Active Waiting

Y'all, I’m gonna keep it real with you.  I’m sitting here writing this at 5:38 am on the very morning it’s due. I’m not sure what happened (life), but I lost track of time. Even though I was reminded on Sunday and had a plan to write yesterday, I didn’t remember until late last night that I had completely forgotten my plan. 

This is unlike me! Normally, I tend to be perpetually early to a fault.  I wake up super early (my friends make fun of me for this). I arrive at parties way too early and try to find ways to help the host prepare with last-minute details to make it less awkward.  Recently, I even showed up at the DMV an hour before it opened just so I could be first in line. SO, here I sit seeking above and within to present something worth reading that will encourage your heart, feeling uncomfortable and out of sorts with my lateness.  

It’s times like these that I find myself thankful for the practical application of God’s Word to everyday circumstances. How He can be found in all things at all times because He is ever present and active in our lives in tangible ways.  

We could go in a couple of different directions here. We can discuss how the circumstances of life and the distractions of the day can pull us away from the priorities of our heart. We could focus on God’s amazing ability to work through us even when we, human as we are, often show up unprepared, needing to completely rely on Him. We could talk about GRACE and not beating yourself up when you’ve dropped the ball. I’ve landed instead, however, on the truth that, unlike us, God is never late. Never.

This can be a hard truth to accept, especially if you currently find yourself in a season of active waiting.  

Active Waiting in itself seems like an incongruent phrase because often waiting can feel so inactive. So much of our lives is spent waiting. Pause for a moment and consider: what are you waiting on right now? Are you waiting well?  

I found myself in an Active Waiting season recently. The process was painful and a real-life reminder that I’ve still got a ways to go in learning how to wait well. I mean, I’ve got the Active part down pat. I can, to try to be in control of situations and circumstances, jump in with a whirlwind of self-effort and try to make things happen, obsessively so. This is an all too familiar pattern in my world when life happens unexpectedly and I need something to happen. 

I started at peace and full of faith, sure that God would show Himself faithful.

Things didn’t happen as quickly as I wanted them to...

I fervently did all that I knew to do. 

Things didn’t happen as quickly as I wanted them to... 

I grew tired and discouraged, cried and wallowed a bit.

Things didn’t happen as quickly as I wanted them to...

My faithful encouragers reminded me of the truth, prayed for me, and even brought me chocolate chips, refusing to allow me to crawl into a hole. 

Things didn’t happen as quickly as I wanted them to... 

I finally came to a place of surrender, accepting that the entire situation was out of my control and, because God loves me and I am His child, that the things that needed to happen would happen in exactly His way and time.

The things happened!

And they happened in a way that wouldn’t have been my first choice, but I am now realizing is what is best, and I’m better off than I would have been had things gone “my way.”  

There is a whole different devotional that could be written about that! 

Now, on the other side of this waiting season, I hope I will carry with me the lessons I’ve learned. When confronted with the next waiting season, my heart desires to remember and apply the truths that have been illuminated.  

Though the circumstances of life can take me by surprise, they never take God by surprise. 

He loves me and is ever and always working on my behalf and for my Good to continue to lead me in this life in the direction that He knows is best for me.  

He knows me better than I know myself, and when I choose to surrender to His timing and will, things go a lot more smoothly.

He is faithful and trustworthy and has never failed me yet.  

These are all truths that I would have said I knew before this waiting season. It was made so apparent to me, though, that the knowing was not as deep and fixed as it needs to be. Next time, and we can be confident there will be a next time, I desire to actively wait well. I want to toss aside self-effort and surrender more quickly. I want to spend my time waiting, focused on the One who is my I AM instead of focusing on the things. I want to be filled with faith and hope rather than fear and discouragement.  

I’m confident that this is what He wants too, both for you and for me.  

My prayer for you today, Daughter of God, is that, in whatever season of waiting that you are in that you will remember to... 

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Psalm 27:14