This post was written by author, speaker, and teacher Wendy Pope, who has written multiple books for women. When I read her book Wait and See: Finding Peace in God’s Pauses and Plans, I related to the stories she shared about seasons of waiting (especially her season of waiting to become an author). In this post, she provides three practical ways to wait with trust and hope in the Lord.
A Personal Story of Waiting
We prayed for healing. We anointed with oil. We believed. We waited and waited…and waited some more.
Have you been there? Have you done that? I should probably back up a bit so you can get the whole picture.
On November 23, 1991, I married the man of dreams…literally. Tall. Blonde hair. Blue eyes. Drove a fast red sports car. (Okay, I know this is little vain, but I was in my late teens!) A Christian.
Yes, God, that kind of guy will do just fine, I thought.
That was him—the man I wanted to marry. You can only imagine how divine blessedly I believed my marriage would be as I stood before Scott on our wedding day. After all, God had answered my prayers right down to eye color. With great confidence, we danced into our life of bliss.
Fast-forward to our early 40s—that time when we start to notice lines around our eyes, loosen our belts to the next hole, and grunt when we stand up. These are the typical signs of normal wear and tear that come with age, but my healthy husband seemed to have aches and issues beyond the norm. Without warning, we were thrust into a season of sickness and revolving doors of medical experts.
We started this health journey with hope, but for 18 months, doctors probed, prodded, and stuck the body of my once strong and healthy husband. This specialist treated his symptoms with that medication. That specialist treated his symptoms with different medication. The seemingly never-ending rollercoaster of meds and doctor visits finally stopped when we heard two life-altering words to my weary husband: rheumatoid arthritis.
Sometimes it seems the wait will never end, and sometimes the wait doesn’t end as we expect. But ultimately, the wait is more about experiencing God than enduring the delay. Instead of getting distracted by the object of our wait—in my story, a medical diagnosis—we can grow closer to God, the Person of our faith. Here are three truths we can tuck deep into our hearts to help us handle the wait without losing our faith:
1. Maintain Your Spiritual Strength Through Prayer and God’s Word
I realize this is the Sunday School answer. I also realize that when waiting has stolen your peace, praying and reading your Bible probably aren’t at the top of the to-do list. Long waits can drive a wedge between us and God. But even though I didn’t feel like spending time with God, that was exactly what I needed. Peace will fill our circumstances when we push through our feelings to stay close to God and allow His Word to guide us through our wait.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105 NASB1995)
2. Fight to Praise God
On the days when Scott could barely walk, praising God felt like a huge sacrifice. I wanted answers from Him; I didn’t want to offer applause to Him. But through my Bible reading, I fell in love with the book of Psalms. David knew about suffering and waiting, yet he praised God. We can be certain that even on the bad days, God is still good. He’ll carry us through our seasons of waiting. Although it’s hard to praise God when the future is unknown, there’s always a reason we can praise Him.
But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength; yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning, for You have been my stronghold and a refuge in the day of my distress. (Psalm 59:16 NASB1995)
3. Find Small and Simple Ways to Love People
Our churches, neighborhoods, and communities are full of individuals who need love. It’s only when we have immersed ourselves in God’s Word, spent time with Him in prayer, and made praise part of our routine that we can help others well. Scott and I don’t have to look far to find someone in need. Our troubles seem less intense when we focus on others.
The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered. (Proverbs 11:25 NASB1995)
Closing Thoughts
When we find ourselves in a holding pattern, it’s easy to ask, “What am I doing wrong? Is God holding my past against me? What do I have to do to earn His favor?”
Rest assured, God never presses pause out of spite. Sometimes waiting has less to do with the strength of our faith and more to do with the perfection of God’s timing. He makes us wait at times so we can glean valuable lessons. In the wait, He prepares us for what He’s already planned for us. Waiting isn’t wasting time; it’s training time.
Wendy Pope is the author of Wait and See: Finding Peace in God’s Pauses and Plans. She writes devotions for Proverbs 31 Ministries’ Encouragement for Today, and she’s a content provider for the free online devotion app First 5, as well as a member of the Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker team.
Tizzie's Tidbits of Truth 