I’ve never been Black Friday shopping.
Not traditionally at least, where you camp out overnight to get something you just can’t wait for (but clearly can because you’re standing outside in the freezing cold). I’m more of the head to the mall around 2 p.m. kind of gal. I don’t like waiting in lines or being surrounded by people when I shop. I like to go into a store, unhurriedly browse for a little bit, buy what I need and leave.
I wish I could say I was more patient in other areas of life, but the truth is I’m just not. It’s not that I can’t wait. I can wait; I just don’t like to wait.
Over time God has taught me how to wait patiently through the trials I’ve faced. He’s taught me to wait patiently for Him to move, rescue and restore my brokenness. He’s taught me to wait patiently for His direction and guidance. He’s taught me to trust and know that in the waiting, He is doing something great. But I still don’t like to wait.
Sometimes in the waiting, I forget how to be patient, remain hopeful and cling to truth in the everyday circumstances of life — especially the mundane, lackluster and troublesome days. Sometimes I don’t want to wait; I just want the trial to be over and done with already.
I recently read a good blog about waiting and Advent. The writer said, “If we got everything we wanted the moment we wanted it, we would lose out on the journey, and what happens on that journey.”
I can’t deny a big part of me agrees with this. Looking back on my life, it’s so obvious what God was up to while I was waiting. He was molding me more and more into His image. He was teaching me something. He was leading me to a better place. But there’s also a part of me — the part that endures chronic, debilitating pain on a daily basis — that wishes for immediate gratification, comfort and healing. I long for all of the waiting and suffering to end.
It makes me wonder how God’s people felt while they were waiting for a Savior to come. I bet the people of the Old Testament were sick and tired of waiting for Messiah to come. And yet we see time and time again in scripture, when we grow weary, God tells us to keep waiting anyways.
“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” Psalm 27:24
“For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end — it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.” Habakkuk 2:3
“But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.” Micah 7:7
“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.” Psalm 62:5
“Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.” James 5:7
“In the path of your judgments, O Lord, we wait for you; your name and remembrance are the desire of our soul.” Isaiah 26:8
In this season of Advent, whatever it is you are waiting on or hoping for, I invite you to remain hopeful with me and cling to God’s truth: That He is still moving, shaping, rescuing, restoring and redeeming us on a daily basis. That He will never forsake us and has a purpose for our lives. That in the waiting, great things can and will happen.
Starting today during Advent 2015, try to surrender immediate gratification and embrace waiting. Be satisfied with where you are today and where God is taking you on this grand adventure. And most of all be assured of the hope we have in Jesus, who fulfilled God’s promises and, after much waiting by mankind, came to rescue, restore and redeem us. Wait for God to do what only He can do.
Waiting is hard, so hard… waiting at times really stresses me out. BUT then we see something happen and the Hope we feel is amazing
Merry Christmas
I’ve discovered that my ability to wait is directly related to how much I trust God to work good in the situation. Whatever that looks like. You’re right, it’s HARD! Advent is an excellent time to teach us all the good that can come from waiting. Thank you for the reminder.
I’ve jokingly referred to the word “wait” as that awful 4- letter word over the years. While it still happens God has taught me a lot about content waiting. How to not waste my waiting. It is a trial at times, but we have to trust God knows what he’s doing.
So true, Lauren! There are so many times in my past that I look back on and say “Yep, there was a reason for that”. It is hard to remember in the moment though. Also, I am 100% with you on the black friday shopping, you could not pay me enough to go out in that mess.
Yes, it’s so hard to remember it all in the moment. Cheers to shopping from the comfort of our own homes or with no crowds!! Haha. 🙂
my pastor’s always sayin to be careful when we ask God for patience and waiting….
So true–thanks for the reminder that God is present in our waiting.
You are most welcome Leigh! Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day. 🙂
Such truth Lauren! I love the verses you shared too!
Waiting is hard… because we are so tuned in to being busy that when we don’t have anything to ‘do’ we are automatically unsure of ourselves. I think though, we have the advantage , especially at Advent, because we KNOW what we are waiting for and because of that it is filled with anticipation rather than uncertainty. Maybe that is how we need to approach waiting for everything else. We may not know what we are waiting for but we do know that He who has ordered our lives brings only good things for us to experience ( and trials can be good things).
🙂 Blessings,
Dawn