Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you are waiting for something? A train that has been delayed? A loved one that has been away and is returning home? A phone call from a estranged family member? A letter from the doctor? Exam results? A date for an important operation?

Perhaps the wait is for a new job, or a new home, a new city or even a new country to move to. Sometimes we are waiting for that holiday with the family we spent so long planning and saving for. For the mums out there maybe is that due date that never seems to be close enough, or has already past but the little one is refusing to enter into this world.

You might be nodding your head thinking: “yes” or “all of the above”, or “I have been there”. Inevitably, whether we like it or not we will be placed in situations where we will need to wait. What is the most difficult thing when we are waiting?

I find sometimes I am so preoccupied with the “thing” I want that all my time is spent worrying. “The what ifs” start filling my mind, the plans are drawn, rearranged, challenged all in the space of 5 minutes as I wonder how long this wait is going to take.

When I was 17 I spent 6 moths living in New Jersey. Back then, email was not a thing (trust me I am old enough to have seen this happening!). We wrote letters (yes, we needed pages and pages and a lot of good pens in order to update friends and family). It took a long time to remember all the things I wanted to tell my parents and I was very careful to include as many details as possible of what my days were like on the other side of the world from them. Then I posted the letter.

It took normally 2 to 3 weeks for my letter to get home and another 2 to 3 weeks to get a letter from them in response to mine (my kids find this impossible to believe). But every single day, without fail, I would run to the post box, after the mail man had been and would check if there was an envelope for me. Of course, most days I would not find one and would walk back inside wondering why it was taking so long. My mind would then wonder what my siblings might be doing, my parents. Was the weather nice… were my friends asking about me… had they forgotten me already? Some days I would get so upset about having no letter that I forgot to enjoy what God was putting in front of me.

Learning to enjoy the process of waiting is not easy. We have fallen hearts that desperately want to be in control. We want the things we want and we want them now. However, there are truths that we need to hold on to in “the waiting”.

God is unchanging, He is sovereign over all the earth. He knows all things and He is busy, at work, even when it seems He is silent. I love chapters 38 and 39 (I would suggest you read the chapters) in the book of Job when God is speaking to Job. Below are some of the questions God asks:

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand.”; “Who marked off its dimensions?” (Job 384-5); “Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place” (Job 38:12); “What is the way to the abode of light?” (Job 38:19); “Does the rain have a father?  Who fathers the drops of dew?” (Job 38:28); “Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover yourself with a flood of water?” (Job 38:34); “Who let the wild donkey go free? Who untied its ropes?” (Job 39:5); “Do you give the horse its strength or clothe its neck with a flowing mane?” (Job 39:19)

I love the way God talks to Job, gently reminding him that He, God, IS sovereign and He is in control of everything. Another verse comes to mind: “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). I must remember to be still before the Lord and let Him do the work He has already started and He does not need my help.

There is joy to be found in the waiting. Joy for the heart that is peaceful and knows that our God is good and faithful. A heart that is not anxious. Paul commanded the Philippians 4:6-7:

^” Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”.

God wants us to bring to Him all that is in our hearts when we are waiting. He promises to give us the peace that only He can give. How wonderful it is to know that no matter the outcome of our circumstances, God wants us to trust Him and his good and perfect will. Even more amazing is that God has promised in His word that He will be with us and in all circumstances He is working His purposes in us.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

So as we wait let us rest on the promises of our God and let us grow closer to Him in humility and love.

God bless.

_{Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash}