relationship with God. As we lay down our agendas and choose to trust His plans, we experience more of His presence in our lives.
- The wait builds our confidence in Him, allowing us to focus on who He is and what He’s already done in our lives. Reflecting on how God has kept us through all of life’s “yesterdays” assures us that He is holding our “tomorrows.”
As we’re all reeling from the effects of the pandemic, I can only imagine the frustration of waiting for employment. Or the heartache that accompanies waiting for the healing of a loved one. Or simply the longing for your life’s routine to have some sense of normalcy. But keep trusting that God is orchestrating every detail. His plans always unfold in His perfect timing and He is with you in the wait. And no matter what we endure on this side of heaven, we can wait with hope for the eternal glory that is to come.
Today, will you choose to shift your focus from the object of your wait to the author of your faith? Will you allow Him to cultivate the plans He has for you? Although it seems like life is standing still, He is working in the wait. May God calm your restless spirit by giving you a peace that transcends all understanding as you trust in Him. While you’re waiting, fix your eyes on Jesus. That is how you wait well.
– By Chrystal
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