Disappointed? Discouraged? Despairing?
Have you ever felt that way? How do you react when those words describe the condition of your heart? How do you maintain your hope during the discouraging times of waiting?
I don’t always have the best initial response during those crisis times. I have believed in God since I was a young child, yet there are times when my faith falters with respect to maintaining hope that my circumstances will work out in the end.
Our lives are largely about waiting.
- waiting to get into college,
- waiting to get our degree,
- waiting to get married, waiting to have children,
- waiting until the children start school,
- waiting until our children marry and have children,
- waiting until retirement
But even in the day to day, we find ourselves waiting
- waiting for the paycheck to come in
- waiting for the replacement appliance to arrive
- waiting for a telephone call to be returned
- waiting for the weekend to catch up on errands or rest
Spiritually, again we often find ourselves waiting
- waiting for God to answer our prayers
- waiting for God to work out adverse situations
- waiting to know His will for our lives
Times of crisis seem to punctuate the waiting times.
The wait often seems harder, longer, or even less do-able. Those situations can test our faith. Do we believe the circumstances we are in, or do we hold strong and believe God’s truth?
Even the Bible heroes had to wait.
Examples of waiting in the Bible
We don’t know for sure, but if I put myself in Noah’s shoes (I know, a dangerous thing to do since I’m not a Bible great), how hard must that have been to build an ark and wait for the rains to come while not ever having experienced rain and being laughed at by all his peers?
I wonder how I might have responded if I had been Moses or one of his people wandering around waiting for my ticket to enter the Promise Land?
And what about Abraham and Sarah who waited for decades before God entrusted them with a son?
Job must have wondered how long he would wait until he was rescued from the pit of his despair, when every time he turned around he was being told of how another part of his life was facing ruin.
How do you remain hopeful when waiting?
How would you handle those times of waiting? Do you maintain your hope or do you get discouraged?
Sometimes my vision is near-sighted and I react based only on what I can see in the near future. That’s what contributes to feelings of discouragement or despair. It’s a bit like giving up on the expectation that Christmas will come on December 25th, when it’s June and all I can see is July 4th and possibly the Labor Day holiday.
When I choose to believe God’s truth, despite my near-sighted view of my circumstances, I can rest in His promise that He knows the plans that He has for me, which are plans to prosper me and not to harm me, and plans for a future and a hope.
When we believe God’s promises are true, we can maintain our hope during difficult times.
“But they that wait upon 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 TLB
What are you waiting for today? Where is your hope?
Depression doesn’t have to become a permanent part of life.
There is hope.
Hope Prevails: Insights From a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression and the companion Hope Prevails Bible Study help the reader understand how depression comes to be, recover their joy, reclaim their peace, and re-establish their true identity, while knowing their worth, remembering their secure destiny, and being confident that nothing separates them from God’s love.
Hope Prevails and the Hope Prevails Bible Study are must-reads for anyone suffering from depression or knows someone suffering from depression.
Hi Michelle! I am coming over from Wednesday’s Prayer Girls.
I think I am a professional ‘waiter’. There are so many things I am waiting for…they all seem important.
But I see what you mean by waiting being a blessing, a chance to show my faith and fidelity. It’s not easy, but we sure do have many, many examples in the bible of the real professionals. It always worked out for them, right?
He wants to prosper me. A good thing to hold on to!
Blessings,
Ceil
Thanks for stopping by Ceil! Yes, we all go through many times of waiting. But for us, as well as for the Biblical examples, our attitude during those times can significantly impact our experience during the wait. He does want to prosper you, not harm you, and give you a future and a hope! Hang on to that promise during your time of wait! Hope Prevails!
Dear Michelle, This is positively brilliant! I never actually considered the waiting of so many Bible greats is such a way,
“God has a call on your life? Welcome to the learning to wait MOA.” It is in this time frame that the Almighty proves you, tests you, and refines you through the fire for His purpose. In the end you will say, “Thank you, Lord, for teaching me to wait. Sitting in your shadow has transformed me to truly becoming your child.” I love you, dear girl! Amazing!
Margie,
Thanks for taking the time to read the post and comment. Your insights from my blogged perspective always challenge me to take my thinking to yet a deeper level! I love how the Holy Spirit does that! Wait On, my friend!
