Tag: Waiting

When You Don’t Understand

Encouragement for when life doesn’t make sense.

Life often curves into patterns that confuse our minds and trouble our hearts.

This most recently happened to me while traveling abroad to visit family. I hadn’t seen these close family members in six years, and I already knew going into the trip that it would be an emotional experience, potentially even saying goodbye to my grandpa. There were many bumps along the journey, but joy and light still pulled through.

Then, about half-way through the trip, I got really sick. Shortly after, I discovered I had COVID, which meant I couldn’t spend time with my grandparents, the ones I had waited so long to see.

Needless to say, I was confused and devastated. I was also really angry. I knew God didn’t “inflict me” with this virus. There were many various avenues where I likely caught it; that’s just a part of traveling now. But I had been waiting for so many things in my life, and it just felt like another disappointment. Shouldn’t we be rewarded for waiting and trusting in God?

In the end, I’m still not sure why I had to get sick, though everything is in God’s hands. He knows why. But over time, I was able to express my difficult emotions to God, and He allowed me to find some creative ways to safely see my family before I left. As I gave up my anger, sadness, and dashed hopes to God, I began to see how He was teaching me to trust Him through providing a way home, keeping others safe, and allowing me the chance to rest.

As we head into Holy Week, I am continually reminded of how little the disciples understood about Jesus’ sacrifice. Jesus kept saying to them that they wouldn’t understand yet, but they would later. I wonder if those words were comforting to them.

Honestly, sometimes those words are not comforting to me. I want to scream, “Well, that doesn’t help me now, does it?”. But to God, it’s all happening at once. Each second is still and precious, yet wrapped up into eternity for Him. We may feel like we are waiting forever, but in the end, it will be but a blink in time.

You may be experiencing a confusing situation right now. You might be questioning God’s hand in all of it, wondering why He would allow such a thing to happen. Are you worried that patience didn’t pay off? That you misplaced your trust in God?

I urge you not to give up on God. Things may feel like they are falling apart right now, but as Easter shows us, God has something even greater in mind.

It doesn’t mean that you should just slap on a smile and pretend like everything is okay, either. God desires for you to be open and vulnerable with Him about all your feelings. Sometimes hard situations occur because they create in us a softer heart that paves the way toward becoming more vulnerable with God.

This Easter season, remember how much God loves you. No matter what, even when confusing situations arise, He understands what you are going through and wants you to turn to Him, even if you are still working on trusting Him fully.

When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”

“No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”

Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”

John 13:6-8

Worth the Wait

Where is God amidst tragedy, heartbreak, and most of all, waiting?

You don’t have to wait for God’s plan.

Yep, you heard me right. Why? Because God’s plan isn’t something you have to wait around aimlessly for–it’s already happening right now.

There are many beautiful quotes about waiting on God and how we can’t waste the waiting. I’ve even posted about not being unproductive or inattentive to God’s leading during seasons that feel slow or mundane. But here’s the thing–we aren’t waiting on God’s plan to start, each day is proof that God is weaving His story in every season of our lives.

It may feel like waiting as you sit in a hospital room, anticipating your results. When you watch everyone else achieve their dreams, feeling one step behind. When you wonder how your life could possibly end up purposeful and beautiful amidst tragedy or heartbreak. When the world is dark and no light seems to be shining through.

Where is God in all this?

God is right here, my friend. He is within every single detail. That chance encounter with a person who needs your encouraging smile. That unexpected opportunity that leads you down a road towards healing. That wrong turn that ends up bringing you to all the right places.

God’s plan is worth trusting. We could never comprehend all the knowledge He has about us, the world, and the future. It’s a gift to be able to leave it all in His hands.

But we don’t have to wait to begin living. Even when things aren’t going in the direction that feels “successful” or “purposeful”, you are still becoming the person you have been made to be, one step at a time. You are still learning and growing, especially once you look for the ways God is speaking to you.

On the days when it feels like nothing is happening and you are impatient about understanding where your life with lead, remember that each moment is an opportunity to bring light into the world. One thoughtful message, one act of kindness, one comforting Bible verse at a time. They all matter.

Most of all, you matter. God knows that better than anyone.

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

Ephesians 4:1

When Life Comes to a Stand Still

Do you feel stuck, like life is passing you by without any meaning? Here’s hope for the slow-moving times.

Did you know that we (assuming you’re on Earth 😉) are currently moving at 1000 miles per hour around the sun? That’s faster than any roller coaster, mode of transportation, or animal on our planet. Yet, as I stare at the unmoving objects on my desk, it sure doesn’t feel like we’re spinning around at crazy fast speeds. But here we are, changing with each passing minute, time ticking away.

