4 Things You Can Do While You're Waiting On God

So I’m feeling a little grouchy this morning.  Ok maybe stabby is a better word for it.  All I know is that I’ve had two cups of coffee already and that’s not even touching it. This may be a job for a Chick Fil A milkshake.  I swear the secret ingredient in those things is crack…

I know what my problem is…

I’m waiting.  Impatiently.  Waiting for God to open a door.  Any door.  Please. 

I hate waiting. Don’t you?  

I don't think I've ever in my life heard someone say, “Ya know, I just love waiting in line!” or “I am so excited to wait for the next big thing to happen in my life!”  And if I ever did hear someone actually say those things, I'm pretty sure we wouldn't hang.  Have you ever felt like an airplane that has to circle the tarmac for what seems like forever before it can take off?  That’s how I feel right now.

Waiting on God is one of the hardest things for me. I’m fully aware that I’m impatient and usually want things to happen yesterday.  People will tell me it’s all in His timing, and I get that.  But for goodness sake, could His timing be my timing just once?!  For a type-A person like me, waiting for God to open a door somewhere (anywhere!) can be excruciating.  I wonder if you’ve ever been there too?

So I’m going to preach to myself and hope this applies to you too ;)

Here’s four things you can do while you’re waiting on God…

1. Go to the word of God.  Isaiah 40:31 says, “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”  In other translations the word “hope” is “wait”.  This struck me as interesting.  When I think of waiting I think of drudgery.  I think of getting my driver’s license renewed at the DMV; two hours of my life I’ll never get back, and a horrible picture of myself to commemorate the occasion for the next four years.  Kill me now.  But when I think of hope, I think of a positive expectancy, an excitement for what’s to come. Merriam Webster defines hope as this: to desire with expectation of obtainment, to expect with confidence.  I love that.  So often we’re looking for hope in all the wrong places, if you will. But what Isaiah says here is that when we place our expectation with confidence, our hope, in the Lord that He will renew our strength.  Thank you God for that!  We will wear ourselves out hoping in ourselves or our abilities.  We have to remember where we should be placing our hope.  Not in man, not in ourselves, but in Him.  Which leads me to my next point beautifully…

2. Resist the urge to make things happen.  Oh I hate this one. This is what I do!  This is how I roll!  I love to take matters in my own hands and MAKE THINGS HAPPEN!  Like I did four weeks ago…I got tired of waiting for God to open a door for me and decided to try my hat at doing hair again.  Why not?- I reasoned.  I’m not doing anything else anyway so what could it hurt?  Me.  It could hurt me.  And it did.  I found myself numb and in pain all at the same time for weeks afterward, and I took what felt like four steps back in my recovery.  My body wasn't ready and likely never will be again.  Sometimes we think we can handle that thing and we just aren't ready. Had I waited on the Lord instead of trying to kick a door open for myself I could have saved myself a lot of pain and frustration.  God knew I wasn't ready but I didn't want to listen.  Lesson learned.  Sometimes a closed door is just as good as an open door. 

3. Pick up that thing right in front of you.  Do you have a home?  Good.  Go clean it.  Do you have kids?  Good.  Go feed them. Or in my case, do you have a blog??  Good.  Go write it!  So often we miss out on what’s right in front of us because we’re so focused on what’s ahead.  Maybe God knows you won’t be able to handle that next big thing if you can’t even handle your household right now and wants you to take care of that first.  Or maybe He knows that if He gave you what you’re asking Him for right now that your marriage wouldn't survive it.  Go back to the basics.  What areas of your life do you need to work on?  Are you taking care of yourself physically, emotionally, spiritually?  Are you caring for your husband, family, or home well?  Do you need to get back on track with your finances?  Whatever it is, go do it.  If we’re faithful in the small things, he’ll give us bigger things.

     A couple of weeks ago I decided to put this to the test.  I thought, ok fine.  If I’m going to be  stuck here at home all day with no job and nothing to do then I guess I can treat my home like it’s my job and go deep clean the bathroom today and work at it as unto the Lord blah blah blah… I was less than enthused.  But the most amazing thing happened.  As I was scrubbing the shower, and the floors, and the walls, God brought person after person to my mind.  Even some people that I forgot existed!  I found myself praying for each and every person God brought to my mind, and I found myself renewed in the process.  That’s so like Him isn't it?  

4. PRAY.  Pray that thing through, whatever it is.  

Pray for peace and patience in the waiting.  

   

Pray that you’ll learn every thing God wants to show you during this time of wait.

  

Pray and ask God to show you how to wait well. 

Pray and ask God for encouragement- maybe directly from His word or from a friend.  

Pray for wisdom and discernment for when He does open a door.

Find someone else to pray for!  Be an encouragement to someone else! 

You guys, I really hope this helps.  I know it’s helping me.  I’m feeling slightly less grouchy with every word I type.  But I still want a Chick Fil A milkshake.  I feel good about making that happen.

What are you waiting on God for?  I’ll pray for you if you’ll pray for me?  Leave me a comment telling me what you’re waiting for and we can expect God with confidence together :)

Till next time…