What Are You Waiting For?
It’s hard to believe that the Olympics start today. I live in Vancouver. These are our games. We’ve been hearing about the games, pretty much non-stop for seven years and finally, suddenly, they’re here.
They’ve seemed almost mythical so for long, always talked about and always some off in the distance but they are real. It’s really happening and it all starts tomorrow. As I was thinking about the games this morning, it got me thinking about having to wait, and specifically, reminded me of the times we have to wait for God.
There are seasons for many of us, when what God has promised seems such a long way off. We pray and we pray and sometimes we see things take shape and sometimes we don’t. Whether we can see it or not, God’s promises to us are not a myth or a fantasy. They do exist. In God’s perfect timing they will come to pass.
As I was thinking about the games, I was reminded of the story of Jacob and how he waited seven years for his bride (Genesis 29). Today, I can tell you exactly what seven years feels like. It is a very long time. I wonder how often in those years Jacob doubted that it was really going to happen?
Genesis 29:20 says “So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.” It’s great for Jacob that he had such a wonderful thing to look forward to. It’s a lot harder to wait when we don’t have that. If someone you love is sick, if the child you’ve longed for doesn’t come, if your world is crashing down – seven years, even seven days, can feel like eternity.
If you are waiting right now, know this: time and distance and even heartache do not diminish God’s plan for you, His promises to you or His great love of you.
There are times when I wish that God’s sense of time or His pacing was more in line with my own. I know that’s not how it works. I need to align with God, He does not need to bend to my will. God waits with us and sometimes the only thing that makes the wait endurable. Even in the very presence of God, waiting is hard.
It brings me back to that verse from Genesis. Jacob’s love of Rachel eased his waiting. God’s love of me can help ease mine. I can personalize that verse and say, “but they seemed like only a few days to Claire because of God’s love for her.” I don’t know when it will only feel like a few days, but I trust that one day it will.
If are waiting today, take a minute to personalize Genesis 29:20 for yourself. Write it down and keep it somewhere you can see it so it will remind you as you go through your day.
Can we pray for you as you wait? Leave your request in the comments and we will stand with you. If you’d like to talk to someone privately, mentoring is always available through email, free of charge. You can contact a mentor by filling in the form here.
More on Waiting:
Practicing Patience When God Has You Waiting
While We Wait
When God is Silent
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Tags: Culture, genesis, Jacob, olympics, Self, spiritual growth, Vancouver, waiting
9 Responses to “What Are You Waiting For?”
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Thanks for sharing your story with me,you know it’s sometimes easier, when we can have someone that comes along and makes our life easier by telling us what they have been through are what they are trying to accomplish like ourselves!What has made it better for me is when I talk to the Father,Son and his holy spirit about what I want in my life,I talk to other single women as myself,I don’t relate to married women or couples that are going together.It makes it simple and easier on myself,because if I am around them then it just kinda makes me feel sad.But I’ve gotten better with dealing with being single.Be God Blessed!Also,if you have ideas please keep me informed…
What I have been waiting for is a husband. I have never been married or do I have children. I never went through the “rebel” mode, so I did not participate in the experimental stage. I grew up in the church believing everything that was told to me by the “spritual leaders” because I thought that they were filled with God. In the last couple of years I now realize that the spritual leaders are just humans too and that I need to listen for God myself. After graduating college I started my career in the food service industry which has to this day been average.I have “tried” myself focus on God’s word by not only reading and studying it also by living it. I am going to take it a step further, I am still a virgin. That took every fiber in me to type that. I am so annoyed that I followed the word as far as living a life according to what was taught to me for years and years. Then to see women who didn’t do exactly what the word says and get husbands, children, nice homes, great careers. I guess you can say that I am bitter. But I am lot better than I was before. Thats my story.
Thanks for that bit of information Tiffany it somewhat made me feel a lot better.If I may ask how long has it been for you?Be God Blessed!
Cindy,
I wasn’t intending to say “wait seven years and you’ll get what you want” rather, that at this specific point in time I have a really good knowledge of what seven years feels like. It’s a long time. Is there something that you are waiting for?
Tiffany,
‘How much patience is too much?’ is such a great question. I wish I knew the answer. I know people who waited ten years to get what they prayed for and I know people who have waited a lot longer than that. Sometimes I wish God would give me an estimate so I could pace myself :) If I’m feeling particularly spiritual, I know the question *should* be “How much patience is enough?” but that’s easy to say, hard to live. I wish it could be easier. I do believe that God has a plan, for me and for you and I believe that it’s a good plan. But that doesn’t make the waiting go away and some days it doesn’t make it that much easier. I know that God’s timing is not mine and I know that His dreams for me are so much bigger than my own. I know these things in my head and I try to pull them down into my heart, to live like I really believe them. Some times the most honest thing I can pray is “God help me to believe.” I do know that there is little I can do to sway the hand of God. I can bring my requests to Him, but it’s His call. There’s nothing I can do to make His plan for me happen faster. If I ever find a way to do that, I promise I’ll share!
Oh my goodness. My birthday is March 7. I’ll be 34.
I read the article and thougt, “Yeah, but…” But after 7 years he didn’t get to marry Rachel, did he? After 7 years of anticipation for the Olympics, on day one before the opening ceremonies an athlete dies on the luge course. It hasn’t worked out, has it?
I have been faithfully waiting on a husband one day but I thinks it’s best that I wait on the Lord.My point is on March3,2010 I will be celebrating my seven years of celibacy.I will be so happy and blessed on this day!It’s been a hard road up hill but now I realize that it was truly worth the wait.This month will be even more special for me I will be (45) on March 7.Oh glory to the most high!In Jesus name.Amen
My issue is waiting too long. I have prayed for specific things that I would think is within God’s will for me but I see nothing. I have actively persued what it is that I am to do in this life as far as serving the Lord. Working hard in the church, tithing, praying, fasting, journaling you name it, I’m sure I do it. I’m a bit upset about what I am at in my life so far. How much patience is too much?