I am not a patient guy by nature. When I want something, I want it now. So waiting has been one of the hardest lessons for me.
But I have seen enough in my own life to know that some of the best things came later than I wanted, and at a better time than I would have picked.
Faith is walking without the whole map
Having faith does not mean you always understand what is happening. It means you keep taking the next right step, even when the road is foggy.
Some days I pray for answers. Some days I just pray for peace to keep going. Both are fine.
What helps me wait well
I try to do three things while I wait. I stay faithful with what is in front of me. I keep my heart thankful. And I keep my circle of people close, because nobody should wait alone.
Waiting is not wasted time. It is often when we get stronger, kinder, and more ready for what is coming.
Waiting is not wasting
It is easy to feel like waiting time is lost time. I have felt it. But some of the biggest changes in me happened while nothing seemed to move. God was working on me before He worked on the situation. Look at what you are learning right now. It may be the very thing you will need next.
A verse I hold onto
Proverbs 3:5 says, Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. I read it slowly when I am anxious. I do not have to understand it all. I only have to take the next step I can see.
Do the next right thing
While you wait, keep your hands busy with good work. Pray. Call someone who needs encouragement. Clean up what is in front of you. Waiting well is not sitting still. It is staying faithful in the small things until the door opens.
When the answer is not yet
Not yet is hard to hear. But I have learned that a closed door can be a kindness. Some things I begged for would have hurt me. Looking back, I can see where I was protected without knowing it. If the answer is not yet, ask what you can do today and let God handle the timing.
A thought for you today
If you are in a season where nothing seems to move, do not quit. Do not stop praying. Do not stop trying. Your timing is not late.
Take a deep breath. Do the next good thing. Then trust that you are not walking alone.
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Waiting is not wasting
When we cannot see the way forward, we feel like we are stuck. Often the season is preparing us for something we are not ready for yet.
Trust is choosing to keep doing good while you wait.
Do the next right thing
You may not know the whole plan. You can know the next step. Be honest at work, kind at home and faithful in small things.
Those small things are never wasted.
Ask for peace
If you pray, ask for patience and a calm heart. If you do not, take a quiet walk and let your mind settle.
The timing is often better than we guess.
Why waiting is hard
We like to see progress. When we cannot, we worry that nothing is happening. A farmer plants a seed and does not see it for weeks. The seed is growing anyway, under the dirt where no one can watch.
Some seasons of life are like that. Growth is happening beneath the surface.
What to do while you wait
Keep doing the next right thing. Be honest, work hard, take care of your family and your health. Learn something new. Serve someone else. These steady habits prepare you for what is coming.
Avoid making big, rushed choices out of fear.
Finding peace in the middle
If you pray, ask for patience and a calm heart. If you do not, spend a few quiet minutes outside each day. Write down your worries and set them aside. Peace usually comes in small pieces.
Remember a time in the past when things worked out in a way you did not expect.
Look for the signs
Often the road shows itself one step at a time. A conversation, a book, an open door. Pay attention. The timing may be better than you think.
Words from Positive Phil
Let your light be steady, not flashy.
