In the Waiting

 

What are you waiting for?

We are all waiting for something. There are so many things we wait for every day. Some things are small, and in the big picture, they don't matter much, but they still have the potential to aggravate you if you let them.

• Traffic to move.
• The spin cycle to finish.
• Your family to clean up.
• A text from a friend.

Some things are more monumental. In the scheme of things, these things do matter more. They can make or break how your future unfolds.

• A test result.
• Your fractured relationship to improve.
• A job to come through.
• A paycheck deposited into your account. Or not. 

Today I sit in the waiting. I am a tutor, so I am currently waiting for referrals to come in. School started this week, and I am still waiting. This could continue through October, as more students require these services. But there are no guarantees. I may be waiting weeks before I know my schedule for this school year.

During the summer months, when school is not in session, I take on more hours with my healthcare agency.This summer, I have taken care of an elderly client, who is now more like family to me. She is in Hospice now, and every day I wait to see if this will be our last goodbye. I don't know if I will have a job tomorrow. Or next week, or next month. I don't know if my friend will live with me on this earth or go to live with Jesus soon. I don't know if I will get another elderly client or I will get more students on my roster. I don't know anything at this point. 

• Nothing is secure. 
• Nothing is reliable.  
• Nothing is constant. 

Almost nothing. While the world around me is unsettled and confusing, there is one thing I can count on. There is one thing, one person, I can count on to stay the same while nothing around me is. It's at these times I must remember His name. 

His name is Jesus.

Friends, we don't have to wait on Jesus. He is always there. Always. No waiting. No wondering. No sleepless nights. Because His words are true and He keeps His promises. He is someone we can always count on. Why?

• His love is secure. 
• His love is reliable. 
• His love is constant. 

So, today I may not know where I'm working tomorrow. Today, I may not know if when I leave my friend after my shift is over, if our next goodbye will be our last goodbye. Today, I may not know where my next paycheck will be coming from. I may not know what the future holds, but I do know Who holds the future, and that is so very comforting. 

I do not know what you are waiting for. Is it waiting to get one good night's sleep? Is it waiting for test results to know if the cancer treatment worked? Is it waiting for the pregnancy test to come back? Is it waiting to see what colleges you get accepted into? Is it waiting for a call from someone who you need to have a hard conversation with?  I guarantee if you are breathing, you are waiting. For something. 

What do we do in the waiting?

We rest in the Lord. We tell ourselves over and over again that He has this under control, that everything happens for a reason, and He will work everything for good for those who love Him. We focus on what we can control. We move forward. We keep busy. We spend time outside in the fresh air. We eat properly and sleep well when possible. We trust. We hope. We stay positive. We persevere. 

You got this! 

Waiting is hard. It's really, really hard. But projecting into the future won't change the future. Worrying about the future won't change the future. All that does is steal your joy from today. So breathe. Know it's going to be ok. You'll get through this, just as you've gotten through so many things in the past, and things will work out the way they are supposed to. When all is said and done, you will find you can live happily ever after, after. After the waiting is over. No matter the outcome. 

They who wait for 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