Waiting

“Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.”   

Psalm 37:7 (NASB)

My journal bursts at the seams with frustration about waiting. We wait for birthdays to validate our entrance into adulthood. We wait for our art to be received. We wait for babies to bring newness to the world. We wait for answers to prayer and we wait for our heavenly home.

We know God is not jerking us around but sometimes we feel forgotten. At that point, we doubt everything about ourselves and need a reminder about God’s faithfulness.

In one season of waiting, I wrote in my journal:

Lord, am I a writer?

Why can’t I write?

My assignment is due today.

I need help!

Did You call me to write?

Or did I just make that up?

Why am I so far away from You?

The next day, I reported another deadline met. And my confidence restored.

Is it just me, or do you question your sanity when things look bleak?

In her book, Your Life on Hold: Don’t Hate the Wait, Kathy Carlton Willis notes a verse from God’s Word: “’Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today’ (Exodus 14:13 NLT). This passage was spoken by Moses to the people to encourage them to look to God to save them from the Egyptians. It was right after their escape, and Pharoah took his chariot and troops to chase after the Israelites. Sandwiched between that description and the miracle of the Red Sea, Moses spoke these words.”

Kathy goes on to say, “Whatever holding pattern you are in right now is the pause between what was (your Egypt) and what is yet to come (your Red Sea). Hold on. Help is on the way!”

Exercise:

What can you do while you’re waiting?

Psalm 27:14

Psalm 130:5

Isaiah 30:18

Acts 1:4-5

Romans 8:23

1 Thessalonians 1:10

Titus 2:11-14

Psalm 40:1

Romans 8:25

Are you in a holding pattern between the slush pile and being published?

Waiting can be a time of reflection as we hone our prayer life and writing skills.

We weigh the balance of action and rest, and tip the scales to listen and discern what the Holy Spirit may say. Don’t give up on the process. And don’t give up on yourself. At just the right time, God will show you the way.

What will you do while you are waiting?

Over 140 of Sally Ferguson’s devotionals have been published in Pathways to God (Warner Press). She’s also written for Light From The Word, Chautauqua Mirror, Just Between Us, Adult Span Curriculum, Thriving Family, Upgrade with Dawn and ezinearticles.com. Prose Contest Winner at 2017 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference.

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon. Visit Sally’s blog at sallyferguson.net