Hope in the Wait

I remember as a child waiting in anticipation for my birthday or for Christmas to arrive. Time moved slowly and the waiting dragged on forever.

As an adult, that time moves much more quickly. It seems like Christmas is around the corner again before last year’s gifts are put away. And waiting for birthdays isn’t quite as exciting anymore.

Waiting for the calendar page to turn—that’s not so hard. Until time ends, one month will flow into the next, guaranteed.

But waiting on God is hard. Some days it feels impossible. And other days it takes me right to my knees in tears and frustration.

Perhaps you’re waiting on God too...

…for physical healing.

…for employment.

…for a child to come home.

…for a relationship to be restored.

…for a loved one to come to faith.

Whatever it might be, there will be days when waiting on God is just too hard.

Days when I think I cannot do it one more day. I can’t wait patiently without worry and fear. And on those days, peace gets edged out. In its place are anxiousness, nausea, headaches, tears, depression, anger, and despair.

Despair that feels like hitting bottom, where there’s no place deeper to go—because with despair comes hopelessness.

Hopelessness covers the world in darkness, but not completely. Never completely.

Because the darkness can never extinguish the Light.

I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.

Jesus came into this world to show us the Light—His Light that never dims. It never goes out. {Tweet this}

We may become blinded to it at times, but it’s there, shining like a beacon—a symbol of hope leading us back to Him.

For where there is Light, there is hope. Always hope.

On the days when the waiting feels like too much—there is hope. {Tweet this}

Hope for a better tomorrow.

Hope that what we’re anticipating and waiting for is right around the corner.

Hope that soon God will reveal His plans for us.

Hope because God is in the wait with us—strengthening and comforting—bringing rest to the weary and calm to the panicked—picking us up when we hit the ground in despair.

Waiting for the seasons to change becomes methodical. Waiting on God never does.

We may not know what’s coming next, but God does. Our waiting and our future is in His hands.

His safe, strong, and more than capable hands.

In Christ,
Laura

**There are times when sadness and despair don’t improve. If you are experiencing symptoms of depression (ex. emotions you can’t control, fatigue, lack of energy, not being able to sleep, always wanting to sleep, and/or thoughts of self-harm), please don’t be afraid to seek help. Getting help is not a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of strength.**

[Photo credit: Unsplash.com / This post was rewritten from a one that originally appeared on 5 Minutes for Faith.]

11 comments:

  1. Laura, good morning! Your words ring true, especially when waiting for God to do something in another's life. It's there we learn {finally} that we have no control ... that HE is the only One who can move mountains.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Waiting is the discipline that shows up all the cracks in my faith and the flaws in my theology! Thanks for words of encouragement and hope in this current season of waiting.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ah, waiting; the thing we all HAVE to do but never ENJOY doing. :) Thanks for your take on it, Laura. We always need encouragement to do waiting better. I love this: "Hopelessness covers the world in darkness, but not completely. Never completely. Because the darkness can never extinguish the Light." Amen!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Waiting is hard! Thanks for this encouraging post Laura. Tweeted. Thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements!

    ReplyDelete
  5. What are your thoughts on Isaiah 40:31? I believe that it reads "But they that wait on the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles ..." Something like that. We await God to heal the illness, infirmity, sickness in the family.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh yes. We wait on God but it never becomes methodical. God is wild and knows best. Thanks for such an encouraging post, Laura. Blessings to you!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Holding on to this truth today: "darkness can never extinguish the Light." AMEN!!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Waiting, one of my most unfavorite things to do! But, after decades of experiences with God of waiting, I can look back and see that what He had me wait for was always worth it in the end.

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a great encouragement this post is! So many rich reminders of the hope we have in Christ. I love it. Thanks, Laura!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I have been waiting somewhat patiently for an answer about a job. even though it has only been a week I have noticed that since I prayed about it I am not overly anxious about the answer. I am learning how to let God be in control.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.