Do You Ever Get Tired of the Wait?

by Brenda McGraw @BrendaMMcGraw

Waiting is hard.

Waiting is hard. When growing up, we wait to turn 13 years old, and then 18. We anticipate turning 21 so we can feel like an adult.

Many of us dream about our wedding date and wait for the perfect spouse. Then we have to wait to get married.

Pregnancy lasts nine long months before we’re rewarded with a baby. At that point we can’t wait until the infant starts sleeping all night. We push through, loving every minute of parenthood, but cannot wait until they can dress and feed themselves.

Kids grow up and become teenagers and we can’t wait until they become adults so they can move out on their own. Then we find ourselves waiting for them to come home again for a visit.  

We wait in the line at the store, in the school pick up line and at the bank. We have to wait for a seat at the restaurant and then wait for our food.  We anticipate a new movie or television show beginning and it seems like forever before it actually starts.

Perhaps we are selling our house and we have to wait for it to sell and then wait again to close on a new home.

Is there ever a time when we aren’t waiting?

We watch the years fly by, sometimes ever so slowly. Then we look back wonder where the time went? Time flies even through the waits.

Waiting can be difficult. Especially when we’re waiting on an answer to prayer or for God to do something about our situation. We know God is in control and we trust Him, but many times He doesn’t seem to be showing up quite fast enough.

About twelve years ago I remember hearing the call of God on my life to write and speak. It was very clear to me that God was calling me to write a book and that I would be traveling and speaking sharing hope, encouragement and my faith with others. I questioned God, “Are You sure You are talking to me God because I don’t know how to write a book or even where to begin?”

The waiting launched. I attended a writing and speaking Conference and walked away with lots of books and some great information and a little less money. After a period of time, the info and books were placed on a shelf and life continued to happen one day at a time. I dreamed of going to the She Speaks Conference with Proverbs 31 Ministry, but it too had to wait. I have since be able to attend and loved it.

Ten years later after years of confirmation I stepped out on faith and took a writing course and began blogging and writing. My first book was published and released in March of 2014, after years of waiting on God’s perfect timing.

During the “in-between time,” as Jeff Goins calls it, I continued to walk with the Lord and serve and teach God’s word in my local church. I started compiling and writing lessons, teaching in a women’s and adult Sunday school class and leading women’s Bible study groups. I co-wrote a bible study with a friend of mine. God was growing me up in His word and preparing me for what He wanted me to be so He could use me.

I waited on the Lord’s timing. I wanted to be exactly where He wanted me and if He ever wanted me to write a book or speak I trusted that He would make that happen.

Was it easy to wait on God’s timing?

The answer is “no,” many times. We want things our way and in our timing. We are the microwave and Burger King generation. We want it now and to have it our way.

I have learned when we let God lead us and we follow Him, His timing and plans are always better.

What are you waiting for now?

Have you asked God to open doors and they seemed to be staying closed? Are you thinking of quitting because you just don’t have the energy to keep on persevering?

God tells us in His word, “Wait for the LORD; be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.” Psalms 27:14

Don’t quit. Stay the course. Our strength comes from the Lord. When God doesn’t open the door we want Him to, we can trust Him and know He has a better door for us to walk through. We just have to wait on His timing. He will open “Door number one, two or three”, when He is ready for us to walk forward. We don’t even have to choose the correct door and guess at what’s behind it. We just have to trust that “He’s got this.” Trust Jesus in the closed doors of life knowing He is protecting you and has good plans for you, plans to give you a hope and future and not to harm you.

How can I pray for you as you wait for God’s timing today?

Brenda McGraw is an author and speaker who reveals how to discover joy beyond the clutter of life. She draws from her own life experiences in the #1 Amazon Best seller, “Joy Beyond, 28 Days to Finding Joy Beyond the Clutter of Life”. She is the founder of Ask God Today Ministries where she has a team of writers sharing truth and hope with others. 

Brenda currently lives in South Carolina with her husband, Jeff and three of their five children. She is a survivor of breast cancer and a heart attack.. Despite the challenges she has endured, Brenda found peace through her relationship with Jesus Christ. 

You can connect with Brenda at:

Website - http://www.askgodtoday.com

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Brenda-McGraw/e/B00GOIE7AG

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/BrendaMMcGraw