We find comfort in knowing answers for the future, so we can plan and know what to expect. All people strive for order of some kind and waiting strips us of what we can prepare for and of any control we think we may have. That is why the unknown often leads to overthinking. There are the classic “what if” questions that pop into our minds. What if I’m waiting for nothing? What if I’m disappointed again? What if what I’m waiting for doesn’t turn out as I thought? However, we need to nip those thoughts in the bud. It’s just going to lead you down a rabbit hole, and soon enough, you’re going to convince yourself that the story you created in your head is the truth. If you allow just one thought to enter and settle in, it’s going to lead you to a whole new set of problems that aren’t even based on reality. Plus, Scripture commands us to be anxious for nothing (Philippians 4:6).
Trust me, I get it, the unknown has a way of really trying your patience. Nevertheless, obsessing over whether and when the waiting will end is not mentally, emotionally, or spiritually healthy for you. What we think about matters, not in a manifestation way, of course, but in a way that either positions our hearts toward the Lord or toward ourselves and our circumstances. The Bible orders us to take our thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5) and tells us, in Philippians 4:8 (KJV), what we should be dwelling upon: "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
Waiting is not something that ever becomes easier, but there are ways to deal with it. We can’t rob ourselves of what God is trying to do in the present by focusing too much on the future. To put it in metaphorical terms, when we focus on wondering what book we will read next, we miss out on all the small details, lessons, and joy of our current read. Essentially, the best remedy to waiting is contentment.
Finding contentment is difficult to do on our own, but through God's strength and grace, He enables us. We can cling to His promises during times of struggle and discontentment. For example, in Isaiah 41:10 (KJV), God promises: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Matthew Henry explains that this promise means that "He will take us by the hand as our guide, to lead us in our way, will help us up when we are fallen or prevent our falls; when we are weak He will hold us up-wavering, He will fix us-trembling, He will encourage us, and so hold us by the right hand."
Further, Isaiah 40:31 (KJV) assures us: "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Matthew Henry
noted: "But those that wait on the Lord, who make conscience of their duty to Him, and by faith rely upon Him and commit themselves to His guidance, shall find that God will not fail them." There's no need to fret or fear the future when the Almighty is so close to us and is the author of all our days. Thus, through the Lord's strength, we can give our full selves to God and can be good stewards to what He puts in front of us.
Matthew 6:34 tells us to take things day by day because each day has its own worries. Tomorrow is not ours and is not even promised to us, so it is certainly not ours to worry about either. Instead of looking to take big leaps and to rush through milestones, we need to take one step at a time. There is purpose in each step along the way. We must not forget God's intentionality in every little thing (I recommend studying the life of Joseph in Genesis 37-50 for a great example of God's intentionality). As a woman, I have always looked forward to becoming a wife and a mother. Those are both weighty, significant roles that should be taken seriously. If you share the same sentiments that I do about marriage and motherhood, then I hope you also take comfort in the fact that every day is another day closer to entering into those seasons, and that every step forward is God preparing and sanctifying you to glorify Him in those roles. God doesn't waste time, for time is His; and He certainly doesn't hold out on us (Psalm 84:11). If you're not in a certain place in your life, then you're just not ready or meant to be there. If and when the time is right, the Lord will make it happen. Until then, don't forget to find joy in your every day. After all, "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24, KJV).
My birthday is next week, and it still puzzles me how I'm in my mid-twenties and in the season of life that I currently am. I feel as though just yesterday I was 17 years old. Life goes by so fast, and there's so much joy and beauty in the most minute steps along the way, even in both the good and the bad times. One day, you'll look back and realize just how extraordinary the seemingly ordinary moments and days were. As my favorite literary character Anne Shirley once said: "I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens, but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string." There is no dress rehearsal for life, and you'll never get the same moment twice. I don't mean this in a worldly way, but to encourage you to be present and to enjoy what the Lord has set before you instead of worrying what's next. I mean, every day has the potential to be your best day, a core memory that you will think about for years to come.
