Have you ever been in a season of waiting? A season where it seems quiet and deserted, like a desert?
I ended up there after I took a step of faith, and everything in my life changed as a result. At that point, I didn’t realize I was in a waiting season yet. I had never heard of it or dealt with it. I became impatient because I thought, “Okay, Lord, I have taken a step in faith and left this period behind me. What are we going to do next?!”
I’m not really the type who likes to sit still; I’m always busy and messing around in my house or doing stuff. I believe today’s society expects us to be busy. Everyone is busy, so you have to be busy too and meet all kinds of expectations.
But, we are no longer of this world, and we serve a God who certainly does not follow the “rules” of this world!
I always find it so beautiful how God also uses my dear friend to speak to me through her. And she is not afraid to tell me what God puts on her heart, even though sometimes they are things I would rather not hear. God also spoke through her about the season I found myself in: “Maybe you should just do nothing at all, but rest.”
“Take some rest?!? What do you mean? I don’t have time to rest!”
I had no idea what that looked like. What does a person do during “rest”? I didn’t understand any of it. I started to look into it and pray about it. “Okay, Lord, what now? What should I do now?”
God had pointed out a number of points to me months before: Renew your mind (Romans 12:1-2), sow the Word in your heart, meditate on the Word, make time for Him, and make your body a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2), and at that moment He reminded me of these points again.
During a season of waiting and not knowing what God wants you to do, He seems silent, and you don’t know what next step to take. I want to encourage you to wait. We are so tempted to keep going like an express train, but stand where you are and wait until you hear from God; until then, just keep doing the last thing He spoke to you. For me, that meant staying in the Word, continuing to renew my thinking according to the Word, making time for Him, being good and healthy with my body, and getting some rest.
When we think of waiting, we may quickly think of being silent and passive, but a waiting season with God is not passive but active! Try to continue to develop, grow in your relationship with God, and serve in your church or community, and above all, don’t think God needs your help because you become impatient!
“He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others.
He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” — Daniel 2:21
This season won’t last forever!
Don't give birth to Ismael
I once heard in a sermon, ”don’t give birth to Ishmael.”
We all know the story of Abraham and Sarah. God promised them a son, but when this had not happened after years of waiting, Sarah took matters into her own hands and urged Abraham to father a child with Hagar, Ishmael (Genesis 16). Now we know that was not a very good choice and certainly not God’s intention.
Waiting can sometimes feel uncomfortable; you can feel lonely and forgotten. It can be confusing, and you may become impatient and tempted to give God a hand and want to make decisions for yourself.
I want to encourage you; don’t go out, and “birth an Ismael”. Take it one day at a time and keep doing what God last spoke to you.
Embrace the season of waiting, take time to develop and grow in your faith. Discover what your gifts and talents are, go to college or do a Bible study, and serve other people.
A breakthrough may be closer than you think
Only God knows how long your waiting season will last, but never think of it as a waste of time.
With God, nothing is wasted, and He uses it for good.
He sees you (Genesis 16:13), is with you, and entering the new season, might come sooner than you think!
