The Waiting Game

Why is waiting so difficult? None of us relish waiting . . . in line, in traffic, on hold on the phone. We need to be doing and going and seeing and saying . . . All. The. Time. I have less of a problem with the doing and going and seeing and saying than most, for I treasure a slow pace, quiet, solitude. When we bought my car a few years ago, the salesman excitedly told us, “You’re gonna love the sound system in this car. It has ten—count them, ten—speakers!”

Joe quietly responded, “That’s about nine too many for my wife.” Funny guy.

It’s a rare day I turn on the radio while driving. Could have saved some big bucks if only the car came without a sound system. So I like slow, quiet, and peaceful, yet I still often find it difficult to rest in the wait.

Turns out publishing a book is a very . . . slow . . . process. I’ve been working on this one for almost seven years. A lot of the “slow” has been my own doing—letting other things take priority, procrastinating, doing everything else I could think of before sitting down to write. But now, in the “shopping” phase of my book, I have no choice but to wait. I’ve submitted eight queries so far, received one rejection, and am waiting on the rest. I know to expect a six to twelve week wait, so why do I find myself checking my email every ten minutes? It’s only been a couple of weeks! Waiting is hard.

I wondered how many times God mentions waiting in the Bible. I did a search and the verses were too numerous to count! God expects us to wait. He’s never too early and never too late. But why would he want us to wait? It teaches patience, and it strengthens faith. Hebrews 11 is all about faith, and it begins like this: “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen.” Chapter 11 goes on to give some of the greatest examples of faith in the history of mankind. Check it out.

Daystar Television Network posted something on Facebook yesterday about waiting:

Joseph waited 15 years. Abraham waited 25 years. Moses waited 40 years. Jesus waited 30 years. If God is making you wait, you’re in very good company.

6 Things To Do While You’re Waiting

1. Don’t lose confidence in God
2. Trust in his unfailing love
3. Rejoice in his redemption
4. Cling to God’s word
5. Be strong
6. Be patient

Thank you, Daystar. I love that list.

While I don’t know how long I’m going to have to wait, I do know God is teaching me patience and growing my faith. Whatever the answer—whenever it comes—I know it’s all part of his plan for me and for my story. Now if I could just stop checking my email….

Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

~Psalm 27:14