Being present in each day also allows us to not make waiting into an idol. We can prevent falling into idolatry by seeking God first and above all else and by praying daily for strength, wisdom, and of course, patience. Matthew 6:33 (KJV) states: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew Henry commented on this verse: "Seek the comforts of the kingdom of grace and glory as your felicity. Aim at the kingdom of heaven; press towards it; give diligence to make it sure; resolve not to take up short of it; seek for this glory, honour, and immortality; prefer heaven and heavenly blessings far before earth and earthly delights." Instead of constantly thinking over every little detail of what you have been waiting for, start focusing on following and serving God. Matthew Henry further wrote: "Let your care for your souls and another world take the place of all other cares: and let all the concerns of this life be made subordinate to those of the life to come: we must seek the things of Christ more than our own things; and if every they come in competition, we must remember to which we are to give the preference." Ultimately, we love Him most and know that our job is to seek, glorify, and enjoy Him, while He takes care of the rest.
While seeking the Lord first, you can still pray for whatever is weighing on your heart. In fact, Scripture instructs us to do so: "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7, KJV). The posture with prayer should first and foremost be seeking God's will and for Him to be glorified, which includes accepting that whatever you're praying for may not happen. In Daniel 3, we see this attitude exhibited by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were going to be thrown into a fiery furnace for not bowing down to Nebuchadnezzar. They believed that God could and would save them (Daniel 3:17). However, they also submitted themselves to God’s will, acknowledging that God is still worthy of our obedience and worship even if He didn't save them (Daniel 3:18).
When it comes to seeking and submitting to God’s will, God never tells us that we can’t plan or dream. We just must submit those plans and dreams to Him. James 4:13-16 condemns those who make plans without considering God in them and those who assume the success of their plans are their own. We need to clothe ourselves with humility and remember that it is God who controls every tomorrow and every single breath we take, and that our plans are subject to His. Matthew Henry reminds us: "All our actions and designs are under the control of Heaven. Our heads may be filled with cares and contrivances. This and the other thing we may propose to do for ourselves, or our families, or our friends; but Providence sometimes breaks all our measures, and throws our schemes into confusion. Therefore both our counsels for action and our conduct in action should be entirely referred to God; all we design and all we do should be with a submissive dependence on God." When you exchange your plans for God’s plans, you will receive an abundance of peace amidst the frustrations surrounding the circumstances and uncertainty of the future.
If it’s God’s will, then there’s nothing that can stop what you're waiting for from happening. Who are we to limit the God who created the universe down to the tiniest molecule to our current circumstances? Since God is sovereign, that means He is bigger than and ordains every situation. He controls everything, and if it’s in His will, He can change everything within seconds. Some examples in Scripture are Abraham and Sarah and Zechariah and Elizabeth being given children when they all were considered “too old” and Moses being saved from being killed at a time when the orders were to kill all the newborn boys. If God has done it before, then what makes you think that He can’t do it again? Even if what you're waiting for doesn't come to pass or the questions that linger in your heart remain unanswered, God still sits on the throne, and that's where our hope and faith lie. As Elisabeth Elliot once stated: "Obviously God has chosen to leave certain questions unanswered and certain problems without any solution in this life, in order that in our very struggle to answer and solve we may be shoved back, and back, and eternally back to the contemplation of Himself, and to complete trust in Who He is."
By: Bible and Hot Cocoa (IG: @bibleandhotcocoa)
Juliana is the founder of Bible and Hot Cocoa. She is a sinner redeemed by Christ seeking to share the Gospel, to stand up for biblical truth, and to encourage other women to embrace biblical womanhood and to grow in biblical literacy. In her free time, she loves to utilize her creativity, to read classics and reformed theology books, to exercise, to visit her local coffee shop, and to spend time with loved ones. Juliana's favorite book of the Bible would have to be a tie between Psalms and Proverbs (as of now), and her favorite biblical figure besides Jesus is Sarah (as of now).
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