The Blessing of Waiting

I always tell people I don't pray for patience. When they ask why I simply tell them "God has a way of putting you in situations that require patience then." It gets a laugh, but I'm serious. It's not that I don't need patience....I know we could all use a wonderful dose of it (especially me.) Patience just normally requires waiting, and I don't like to do that. It seems like you have to WAIT to find so many things in life. Wait to grow up, wait to find the right mate, wait for Christimas, wait for a baby to be born (no I'm not pregnant : ) wait in line, wait for a sale, "wait till your father gets home"(...lol) or the big one for me lately "Wait on the Lord"

I'm in a time of transition for several things in my life at the moment. I've had quite a few doors shut for me this year due to the economy and other reasons and nothing really ready to take it's place. Life though has left me a bit exhausted, in the midst of these close doors, I've had loved ones deal with everything from gallbladder cancer to breast cancer, gallbladder surgery to appendicitis, and even a case of watermelon stomach (yes it's a condition and I know you will google it ;) Being a chief caregiver and encourager while dealing with a family, and schooling, and work really wore me out. I've been so exhausted I haven't really looked for any doors to open or even windows to climb through instead. So I decided (well kinda self forced) to wait till something just seems right.

It's funny, I'm finding fewer deadlines leaves me more time to do the fun stuff, (and the not so fun.) I've been playing catch up on much needed sleep, and chores and all that other stuff that seems to pile up when life goes full speed ahead. Most importantly I am finding waiting is a time of rest.

In Isaiah we are told

But they that wait upon the Lord, shall renew (their) strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; (and) they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

Something struck me as I read that verse today. It was the word renew. As I told you before "waiting " is normally something I don't do very well. But life has kinda forced me to wait. I'm finding as I wait, I have more time. More time to rest, time to get things done, fewer "deadlines" that have to be done. I'm much more relaxed because of it. After reading that verse today I suddenly looked at waiting on the Lord much differently. Instead of a time of impatience and and doing nothing and for me rushing into whatever is there because of being bored cause "nothing's happening"and feeling the need to "do something....anything!" I looked at it as a time of renewal. I pictured God recharging my batteries. Renewing my strength, to be able to run with the next task he has for me.

Waiting took on a whole new meaning. If waiting means renewed energy, renewed passion, renewed strength, I might just want some of that for the next task the Lord has prepared for me; especially if I want to "run and not grow weary" and "walk and not faint." Waiting allows God to prepare my heart, mind, spirit, and body for what He has in store for me next.

What about you? Are you in a season of "wait." Instead of trying to rush on through the "wait" relax and enjoy it. Allow yourself to rest in this time. God will need you to run soon enough and you want to be ready for it!

The Blessing Challenge

This month our challenge is to focus on the blessing of "waiting" and those wonderful things we learn while needing to be patient. Patient with others, patient with God, patient with ourselves. What have you learned by waiting? Or maybe you are in a season of "wait" what are your hopes during this time? How are spending your time waiting? We would love to see what you come up with for your Blessing Challenge album.

For more on the Blessing Challenge visit Faithfully Yours