Okay, I’m in one of those days when I’m having my ocean-deep-thoughts-and-reflection mode that’s why I came up with this blog. lol. Anyway, I was just contemplating about this word that practically dominates our whole existence here on earth. And the word that I’m referring to is “waiting.” Come to think of it, our lives are actually a series of “waiting”, be it on our everyday mundane activities or on the life-changing events in our lives. I categorized “waiting” into two types which are “certain waiting” and “uncertain waiting”. “Certain waiting” — I call this as such because you are certain or sure on what the outcome or result of your waiting will be. To make myself clearer let me give a few examples. When we plant seeds on good soil during planting season and we wait, we can be certain that it will produce crops. When a woman gets pregnant and takes care of herself and waits for 9 months, she can be sure that a healthy baby will be born. A caterpillar turning into a beautiful butterfly. Waiting for christmas day and add a few more days of waiting and a new year unfolds. Or a promotion as a result of good and consistent hard work, well, usually at least. On the other hand, “uncertain waiting” is the opposite. Even if you wait you don’t really know what the outcome will be or if the outcome is what you want it to be. Like, whether you’ll get the job that you desire after the interview. But still you wait. Or whether you’ll end up marrying your current boyfriend/girlfriend or if you will even get married someday. Or if he or she will come back to you after breaking up with him or her. Or will you even have children. And so on and so forth. I don’t know about you but my life has been and still is a series of “waiting” — both certain and uncertain. I waited if I’ll ever get married. I waited if I’ll be promoted on my job. I waited If my mom would ever get healed from cancer. I waited if my US petition would ever be approved and the same with my visa. I’m still waiting for the decision from the company for the position that I recently applied for. I’m still waiting for my green card. I’m still waiting for my driver’s permit so I can start learning how to drive. I’m waiting to have our own place. I’m waiting to become a mother someday. And the list goes on and on. Honestly, waiting stinks especially when you want to know the answer right away, right? I feel ya. We just don’t like to wait. Why do we have so many “fast food” chains? Why are microwave dinners so popular? What about ATM? Or Payment via phone? It is all because we don’t like to wait. Waiting is one of the most difficult things to do, whether we’re waiting for an airline flight, a phone call or an answered prayer.
There were times that I ask God why do I need to wait? Why? What good does it do to me? And I tried to come up with some silly answers like there is waiting because there is time! lol. If there’s no time then we don’t have to wait right? And too, time won’t wait for you. So what good does it do to have time? Am I making you confused? Sorry that’s no’t my intention. I’m confuse a bit too myself. lol. Anyway, I believe that God did not create time so as to make us suffer and wait. No. Although, there’s a major correlation between the two. Time is created so as to have order. The Bible says that God is not a God of disorder but of peace (1 Corinthians 14:33a). I believe that God’s one way of putting order in this world is by creating time. King Solomon puts it so clearly and beautifully on the 3rd Chapter of Ecclesiastes,
“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 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.”
“Waiting” is such a vital part in each of the activities or events in our lives. I think that God allows for a period of waiting for us to grow. For Him to mold us to the kind of person we need to be to make us ready for the “time.” God allowed me to wait many years before I met my husband and finally be married to him. God didn’t allow us to meet at the time that I wanted to because He knew that I wasn’t ready, neither was my husband. It would have been disastrous! I understood how wise it is to choose to wait — to wait on the Lord. Waiting is inevitable. But it is a comfort to know that there is actually beauty in waiting. It is the time when God prunes you and me to be the person that He wants us to be which is beautiful — like a caterpillar turning into a beautiful butterfly.
Waiting is never meant to be bad or ugly or negative. In fact, there are many stories of waiting in the Bible that resulted in victory, success, or a promise fulfilled. I think about King David where he had to wait something like 15 years from the time he was first anointed by Samuel to the time he became king over Judah. David’s life can teach us a great deal about “waiting on the Lord.” Noah waited while building the ark for about 120 years before it rained and flooded the whole earth. His whole family was saved and through him a new generation came forth. And what about Jesus? He had to wait for more than 30 years before his ministry began as a result of his life, death and resurrection is salvation or eternal life for those who believes in Him.
Believe it or not, there are benefits in waiting. One, as I’ve mentioned earlier, it is this time that God is molding our character that results to something beautiful and wonderful. Second, it is a time when our faith is stretched and our intimacy with Him is enhanced. Third, it allows us to have the opportunity to appreciate and “savor” each and every “season” in our lives. Even appreciate every “little” and simple activity and event and as a result, we become more grateful and thus become more contented. Finally, be assured that God always make it worth the wait. If I want to eat in a hurry, I can just drive through McDonald’s (or Taco Bell — where my hubby is working as a Shift Manager) and buy a “Happy Meal.” But if I want a gourmet meal, I know I will have to wait a while. That is because great meals don’t happen quickly, or easily. Or when I want to eat fast, I’d use the microwave. But if I want to eat well, then I’d use the oven, but it will entail some waiting. God’s plans and promises are not of the microwave type. God slow cooks His plans and His people, to bring out the very best in them. God is never late but He is also seldom too quick. But know that He has your best interest at heart.
What are you waiting for in your life? A new job, a house, financial security, healing, salvation for a loved one, a baby, a restored marriage? It seems that no matter where we are in our lives, we are waiting for something in the future. Our lives are never stagnant; if we are moving forward, there is always something to expect or wait for around the next bend in the road of our lives. Which to me, is exciting! In this time of waiting, don’t grow weary but continue to trust in God. Trust in His sovereignty. As His children, we can always trust in Him to provide the best possible path for our lives. Also, during our time of waiting, temptation is not far behind. Resist it. Resist the temptation of taking matters in our own hands. Rest in God, this makes resisting temptation easy. And lastly but certainly not the least, pray. The Bible says to present our requests to God by prayer and petition with thanksgiving in everything. (Philippians 4:6). Instead of wasting your time worrying, pray. When we pray with the right attitude or with the right heart, a peace that transcends all understanding, surrounds our hearts. This is what God does. This is what the Holy Spirit does in our hearts. So whatever or however God chooses to answer your prayers or your “waiting” (be it certain or uncertain), you will be at peace knowing that He works out everything for the best. So, when you’re in waiting, relax….because you know something beautiful is “brewing.” I know. 🙂
“Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.”
— Isaiah 40:28-31
again one more time….lo and behold..I found a P5 coin in the inside pocket of my bag! I really couldn’t believe that there was a P5 coin there! I mean, I looked and checked my bag several times! I’m not kidding! I was so relieved! The cab stopped at Robinsons, Galleria and the meter stopped at P211.50! lol. I still have 50 cents left! Amazing! The whole day, I was smiling so giddily! lol.
Moment to Moment 