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Life can sometimes seem like one big waiting game.  Waiting in traffic, in the grocery line, or at a restaurant.  These are just of few of the “waiting” opportunities that fill our days.  Right now I am in waiting mode for my suitcase.  You see, while I may have returned home late this past Thursday night from an out-of-town trip, my suitcase did not.  And as of today (Sunday), my suitcase remains sequestered is some yet-to-be-known location.  Do you have any idea what it is like for a talkaholic to be without his cell phone charger?

But I am patiently waiting.  And I would venture to say that it’s likely you have your own waiting issue(s) that you are dealing with right now.  A suitcase is minor in the grand scheme of things, but waiting is a common swatch in the fabric of all our lives.  From the inconvenient (suitcase) to the critical, how should we view perpetual waiting?

It seems to me that God intended for waiting to be a beneficial part of our lives.  Taking a quick look at scripture you will find:

Abraham and Sarah waiting for the birth of Isaac!
Joseph honoring God, but waiting in a prison!
Caleb left waiting forty years outside the promise land through no fault of his own!
Moses spent a prolonged period waiting on the backside of the desert!
Jesus keeping Mary and Martha waiting after the death of Lazarus!

In looking at these instances, it becomes obvious that the Father intends to let his children be put on hold for His purposes.  It would be easy to create a clichéd answer as to why we go through prolonged seasons of waiting.  But being put on hold often hurts deeply and creates anxiety, so no clichés offered here.  From experience, I have concluded that I cannot adequately counsel another person with regards to a specific “waiting” in their life.  It is also my conclusion that without having a firm grip on God’s sovereignty and grace, most individuals will not wait well.  And does anyone really believe that without a consistent intake of His truth, they can find joy on the waiting journey?! To really know and trust the Father’s heart, discipline yourself in His Word.  And watch Him teach you what He has designed for you during the wait.

Psalm 27:14
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Isaiah 30:18
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

Remember that as you wait patiently, (by letting the Father teach you daily in His Word) during tough times, a clearer perspective of His plans for you just might appear. And by the way, let the traffic jams and lost suitcases be opportunities to show Christ to a fallen world. Start today, because …