The Education of Waiting

Read This:

29 The crowd that stood there and heard the voice said that it had thundered. Others said that an angel had spoken to him. 30 Jesus said, “This voice has not come for my benefit but for yours. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 (Now he said this to indicate clearly what kind of death he was going to die.)

Think:

Anticipation is a difficult thing for me. I don’t wait well. I despise waiting for what will inevitably happen and I have even more of an issue waiting for the unknown. Basically, I’m a dream to be stuck in traffic with.

You know who I really admire? Those dogs you see on the internet. You know, the ones who sit perfectly still while their owner stacks any number of delicious things on their noses. That amazes me. The patience and discipline they have? You put a piece of bacon on my nose and that thing is gone in about 6 seconds.

Instead of waiting or anticipating, I’d rather just do. I feel like usually, if God points me in the direction, I’ll figure out the rest. I tell myself that it’s one less thing for Him to do. But it’s not about me being noble or helpful. It’s about me wanting. It’s about control.

One of the underrated aspects of waiting is the education that can be found there. The anticipation and preparation for something, that’s a formative experience because we allow ourselves to be amenable in advance of whatever it is we are waiting for. And often? That’s when God works. It’s not the thing we’re waiting for that represents what God is doing in our lives; it’s how He molds us and uses us in the lead up.

Whatever it is you find yourself anticipating, God doesn’t want you to consider it from a place of worry or fear. And He doesn’t want you to overlook the value of waiting. Give yourself over to Him and His timing and trust that whatever the sequence or timing, it will be good. Not even just ‘good’. It will be perfect. Like a piece of bacon on the nose that you really, really just want to eat. I’m so hungry for bacon now.

Pray:

Father, help me to appreciate you beyond just when I need you or when I need your direction. Help me to have an appreciation how you are always working to help me and form me even when I don’t realize. I ask for patience as I wait on you and pray that you remake me after your Son.

Comment:

What is something you’ve recently anticipated? How did it play out? And if it hasn’t yet, what are your hopes for it?