I once heard the old proverb, “Life stops for no one, not even you.” Yet sometimes, it feels like life is at a standstill. We haven’t received the result that could change everything. We haven’t heard back from the person we’re worried about. We haven’t gotten all the answers, the purpose behind our pain. It feels like God is keeping something from us, the key to our contentment.

But here’s the thing: once we get that answer or achieve that goal, we will just move on to something else. If we don’t focus on the growth that happens during the waiting, we miss out on making the most of every season of our lives, even the slow, painful ones.

The truth is, despite how you might feel, a lot is happening. Inside of you, you are deepening your relationship with God. By listening to Him, you are becoming more mature, compassionate, and understanding. During this time, if you spend time with Jesus, you will begin to develop His characteristics. He is equipping you for the important task ahead. On the outside, things are happening behind the scenes that you don’t know about. Maybe they aren’t happening the way you expect, but developments are being made.

You will not be stuck in this season forever. So instead of seeing yourself as helpless, realize that maybe you can even rejoice during this time. There is truly no wasted season when it comes to God’s plans. He understands exactly the amount of time it will take for you to grow into the person He needs you to be.

You are growing. You are changing. You are becoming someone the younger version of you would be proud of. Spend today thanking God for all He is doing in your life and remember that there is so much more to come. ❤

We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.

Psalm 33:20

Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God.

Psalm 38:15

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.

Psalm 130:5

Song Recommendation: 2009, by Sarah Reeves: https://youtu.be/_GGdl257Fzk

Too Late…Or Right on Time?

Do you feel like life is passing you by? Here’s hope for the times when you feel too late to make a difference.

Growing up, one of my biggest fears was being late. Late to school, late to appointments, late to practices. My stomach would churn, my heart would race, I would gag in the car on my way if I knew there was a chance I’d be late.

So often, we are afraid that things are too late. We think God’s answer to our prayer is too late. We’re too old to meet someone new. We’re too burned out to make a difference. We’ve been sick too long to be healed, and if we are healed, then why didn’t God heal us fast enough?

I think this stems from our society’s fear of being late. It started off as a sign of respect, being on time. That’s a good thing. It’s good and professional to be on time to meet. But now there’s this stigma around being late to life events. Oh, you don’t know what you’re going to do with your life by the time high school’s over? Too late! Oh, you aren’t married and you’re over thirty? Yikes. Oh, you haven’t gotten the job of your dreams by age forty? Guess you never will!

Besides how hurtful these assumptions are, and how they are completely WRONG, they also cause us to doubt God’s timing. And let me tell you something, God’s timing is never off.

I’ll never forget 10th grade, the year that completely changed my life and my relationship with God. I struggled with my mental health; I was really lonely. I thought my loneliness would be “cured” if I had someone to eat lunch with. I tried reaching out to different people, but after being rejected countless times, I stopped. Then, a few weeks before school got out, I realized a fellow classmate was also sitting all alone, and we were able to eat lunch together for the rest of the year.

I kept wondering why God didn’t allow us to connect until so close to the end of the year. I wouldn’t have had to suffer the rejection and humiliation of being all alone, I told God. But then, maybe I wouldn’t have realized how much I need God. I might not have had this burning passion to reach those who feel lost and alone, unseen and unheard. Though that year was tough, really tough, God used it to bring about longer lasting effects than if I’d gotten what I wanted right away.

Waiting often comes with pain, whether we’re waiting to be appreciated, loved, healed, or valued. But in the end, pushing through it is worth it. There have been many times when I’ve wanted to give up on things that God’s called me to do. His answers haven’t come “fast enough” or the reward for the action, whether it be a word of thanks or a renewed relationship, haven’t been given to me yet. But I’ve come to realize that God gives us those things right when we need them most. Not when we think we need them, but when we actually do.

And the best part is, those things that we think we have to wait for, we can find in God. He calls us chosen, loved, valued, seen. He loves us and wants us to come running to Him when we feel anything less than that.

Don’t give up hope. God is never late. He is right on time.

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him.

Ephesians 3:16-21

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Galatians 6:9

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

2 Peter 3:8

Losing Sight of Beauty

Are you currently in a season of waiting? Here is some encouragement for the times when it feels like God isn’t working.

Do you ever get super excited about something? It might be a new opportunity or a relationship. But then, you find out you have to wait for it. You might be willing to wait a while, but the waiting grows longer…and longer. You’re tired of waiting. You’re tired of being patient. You begin to wonder why you were ever excited in the first place, even if the thing you’re excited about hasn’t changed.

I’ve had this happen to me countless times. Most recently, I got the opportunity to partner with a brand through my photography. I was so excited! This is what many photographers in my “line of work” (more like hobby) hope for, and essentially what I’ve been working towards for over four years.

When the company first reached out to me, I was ecstatic! I called my close friends, I barely resisted the urge to text everyone in my contacts. I was truly overjoyed.

