The Waiting is the Hardest Part

By nature, most of us don’t like to wait.  We are conditioned to want everything to happen fast. We don’t like it when we don’t have control over our circumstances.  In the words of Tom Petty, “the waiting is the hardest part”. Ain’t that the truth – and boy are we in a season of waiting!

I have been praying hard and waiting for things to happen with someone I love for five years. I am weary but am trying to hang in there and keep the faith. And, of course, I think we are all tired of the pandemic situation and, unfortunately, there doesn’t really seem to be an end in sight. I’m sure that you, like me, have prayed and prayed about issues you are facing, and have had experiences where nothing seems to happen. You may think, “Is God there?”, “Is he listening?”  As David did, we cry out, “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?” Psalm 13:1

Paul teaches us some lessons about patience.

In Colossians 3:12, he said that we should put on the virtues of “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience”.

In Ephesians 4:2-3, he instructed us to “be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.”

Do you, like me, struggle with “waiting well”? Here are some tips.

Use your trials to cultivate patience

Trials are necessary to grow our faith, our character and our patience. Think this way: the more trials we face, the more opportunities we get to cultivate patience.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4

Be Thankful

How do we “put on . . . patience” as Paul instructs us? (Colossians 3:12) He points us to thanksgiving.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the work of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:15-17.

The unwelcome intrusions of waiting into our lives are powerful opportunities to welcome God into every moment, be thankful for Him and keep our hearts renewed in Him.

Trust God

It is not in our abilities to know the time or way in which God will work things out.

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ephesians 3:11

This is a great reminder that God is in control and we will never understand everything while we are on this earth. Our role is to keep the faith, trust Him and wait with hope as He brings about to completion the good work He has begun in each of our lives.

So here’s the cliff notes for this post, waiting is hard but hang in there and trust God!