Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.

~Psalm 27:14 NASB

For many of us, some of the hardest seasons of life are those in which we have to wait.

Now of course I know in one way or another we have to wait every day. Whether it be in traffic on the way to work, for an order to arrive in the mail, or in line to be checked out at the store. But that’s not the waiting I’m referring to. I’m talking about those seasons of life when you’re waiting for the deep-seated desires of your heart to come to pass. However, for some reason …it … just … hasn’t … happened. Things like:

• A godly mate.
• The child you’ve always wanted.
• Your business to kick off.
• A relationship to be reconciled.
• A new career opportunity. 

 

If you’re anything like me, sometimes waiting can be very difficult. Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick. “And if I’m honest, even though I know God has a greater plan for our lives and His ways are better than anything we could ever imagine, waiting for the things our hearts longs for can at times make us feel like God has forgotten about us and that our dreams may never happen. Yet in faith—we still must wait.

I thought about something my mentor shared with me a while ago. She mentioned that when we’re in a season of waiting, we shouldn’t just be sitting around doing nothing. Rather we should be actively waiting. But what does that practically look like? What things can I do when God is calling me to wait on His direction, His timing, and His voice? As I thought about it a little deeper, an acronym came to mind that gave my mentor’s comment a new meaning to me. I‘m hoping it does the same for you.

Water Yourself in the Word. Our seasons of waiting are a perfect time to immerse ourselves in God’s Word and learn about Him in deeper and more intimate ways through scripture. It is a time in which we can increase our capacity to discern His voice. The Word allows God to fine-tune our hearts with His desires. His Word is the lamp unto our feet. It is the light for our path. I know that this can be difficult because it’s easy to become consumed wondering when the next step will come. But when we take the time to soak ourselves in the Word, the joy of God’s promises will carry us through.

Anchor Your Soul in Hope. During seasons of waiting, it’s easy for discouragement to creep in. This is why it is so important that we have an anchor to keep us stable. An anchor is used to steady an object, such as a boat, to keep it from drifting in the wind or current. Long periods of waiting can bring about a wave of emotions that we didn’t see coming, leading us into a sea of hopelessness. The only anchor strong enough to handle those emotions is Jesus. I love how the writer of Hebrews puts it, “We who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.” Why? “This hope we have as an anchor for our souls!” (Hebrews 6:18-19 NASB).

Ignore the Temptation to Give In. It’s easy when we’re in a season of waiting to want to throw in the towel. Our minds can play tricks on us and the lure of taking matters into our own hands or slipping back into old patterns will start to look appealing. You know like maybe reaching out to an “old friend” because your marriage is not where you thought it would be. Sleeping in and choosing to skip the gym when you know it doesn’t match your fitness goals, or giving up on applying for your dream job because it seems too far out of reach. However, we must resist those temptations. Stay focused while you wait my friend, it’s worth it.

Trust the Lord. The longer we have to wait, the easier it becomes to start to doubt what we once had complete confidence in. We know that God spoke a word to our hearts, but as each day goes by without seeing any evidence, that assurance scale seems to drop lower and lower. If we don’t fully continue to trust God during the waiting season, it can lead us to take matters into our hands, which is rarely a good idea. Think about what happened with Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 16). It’s tough, I know, but keep believing. He hasn’t forgotten you!

I’m not sure what season of life you’re in, but if you find yourself struggling in a season of waiting, know that you are not alone. Let’s remember to encourage ourselves and those in our circles, to not allow this time to pass us by, and miss out on what God could be teaching us in these moments. My prayer is that as you’ve read this, your heart is encouraged to W.A.I.T. differently. Wait in expectation that our Father will always be faithful to His promises over our lives.

Wait for the Lord, my dear friend. Be strong and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for the Lord.

What are you waiting for? Are you willing to wait for God’s best?

Heavenly Father, Thank You for helping me to wait patiently, knowing Your best plan rather than my hurried plans, is worth the wait. Help me to remember You wait with me, and I am never alone.

In Jesus’s Name, Amen.

Genre: Non-fiction

Adapted from Pages From My Heart: A Devotional for Women: Lekeisha (Ford) Maldon: Used with permission

Copyright 2021: What to do in the W.A.I.T.: Lekeisha Maldon: All Rights Reserved