But then…it took weeks for them to respond to me. Once they finally did, it took even longer before we could work out the details of the deal. They were kind and thoughtful, but it was still frustrating having to wait for everything to work out, not knowing if everything would eventually go through.

Then, when they shipped out the package with the merchandise for me to photograph, the package kept getting delayed. The latest it was supposed to come was 7 p.m. and it came close to 6:30 p.m.

But when I opened the front door, there were five GINORMOUS (I do mean that in the most literal sense) packages. I was so touched…and embarrassed I had been annoyed at the wait.

To be honest, during the waiting process, I struggled to find joy in the project. I no longer wanted to tell everyone and their neighbor. When my friends asked how things were going, I mumbled something about things probably not working out.

But then, it did. It worked out even better than I could’ve imagined. To say I was overwhelmed by their generosity is an understatement.

Seasons of waiting (often when they are for even bigger things than photography partnerships) can feel like the toughest times to draw close to God. We’re often impatient with Him, wondering why He isn’t “following through” with His promises. But the truth is, He is always working, even when we can’t see it. He has something much bigger in store for us if we can only wait. Often, His answers come in different shaped packages than we imagined, but they are better, more profound than anything we could ever hope for.

It’s easy to give up hoping when things aren’t happening at the speed we want them to. We lose sight of the beauty. The beauty in what we’re waiting for, the beauty in the world around us, in the little things. But most of all, the beauty that comes in a season of waiting.

God doesn’t waste the waiting, and He doesn’t want us to either. God often meets us in these uncomfortable places and teaches us everything we need for the next season of life. Often, the reason we have to wait is because we aren’t ready for what’s next. But if we allow God to work through every season, He will help us become ready for the things He has planned for us. He doesn’t promise to give us all we wish for, but rather what He desires for us.

You may wonder, “Why go through waiting periods if God isn’t planning on giving me what I want?”. Well, when we align our hearts with God’s, our deepest desire is for His will to be done. When we keep ourselves open to the unexpected opportunities God places in our path, we won’t feel quite so stuck. Instead, we will always have things to do for God’s kingdom.

Today, I hope you can revisit the part of your life you feel stuck in. I hope you can see that God is working through this season of waiting. And most of all, I pray that you can see the beauty in everything God is doing in you and through you.

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Romans 12:12

The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.

Lamentations 3:25

But as for me, I will look to the Lord. I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.

Micah 7:7

Truly Alive

Do you feel fully alive, or are you waiting for something to happen before you can live life to the fullest?

“The past is gone, you don’t know how many tomorrows you have left, so make the most of the present. Don’t die while you’re still breathing.”

I saw that quote yesterday, and it stopped me in my tracks. A lot of us think that waiting means we can’t do anything. But if you think about it, we’re always in a season of waiting.

Here’s a classic example, though I know everybody’s story is different.

An elementary schooler is waiting to someday graduate from school. Once they graduate, they are waiting on figuring out which college they are going to. Once they graduate from college, they are waiting on getting their first job. Once they get their first job, they are waiting for the day when they can retire.

There’s never going to be a time when you’re not waiting for that next stage of life to happen. It’s just inevitable.

But that doesn’t mean that you get to skip through all the in between stuff. All of it, whether it’s getting through secondary school, working towards a degree, starting a family, or changing career paths, is meaningful. The enjoyment, the lessons, and the significance of those stages of life shouldn’t be discounted simply because they occur before you reach a place in your life where you want to be.

It can be really easy to let life pass before our eyes, especially during a global pandemic when everything else has been put on pause. But our lives are never paused, even when we are experiencing unforeseen difficulties. As the old proverb goes, time stops for no one.

The truth is, we will get from life what we make from it. Now, I know you may want to argue and say that we can’t decide what happens to us. And you’re right, we have no control over that.

But we can decide how experiences affect us. We get to decide whether we will learn the lesson God’s trying to teach us or if something is going to ruin the rest of our lives.

Think about all those fairytales from your childhood. Both the villain and the protagonist experienced hardships, usually in the form of the loss of an ability or an important person in their lives. Yet the reason why the protagonist had a happy ending and a joyful demeanor was because they were willing to persevere and believe there was still good in the world. The villain could’ve had all those blessings too, if they were willing to never let go of the hope that things truly can get better.

No matter how tempting it may feel to just sit around and tell yourself that you have to wait before you will be joyful, remember that we don’t have to wait to worship. We don’t have to wait to experience joy. We don’t have to wait before we can see God’s work at hand.

Instead, we need to be present in the here and now. We need to cherish what we do have while we still have it.

Live today. Say what you have to say, do something you’ve been putting off, laugh because why not? There are so many possibilities for today, for everyday.

Every day can be special and meaningful if you let it.

Open your heart to the possibility of truly living, right here, no matter where you are, and let God take care of the rest.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.

Philippians 4:4

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Jeremiah 29:11