Waiting

by Shelly Erickson

In life there is waiting. With the goings on in our world, country, and community it seems like there has been more waiting as of late.

What are we waiting for? Here are things I have heard over the past month:

• Waiting for the covid virus to end
• Waiting for a vaccine
• Waiting for the birth of a new baby
• Waiting for schools to announce what will happen in the fall
• Many of us are waiting for the day we can gather safely again and be present with each other - in church, with our elderly who are at highest risk, at lunch dates with friends, prayer groups, work....we wait.  
• I personally know people who are waiting and praying for healing and some who are waiting for Jesus to come for them and bring them home.  
• We wait.

Most of us hate waiting. It's frustrating. It is a disruption that many times we cannot control and boy do we like to control! We live in a world of "instantaneous." I want it so I get it with a click of a button. What good and lasting truth has that brought to your life?

What if....what if.....we looked at waiting as good - in fact something holy. I cannot even begin to tell you how many times in my life I have cried out to God in total frustration, "Where are you?!" "I'm waiting! Do you not see me?!?! " Do you not hear me!?" "Why are you not responding?" "Why have you abandoned me?" "You want me to believe but I feel all alone!"

It has taken me years with spiritual help and guidance to slowly learn and discover that God is with me in the waiting. He hasn't abandoned me - He meets me in the waiting. I have discovered that waiting is good. Waiting is holy. Waiting is a gift and God meets us in this and is with us.  

Scripture has so many truths about waiting. Here are just a few:

Our soul waits for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
Psalm 33:20  

“Be still, and know that I am God."
Psalm 46:10

Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will not be shaken.
Psalm 62:5-6

God does not abandon us in the waiting. He is with us. What if instead of fearing the "wait" we honestly asked God, "What are you up to?" and then listened. What if we stilled ourselves in the waiting and paid attention to what God was up to?

I don't know what you might be waiting for, but I do know this, "God is with you." You are not alone. God hears you, knows you and is leading you into something new and wonderful.  

Be still. Listen. Let go. Trust. Pay attention. If these things are hard (which they are for most of us) find someone to help you through the waiting.  

God is on your side and leading you to something new and beautiful. Thy kingdom come Lord, Your will be done, while I'm waiting.

Shelly

Shelly Erickson
Director of Children's Ministry/Birth to Pre-K