While driving to work this morning, a song I have heard many times came on the radio. Only this time, it hit differently.
“I’m gonna wait on You, I'm gonna wait on You, I've tasted Your goodness, I'll trust in Your promise, I'm gonna wait on You” (Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music).
Instead of singing along karaoke-style, I contemplated these words, and I realized I’ve been living these words. While it may not have seemed like it at the time, I’ve learned so many things from waiting. In all walks of life, there are things we plead with God for, and there are things he makes us wait on. Waiting is hard, but it isn’t a reason to give up. I have learned that instead, it is an opportunity to grow, understand yourself more fully, and trust in God. Here are a few other things I’ve learned along the way.
My Worth is not Defined by my Wants
When we desire things deeply, it is tempting to feel that our worth is tied to these things. I have longed to be a mother for many years, and it is easy to convince myself that I am a failure or have less worth than those who are mothers. The Bible tells us, “When they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding” (2 Cor. 10:12 ESV). I will admit, there are times that I am ‘without understanding,’ but I will not allow myself to stay there. With God’s help, I have realized that my worth is not defined by my wants. My worth is defined by my God, and it is not contingent on my desires. Here is what He says about my worth:
I was created with a purpose. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10).
There is a plan for my life. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jer. 29:11).
I am a child of God. “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).
I have value. “Even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:7).
I am chosen. “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession” (1 Pet. 2:9).
God’s Timing is Not My Timing
Wouldn’t it be great if God’s timing aligned perfectly with ours? That sounds tempting at first, but it probably would not turn out as great as we think. God sees all things, He knows all things, and He has a purpose for all things. As humans, we see ‘through a glass dimly'. In other words, we are not omniscient. We do not see it all, and as much as we would like to, we do not know it all. Sometimes, God makes us wait for something better than we ever dreamed of. There are many times when God has shown us that waiting is worth it.
Joseph waited in jail. In the latter chapters of Genesis, we read about Joseph, the most beloved son of Jacob. I am sure that Joseph had a vision for himself and his life, a plan laid out in his mind. It probably didn’t include wrongful jail time. However, his brothers’ jealousy and the untruthful acts of others landed him in prison where all he could do is wait. Little did he know that prison is exactly where he needed to be. From prison, Joseph was able to interpret a dream for the pharaoh. Had he been anywhere else at the time of this dream, what came next may have never happened. Because Joseph was able to accurately interpret the pharaoh’s dream, he was placed as second in command of all of Egypt. In the end, this position gave him the ability to save his entire family and countless others from widespread famine. As Joseph reflects on this to his family, he states “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Gen. 50:20). Joseph understood that his waiting was worth it.
Job waited in suffering. In the book of Job, we are given a narrative of God allowing Job to suffer much at the hand of the devil. Though he was a devout man, he suffered the loss of all he had including his children. His wife and his friends encouraged him to doubt God and believe that his suffering was in response to his own sinfulness, but Job held firm in his faith in God. In the end, he was given all that he had lost even more abundantly than before. His trial became a testimony to others, and God blessed Job more than he would have ever experienced without waiting through the suffering.
Jesus is waiting to return. Many times, we are told that nothing will be asked of us that has not also been asked of Jesus. Often, we think about this in the past tense during Jesus’s time on earth. But do you realize that Jesus is waiting right now? He is waiting to return to the earth as a King. He is waiting to heal the brokenness of man and reconcile us to him. At any moment, he could do these things, and many people throughout the ages have incorrectly tried to pinpoint exactly when he will. Jesus will continue to wait because he knows that God's perfect timing is always better in the long run. Only He knows the best timing for this because God’s timing is not our timing.
Waiting Does Not Mean Sitting Still
The examples illustrated above not only show that God’s timing is perfect, but they also provide illustrations of what to do while we wait. Webster’s dictionary defines waiting as “staying in a place until an expected event happens, until someone arrives, until it is your turn to do something, etc.” This definition presents waiting in a passive light. It alludes that waiting is synonymous with stillness. This, however, is not the Bible’s definition of waiting. The Bible often uses the word ‘wait’ and ‘hope’ together or synonymously.
“And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in Thee” (Psalm 39:7).
“I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, and in His word do I hope” (Psalm 130:5).
Waiting is not meant to be a passive action. It is meant to elicit hope, preparation, and a time of growth. As you wait for what you have asked God for, use the time to grow. This has been a hard lesson for me. I cannot simply sit still and wait passively for my desires to become reality. Instead, I should use the opportunity to grow, to serve others, to learn, and to do the good works I was created for. So while I wait, I will find the good in it, I will grow through it, and I will continue to actively wait for the day that my waiting is over. I encourage you to join me in embracing the wait.
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