When I was a little girl, watching princess movies was one of my favorite activities. I watched Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and The Little Mermaid, among many others. As I got older, movies like Frozen and Tangled became my new favorites. Even today, I love watching Princess Diaries.
Although the princess movies of my childhood had unique stories and characters, they all shared one specific thing: A prince and princess always fell in love.
Falling in love seemed so exhilarating, and I couldn’t wait to experience it for myself. With great anticipation, I waited for my prince to come. However, as the years passed—and as countless family members and friends found “happily ever after”—I started to believe he might never come.
Still Waiting, Still Wondering
This gradual shift from anticipation to despair happened after I finished college. As a freshman, I didn’t necessarily think I’d find my future husband at college. However, I did expect to go on dates and potentially have a boyfriend or two.
I was very aware of the ring by spring narrative (as you know, if you’ve read my new book The Ring by Spring Ruse), and I was very ready to date, even if I didn’t end up dating my future husband. But when my graduation day arrived, I didn’t have a husband, a fiancé, or a boyfriend. In fact, I hadn’t gone on a single date during my four years living and learning among hundreds of professing Christians.
That was several years ago, but not much has changed since then. Most of my friends have spouses, and some of them have children too. Yet I’m still waiting for my prince and wondering where he is.
Maybe you’re not waiting for marriage, but you’re probably waiting for something. Perhaps you long for children. Maybe you look forward to a housing change or a job change. Perhaps you pray for a family member or a friend to start following Jesus. Sometimes, your heart is hopeful—but other times, doubt and fear try to crowd out the little hope you have left.
No matter how you feel in this moment, you can have hope because God is with you as you wait. Your faith is precious to Him, and He uses difficult seasons to strengthen it (1 Peter 1:6-7). Let’s explore two practical ways to hold on to hope while we wait for God to work.
Remembering How God Has Worked in the Past
It’s easy to forget how God has worked in the past while we’re waiting for Him to work in the present. But remembering that all the good things in our lives are from Him can transform the way we wait. James wrote, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17 ESV). When we feel anxious in our current season of waiting, we need to recall the ways God worked in previous seasons of waiting.
Even though I have questions and doubts about marriage, I’ve witnessed God’s provision in many wonderful ways over the years. For example, I know my job is a gift from God. Before I started this job, I worked for a very different organization. My coworkers didn’t share my faith or values, and my work didn’t bring much fulfillment. I hoped and prayed for a job where I could use my passion for writing in a Christian organization, but God kept that door shut for a while.
Applying and interviewing for other jobs at other companies didn’t really change anything. They didn’t work out for one reason or another, and I felt discouraged in my search—until I received an email about a specific position at a specific ministry. Honestly, I didn’t know anything about the ministry, but the position sounded amazing to me. After having a few interviews, I accepted a job there. I still work for this ministry, and I still believe this position is a gift from God.
When I struggle to remain hopeful in this season of waiting for marriage, I can reflect on what He’s done—including providing this job for me—and move forward with renewed hope.
If you enjoyed this post, come back next week to read Part 2! I look forward to sharing another practical way to hold on to hope while you’re waiting.
Tizzie's Tidbits of Truth 