Three Lessons on Waiting Well

Things have been a bit quiet on here lately because we have been dealing with a nasty sick bug. My son was the only one we had to take to the doctor, who diagnosed him with something that is basically like walking pneumonia. She graciously just gave us enough meds for the whole family since all but my husband were dealing with it. I particularly have a had a rough time kicking it, but I am getting there. I’ve taken more meds these past couple of weeks than I have in a long time! I usually try to treat things more naturally, but that wasn’t enough this time around. Anyway, we are all finally on the mend, I believe. My husband started having some symptoms a couple of days ago, but he started meds right away and seems to be fairing okay. I’m thankful for a kind doctor who has been such a blessing to us while we are in between ministries.

Ministry Update

We are still looking for the next ministry God would have for us. My husband has been in communication with a church, but there is nothing concrete yet. We are just praying about it and seeking counsel right now. We’re still playing the waiting game!

In light of this, I thought I would share some lessons I’ve learned about waiting well while in this waiting season. We all have them, and they are not usually easy. My waiting season has felt extremely looooong. I won’t go into all the details now, but suffice it to say, it has been a trying waiting season for me. I have felt despair, hopelessness, and doubt in God. But I know that I can’t stay there. These are not healthy places to be, and we have to pull through them. Sometimes I have literally said to myself, “If you aren’t going to trust God in this, what is your alternative?” So then I find another Bible study, or study through a particular theme of verses in my journal, or read another book from someone else who has faced hard things, or talk through it with my husband yet again. Having struggles as a Christian isn’t wrong. It’s how we handle them that matters. We have to keep turning to the Word and to people and books that point us there.

Waiting Well Lesson 1

When you’re in a waiting season, keep going back to God’s Word, even if you don’t feel like it. I wrote another post (check it out here) a while back with verses to help in seasons of waiting. This is a good place to start if you’re in your own waiting season. I have studied verses on themes like resting in God (you can find this verse study plan here) and hope, as I mentioned in my last post. Obviously, studying verses about God’s faithfulness or His love would be excellent studies as well. Sometimes I have had to just do the right thing even if my emotions weren’t on board with it. Turning to God’s Word is always the right thing. Learning to wait well requires us to intentionally focus our attention on God and Who He is. You can check my resources page for more ideas on Bible studies.

Waiting Well Lesson 2

Find something new to learn and focus your attention on. Last summer, I found a watercolor painting class in our area that my daughter and I went to once a week for about a month. We’re both creative types, and I thought this would give us something fun to do together and dabble in a new skill. We really enjoyed it, and it gave us something else to think about in our waiting season. Right now, I am learning how to make passive income online. I bought an online course to help me learn, and once again, it gives me something to focus my energies on while we are waiting for God’s direction. It is also teaching me new skills that I can carry into the future regardless of where we end up. I don’t want to waste this waiting season. There are things to learn, both spiritually and practically, that can help us grow even while we are waiting.

Waiting Well Lesson 3

Don’t forget to enjoy the little moments each day. It can be easy to miss the beauty of each day when we are waiting because we get so focused on a future moment when we hope our waiting finally ends. If you’re waiting season is short, focusing on it being over won’t have such an impact, but if you’re waiting season is long, as mine has been, you will miss so many special moments if you don’t take the time to note them. I haven’t been very consistent at this, but as I write this, I am reminded that I need to get back to writing these down. I did well for a while and fell away from it when we were in transition last fall. But it is helpful to write down ways you saw God work, or something funny that happened with your kids, or a fun thing you did as a family that day. It can be anything, but it helps to keep focusing on the good moments that are happening even in the midst of a hard waiting season. I have an app that I use to try to note something I’m thankful for each morning as well. It’s these little things that help you keep getting up each day and hoping in God.

I trust these lessons I’m learning will be helpful to any of you who are in a waiting season. If you aren’t in one now, you probably will be at some point. They come to all of us, so tuck these things away for a future time when you might need them. Have a honey-filled day, and don’t forget to find some beauty today!