5 Keys To Waiting Well

I felt like I was always "the one" waiting on God for something; career opportunities, financial breakthroughs, the right relationship, my own place, a car, even healing in my body. It's funny, sometimes I'd think ‘Lord I'm already waiting until marriage to have sex, can You just give a little on your end so I'm not waiting for everything?’ It seemed like I was waiting for my life to begin, while watching others get many of the things I wanted. Can you relate? If so, you know that some days you're good. You're thankful for where God has you, you have peace, and all is well. Other days, you're having a full fledged kicking and screaming tantrum because you're TIRED of waiting for ______. The last thing you may want to hear is someone telling you about the benefits of waiting, especially if they're not in the waiting room with you. Well girl, I'm still here and I’ve gathered five keys to waiting well that I want to share with you. 

For most people, especially Americans, waiting doesn't come easy. We live in a microwave society that hasn’t equipped us with patience.  However, God, through Holy Spirit, has given us the ability to wait. To access this ability, we must continually depend on Him to navigate the waiting journey. Anytime we take matters into our own hands, we risk becoming like the people of Israel, going around the same mountain for 40 years and potentially missing out on God’s best.

5 keys to Waiting Well:

1.Take your eyes off of what you’re waiting for and place them on God.

Can you imagine how difficult sitting in a waiting room would be if the only things present were you and a clock. You’d focus on the clock the entire time. However, when you have someone or something (novel, magazine, TV) the wait is much easier! Similarly, when we’re waiting on God, we wait better when our eyes are on God and not the clock.

Scripture says, “we do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” (Hebrews 12:2 NLT) 

Jesus provides a great example of placing our focus on God. In spite of what He was experiencing on the cross, He knew those troubles couldn’t compare to His reward from God. During the entire ordeal, He talked to God. Even in moments of weakness, where He felt as if God had forsaken Him, He brought those concerns to God. He focused His attention on God! 

2. Embrace waiting as a time of preparation and not a waste of time!

Waiting doesn’t mean nothing is happening and it surely doesn’t mean time is lost.

Scripture says, those who wait on the Lord, shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31 KJV)

Waiting on God prepares us for what we’re waiting for. When we wait well, we get the strength and endurance we need to manage what we’ll receive. Therefore, we must lean into preparation. Master what God has placed in front of us. Do the things He’s been showing us, develop our skills, start the business, write the book, serve in ministry, etc.

“Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded (Luke 12:35-40 NLT).

3. Embrace waiting not as passive, but an active process! 

I remember back in my college physics class, we’d discuss the difference between objects in motion and at rest. Sometimes an object can look stationary, for example the sun, but be moving. Similarly waiting feels like being stationary, like nothing is happening, but things are coming into motion while we’re waiting.

But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:4). 

Our patience in a season of waiting is working for us. It is producing something in us and bringing things into fruition in our lives. Even if we can’t see it, things are in motion.

4. Find joy where you are! 

Sometimes we underestimate the power of joy. Joy is not just an emotion, it is a fruit of the Spirit, and a powerful force against the storms of life. 

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." (Romans 12:12). 

When we wait, we wait in Godly hope, which is positive expectation. We trust that God is working everything for our good. I promise you, finding joy and learning to wear it like a coat has been one of the best things that could have ever happened to me. Finding joy where I am has allowed me to be present where I am. It has adjusted my lens from the time clock to the beauty of waiting.

5. Pray constantly

Prayer is one of the most powerful keys to waiting well. God is constant. We never have to worry whether He will make good on His promises. His word says, He’ll bring it to pass. Prayer is so powerful in a season of waiting because it doesn’t change God, it changes us. It aligns our hearts with God’s heart. It is the way by which we bring the patience of heaven to earth. While praying through a waiting season won’t necessarily speed up time, it will help us to get through the season a better person than when we started.

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God” (Psalm 40:1-3)

In conclusion, what I’ve learned is that anytime God has you waiting, it will be worthwhile. In the end, it is for a greater purpose and you end up a better person for it. I pray these 5 keys to waiting well will help you to embrace your waiting season and truly see that there is beauty in waiting!