I love this post. Yes, sometimes life feels like I am doing nothing but waiting. Thank you for pointing out that I need to return to the bible and seek out all the great people who waited there. At the end of their waiting they received exactly what God had planed for them…a great blessing. 🙂
Oh Bethany, you are not alone in feeling like you are doing nothing but waiting. But God has reminded me numerous times that for Him, our waiting is about enjoying and trusting Him in the moment, appreciating the journey, rather than focusing on the destination. God is holding your hand throughout “the wait”.
Oh Michelle,
You had me on this always been one of my favorite Scriptures but that waiting can really be challenging.
Just yesterday I was again in God’s waiting room…and not doing so well in the stress of the stretching of waiting…
As I walked outside, I looked up in the sky and there, among the seagulls, soaring quite high in the Colorado October sky, was something that was much larger than a seagull.
An eagle! A majestic Bald Eagle.
And I heard God say, “You can soar like him…but you have to trust Me as you wait. You are worn from worry in the waiting. Try resting in Me instead. My breath is the wind that will let you soar.”
And here, today, you bring up the very verse that reiterates that thought:
But they that wait upon 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 TLB
Lane, worry wears us down, rest rejuvenates. It our Father’s heart that we wait on him, rest in him, be still and maintain hope in the wait. But whenever he tests us, he remains true to his promises. I look forward to hearing how he renews your strength as you wait on him!
Beautiful reminder Michelle… The wait is so worth it! Great post!
Thanks Linda! We just have to keep our eye on the ultimate prize-then the wait holds eternal purpose and yes, that my friend, is so worth it!
Ah yes, Michelle, we do spend a good bit of our life in the waiting mode.
I’m reminded of the phrase (which I’m sure can be substantiated by scripture) that: “God often tarries but He’s never late!”
Thanks for the post! Carolyn
You’re so right Carolyn. I’ve often said, “God’s never late, but He’s never early either…He’s always right on time.” It all comes back to trusting Him. Thanks for stopping by, and for commenting!
Waiting… I’m afraid I don’t do it very well. Thanks for reminding that God is present and working in every moment – even when I don’t see what He is doing.
Kim, if we’re honest, I don’t think any of us do it real well. Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Michelle,
Having went through years of infertility before we adopted, I totally sympathize with Sarah. I was not a patient mom-waiting-to-be. I questioned God and his sovereignty. Ultimately, this experience taught me to trust God and enjoy my children when they arrived!
Thank you for the inspiring message.
Laurie, I’m so sorry for the years of heartache you’ve gone through. What I love about God is that even when we question Him, He uses those very situations that caused us to question Him to teach us ultimately to trust Him. He really is THAT faithful! Blessings to you and your children.
I’ve recently come out of a waiting period–almost a year of being essentially unemployed. God has opened some new doors, and I’m “waiting” to see what He is developing! 🙂 But these waiting times do teach us to embrace each day and maybe slow down to enjoy the smaller blessings over the big plans. You have reminded us we are not alone in the struggle over waiting. God bless.
Beth, thanks for stopping by. I think sometimes God does put us in a waiting mode, so that we will slow down. He’s been teaching me the importance of enjoying the journey – not just the destination. You are definitely not alone in the struggle over waiting! Hang tight. Whatever God has you waiting for will be worth it!
Everything about waiting is uncomfortable. My whole year has been one of waiting, If I didn’t know God was in charge of the waiting, I think it would be the undoing of me. But He is in charge. And everything He does is GOOD. I’m clinging to His Sovereign Goodness.
Oh Kinsey, how I can relate. I think waiting is uncomfortable because we aren’t able to be in control. Somehow we think that if we are in control, the result will be better. I’m Glad you know God’s sovereign goodness and are trusting in Him during your wait. Hope Prevails!
Wow, what a great message! I can’t tell you how many conversations my hubby and I have had on this subject alone. We are waiting on God’s promises and plans HE has told us about for many years. He has guided and directed our steps forward into ALL He has for us while still waiting for some things to happen that would change our present and our future to be all Father wants it to be. I can truly say that even though many things He has told us will happen have not happened yet, we have maintained our HOPE by remembering what God HAS told us! He doesn’t lie and when He says it will happen in real time, HE means while we are here on earth. Thank you for tis message and the encouragement it brings! God bless you!!