Waiting On God
I am currently making some seemingly big and life-changing decisions, and the process has been more complex than I’d hoped; it has been slow, and sometimes, it feels like one step forward and two steps back. It feels long, and I get tired and impatient sometimes, so it’s fair to say that I am in a season of waiting. I have learnt, and I’m still learning about patience, giving up my silly notions of control and trusting God completely.
I wanted to share some comforting truths I wish I’d discovered earlier in this journey. The list is by no means exhaustive. I’m sure you have things you could add from your experience. I must begin with God’s love. So simple, right? It’s so apparent, everybody knows this, but the depth of God’s love for me took me by surprise!
Ephesians 3:17-19, ESV – … that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God
It wasn’t until I came to a deeper and more personal understanding of this that it started to comfort and help me in my waiting period. I’ve often thought, “If only I knew how it would end, then I wouldn’t be so worried.” Fear of the unknown can be anxiety-inducing, not knowing if my efforts are worth it and if I’m even headed in the right direction. I like planning, and I want to be in “control.” I get anxious when my illusion of control is shattered. I’m in unknown territory, and worst-case scenarios come to mind. It’s laughable, as if I had control over anything in the first place.
The good news is that we do know how it will end. Because He loves me, He wants the best for me, it will end well. We need to trust Him. It will comfort me if I really believe this and can bring it to mind when needed. Sometimes easier said than done, though; we need to be intentional, we need to fill our mind with Scripture and pray for help.
Psalm 94:18-19, NLT – … but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.
That assurance of God’s love goes a long way, knowing that you are not going through this because God is angry with you and wants to make you suffer for no reason. Even when He is correcting you, it’s out of love, so you can be rest assured that He will bring you out of it, and you will come out of it better and stronger, like refined gold.
God loves you because He loves you; it’s not based on anything you have or have not done, which is just so reassuring!
1 John 4:10, NLT – This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
The Bible says that God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, He sent His Son to die for us (Romans 5:8). He still loves you in your darkest times, contrary to whatever lie the devil may be trying to feed you in that situation. “I’ve done wrong” or “I am not worthy of God’s love, so why will He rescue me from this situation?” “I deserve to not only be in this situation but to remain in it”.
We have indeed all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, but if you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, you have put on Jesus’ righteousness, and that’s what God sees.
Romans 8:37-39, ESV – No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We are so familiar with these scriptures, but reading, understanding, personalising and clinging to them is a different feeling. Praise God!
The second truth is very similar to the first; it is the goodness of God.
I’m currently loving the song “Goodness of God.” I’m almost always brought to tears when I hear it because it’s just so true. It says, “All my life, you have been faithful; all my life, you have been so, so good”. It’s a beautiful reminder to dwell on the marvellous works of God in your life. It makes me think, yes, God has always shown Himself to be good, trustworthy and faithful in the past, so why should I doubt Him now?
We start to panic when we forget and take our eyes off Him. Another verse of the song says, “I’ve known you as a Father, I’ve known you as a Friend, and I have lived in the goodness of God”. Isn’t that just so true? He is Father and Friend, and we live in His goodness, in the rain, the sun, the rainbow, a baby’s laughter. And on a personal level – I’m sure you have numerous examples of answered prayers, God’s favour and blessing in your life. It can be hard to think this way when you’re in the throes of it, but we need to be conscious of it. I heard someone say that “our feelings are valid, but they are not facts”, and it stuck with me. So, feel the emotions, and let God meet you where you are.
Psalm 34:8, ESV – Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Pray for strength, and start where you’re at. In whatever way you can dwell on His goodness at that moment – songs, Scripture, marvelling at the beauty of God displayed throughout nature, etc. He is a good God; He loves you, He will bring you through it.
Psalm 27:13, ESV – I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
Finally, sharing your burdens with your fellow Christian brothers and sisters is good. We are relational beings, and talking with people you trust can be therapeutic. They can listen, give you wise counsel, pray for you, etc.
1 Thessalonians 5:11, ESV – Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
We sometimes need to remember that not only should we build others up, but we need to be open to being built up, too. This requires vulnerability and humility, which can be challenging.
I hope some of these words and verses have comforted you as they have been for me. It’s a journey; I am still learning and working on these things. Some days are better than others. My prayer is that our first response is always God, that we can run to Him with all our worries, big and small, secure in His love for us and His goodness, and that we can wait joyfully, knowing He will see us through.
Lamentations 3:25-26, ESV – The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
Photo credit: ©istockphoto/Anastasiia Stiahailo
