Waiting can be hard. It can be hard to wait for everyone to sit at the table for dinner so you can eat. It can be hard waiting in traffic when you just really want to get home. It can be really hard to wait for that last day of work (or school) to finish up so you can begin your vacation. Whenever we know something we want is coming it can be almost agonizing to have to wait for it to just get here. We can see it on our calendar or maybe you hold the tickets in your hands. You just need the day to come.

What about those times when what you want doesn’t have a known day or time?

David and I are currently looking to do some remodeling in our home. We are prepared for the work to be done and have actually even had someone come out and give us an estimate. Being this is the first time we’ve ever done anything like this it can be a little stressful. I’m not known for a lot of patience, as my dad will gladly tell you if you let him, so at times I’m ready to let the first contractor who gives us an estimate take the job. But when we were given a price for the work we wanted done I had to question the amount. It seemed a little high to me. Where I usually want to say ‘go for it’ I had to bite my tongue.   And I’m glad I did, because now some co-workers of mine have shared their knowledge of flipping houses and offered their help….for much cheaper.

The power of waiting, friends.

Okay, I know, that seems a little minor to be writing about when it comes to waiting. What I really want to share is when the wait is for something we want, or we think we want, that we don’t know when or if will ever happen. This can apply to many things. Maybe it’s a job in the field of study you went to college for. Maybe it’s an opportunity at work to get promoted. Maybe it’s getting out of debt, finding the person you will marry, buying a house, selling a house, or even maybe it’s having a (or another) child. Whatever it could be for you the truth is when you feel you are ready for it the last thing you really want to do is….wait.

For me this holds true on so many levels, but nothing more so than the hope to have a child. God has blessed me tremendously with two amazing boys in our sons Brayden and Jaxson through adoption. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve shared with others how, without a doubt in my mind, their adoptions were a part of God’s wonderful plan for our lives. It wasn’t how I thought I’d become a mother, but I would not change a minute of it for anything. He truly knew what He was doing when He threw my plans of parenthood a curveball about seven years ago. It took me quite some time to finally realize that His ways are better than my own. I fought Him hard. But, I realized that I was only hurting myself. God wasn’t withholding motherhood from me. He simply had a different plan than I did for that to happen.

Now, with His healing hand over my health, we are pursuing the possibility of becoming pregnant. Clearly, it hasn’t happened yet and that is where the wait begins to get hard. There’s plenty of other things going on in our lives that can take my mind off this one wish but somehow I find myself thinking about it more and more as each month goes by. I know my God is capable. But I also need to remember that my life is in His strong hands. He sees what I can’t. He knows my future before it happens: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

What I, and each of us as Christians, have a hard time with is keeping our eyes on The Lord and HIS will for our lives instead of on OUR will. I may want this one thing, but maybe God is saying “no” or even “not right now.” When we ask God for something we need to wait for his answer. It may not happen when we want it too. It may not even happen at all. But we know that God is with us while we wait. The Bible gives plenty of verses on waiting for The Lord to respond:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 NIV

“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.” Psalm 130:5 NIV

“I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8 NIV

You may or may not be in a place of waiting like I am. Though, maybe you are. As we wait on God’s perfect timing for our hopes let’s keep focused on the best thing in our lives…our relationship with and love for God. Continue to pray, read His Word, and serve Him. Keep your focus on things of God to protect you from focusing on what the enemy desires for you to do in thinking of only yourself. Wait for The Lord so that He may receive all glory, honor, and praise. His plans are always better than what you think is best.

Trust me, I know.

Stephanie Henderson
Student Pastor