Waiting Seasons
- Maison
- Nov 18, 2017
- 3 min read
I am a very impatient person. I thrive on fast lanes and quick checkouts. I like to go and know where I am going. It all stems to this issue of control. Which is such a crazy concept because even when we think we are in control, we aren't.
I remember going to Disney growing up (a perk of growing up in Orlando) and one of my biggest pet peeves was waiting in line. I found it ridiculous even at 8 years old that I had to stand in line for an hour to ride a 5 minute ride. Nonetheless, we did it anyway. One of the times we went to Disney was to celebrate my sister and I's birthday, as well as my Mom and Aunts (our birthdays are all within 2 weeks). My FAVORITE ride is Space Mountain (not sure why, because it combines all of my fears into one action packed ride). A perk of wearing those birthday pins is people notice it's your birthday. We got invited to go into the Control Center for the Space Mountain (cool moment). They escorted us to the front of the line and then gave us fast passes for rides for the rest of the day. This was a Disney jackpot and we scored big. I felt like a BOSS walking past everyone with my birthday pin and getting to cut into line and jump on the ride. It made my day and I still remember that moment. Honestly I wouldn't remember that day if it hadn't happened the way it did.
This past year has been full of waiting seasons for me. My plans were tossed up into the air and only recently have they started to settle in place. It was so scary. I was constantly stressed and anxious. I was chewing my lip off and breaking out all the time from anxiety (not cute btw). This feeling of not knowing was overwhelming. I could barely sleep and the thought of food would make me sick some days. I struggled spending time with God because I was so frustrated that He was messing up my plans and now I was behind. I was really involved in church and felt obligated to do my bible study because I didn't want to fall off the wagon. Even though I was frustrated with God I didn't want to completely disengage from Him. Deep down I knew that what was going on was for a purpose and that he was going to provide in perfect time. It was just hard for my head to believe it too.
I was struggling with enjoying my time studying God's word and I felt like everything was going in one ear and out the other (would that apply to reading? (in one eye and out the other)). I was in a small group and shared about what I was struggling with and one of the girls shared that a waiting season isn't necessarily God punishing you for something but rather God preparing you for the next season you are about to go in. This hit me in the face. Over the next few weeks I would come face to face with all of these truths. In sermons they would talk about how waiting seasons aren't wasted seasons. In podcasts they would talk about how reading God's word and investing in our relationship with Him is like water for our souls, so when we go out into the wilderness we are fully equipped to be on mission for God and faithful to Him.
One day all of my fears settled. I opened an email and all those months of stress and anxiety were laid to rest. In that moment the joy and thankfulness towards God far outweighed all that worry.
I learned something. I feel like waiting seasons are for growth. Worry, stress, and anxiety left me sinking in quicksand. Pulling and forcing me further from trust and rest in God and his grace in my life. The moment my eyes shifted from my lack of control to God's complete control I found so much peace. I was in the same exact place. Nothing had changed except me.
I pray that in your waiting season you don't stand there wasting it. I pray that you persevere. I pray that you run towards God and run towards the opportunities He has for you. I pray you come to know that waiting can be so much fun. It can be a season full of growth and joy.
Some sermons/podcasts for your waiting season:
Some songs for your waiting season:
Love,
Maison
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