Finding Purpose in the Waiting
By Christine Perry
“Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.” - Psalm 37:3 NKJV
Have you ever been disappointed in life? Has God's timing not lined up with your timing? You're not alone. In Psalm 13, David cried out in desperation, asking God how long He would forget him. He also asked God how long he must wrestle with his thoughts day after day. Waiting is not for the faint of heart. It takes faith and trust in God. Yet, waiting can save you a lifetime of regrets. Elisabeth Elliot said, "Waiting on God requires the willingness to bear uncertainty, to carry within oneself the unanswered question, lifting the heart to God about it whenever it intrudes upon one's thoughts."
Much of our lives involve waiting. When we are children, we wait until we can have more responsibility to drive, buy fast food, and make money. Some of us go to college, anxiously awaiting graduation. We work and wait to find our dream job. As singles, we often wait for marriage. If we marry, we often anticipate having children. And then, anticipate those children growing up. Life is a series of endless waiting. But waiting for our waiting isn’t wasted.
The enemy wants us to grow discouraged. He wants to steal, kill, and destroy us (John 10:10, NKJV). He wants to steal our joy, kill our hope, and destroy our anticipation of a full life. Although waiting may feel mundane, our waiting seasons are vital. Isaiah 40:31 reminds us to wait on the Lord, not on another season of life, spouse, child, ideal job, or anything else. If we wait on the Lord, our strength will be renewed! Waiting on the Lord and putting our hope in Him will cause us to mount up with wings like eagles, to run and not be weary, and to walk and not faint. Where is our hope, and what/who are we waiting on?
Our attitude and outlook reveal our focus. If we are miserable because we don't have what we’re waiting on, our hope is in people or things. If we’re content, our hope is in God. Satan's oldest trick is to convince us God is holding out on us. Look at Eve. She wanted more despite being with a sinless husband and living in paradise. Psalm 84:11 reminds us that God isn't withholding anything from us. Our greatest need, the forgiveness of our sins, has been covered!
In Psalm 37:3, David said to trust God and do good. No matter what we may be waiting for, we can all trust God and do good. There is no shortage of things we can trust God for. To help us trust God, it’s important to look back on what He has done. We are human, which means we are prone to forget. But God never fails. David says, "Feed on His faithfulness." Why not take a sheet of paper and write down the ways God has shown up for us in the past, and how He has led us? He is for us. Because of Him, we are more than conquerors. Additionally, there is no limit to the good you can do and the people you can serve. If you don't know who to do good for, why not pray for others? Ask God for things on your friend's behalf as if you were asking for yourself (John 13:34).
Intersecting Life and Faith
There is no doubt waiting is hard to endure. But, God, in His mercy, will keep us busy in our waiting. One woman asked her pastor if she could visit sick church members in the hospital. After a few months, the pastor realized this woman was better suited to pray for those in the hospital. So, she ceased her visits and began praying. As this woman began to pray, the pastor realized the Lord was using her prayers mightily. He would then call this woman to pray, whether for someone's salvation, a need for the church, direction for members, etc. She would pray, and things would happen. Never underestimate the magnitude of what God can do with our willingness in waiting seasons.
Further Reading:
A Single Challenge
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/franckreporter
Christine is just a lady who was given the gift of being raised in an incredible family. For reasons unknown to her, God has blessed her with an amazing life full of beautiful friendships, remarkable experiences, and a love from Him that is completely underserved. She desires to encourage others and share hope as we journey through the highs and lows of life. Christine is the author of How I Met Peace and For the Weary Life Traveler, a 31-day devotional. Check out more of Christine's work at her website: Learning to be fearless and her Patreon.
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The process of success is not hidden. It is on display for anyone to see. However, it is a daily grind that requires a great deal of work that is tedious and often uncomfortable. Successful people simply do the work. They embrace the grind and everything that comes with it. Ultimately, successful people understand this truth - Hope doesn’t produce change. Habits do! Everyone has the desire, but many lack the necessary discipline! That’s why today on The Built Different Podcast we have a very special guest who understands the importance of discipline and habits at a very high level. Don’t just focus on changing the thoughts in your head and the habits in your life, but also allow God to transform your heart from the inside out. If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe to The Built Different Podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTube so you never miss an episode!