Dear Waiting

Dear Waiting:

To you that is in a season of life where you don't seem to be going anywhere. To you who feel like you're not growing. To you who has great plans you want to do for God, but your plans aren't working out. To you, who are in a period of waiting.  

This isn't an easy place to be in. Maybe everyone around you seems to be going somewhere with their lives--college, jobs, careers, marriage, family, pursuing their dreams, you name it. But this is where God has placed you, and He will give you the grace to pass through it. 

I firmly believe that you are passing through this period for a reason. I believe God is making you wait and learn and grow right now. And it’s hard. It’s like working out. It’s painful and sweaty and no fun. But it’s oh-so-worth it after. It may last a while. It may be longer than you expect. But the more you fight Him the longer it’ll take for Him to mold you like He wants to. 

"But how can I grow if I just stay still?"

You grow anywhere. You’re growing right now. And you are doing something. You are learning life lessons. You are learning to lean on Him and wait and pray and trust even when you don't understand.You’re learning to care for the things of daily life. You’re not doing special stuff. You’re doing the everyday, needed stuff. But--

"God doth not need

Either man's work or his own gifts; who best

Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state

Is kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed

And post o'er land and ocean without rest:

They also serve who only stand and wait."

You’re serving at home. You’re learning lessons. Maybe you’ll never do the special work that you want to do or you think you will. But the people who cook and clean and teach and raise kids and work hard—we need them too. Just like we need evangelists and pastors and missionaries and special workers. There has to be someone in the background doing the day-to-day, everyday work. We need them. And they’re serving too. Their job is just as important and for the Lord's glory. 

Maybe that’s what God's teaching you right now. You don’t need to go somewhere else or do something else. You just need to serve Him where you are. Doing what He asks and what you can do. "Do what you can with what you have where you are." 

"But what about my plans?"

Think about your plans. They're what you want. Maybe GOD doesn’t want them. You may want a good thing, but that doesn’t make it His will. 

You’re not content. Perhaps that’s your problem. Maybe you’re trying to reach something you shouldn’t. Those things that you want--learning a language, getting a job, learning a career--they're probably good things. But maybe God doesn’t intend for you to do that all your life. Maybe He only needs you to do it for a short time, later on. Can't you trust His timing?

Sometimes you want to do something big for God but He wants you to do the small things for Him.   

I firmly believe that just because it only touches one person doesn’t make an action small. If it saves one soul, or blesses one soul, or brings someone closer to the Lord, or anything like that—THEN IT IS WORTH IT AND IT IS A BIG THING.  How many years did the little boy learn to fish so he could give Jesus his little fish & breads? The widow only gave 2 small coins, but it was as big a gift as Mary’s priceless perfume. 

Don’t focus on what YOU must do to serve God. Focus on how HE wants you to serve Him. You might be doing a "works" thing here, trying to do things off your own strength to give Him. He wants you to do what He placed you to do. Perhaps you’re focusing too much on yourself. And what you “have to do.” Perhaps you’re trying too hard and trying to do what you’re not supposed to do. If He’s keeping you where you are it’s for a reason. God's voice is a still, small voice... maybe you can’t hear it in your hurry and worry. If you're always going, going, going, worrying, tired, frustrated--how can He reach you if you’re not quiet? 

You serve the Lord just as much washing the dishes for your family as a missionary does preaching the Gospel to jungle tribes in South America. He needs both workers. 

Just reflect on these things and pray about them. And keep trusting and waiting. God knows what He's doing and its all for your good.  <33